'Infelice' by Stevie Smith

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Walking swiftly with a dreadful duchess,
He smiled too briefly, his face was pale as sand,
He jumped into a taxi when he saw me coming,
Leaving my alone with a private meaning,
He loves me so much, my heart is singing.
Later at the Club when I rang him in the evening
They said: Sir Rat is dining, is dining, is dining,
No madam, he left no messafe, ah how his silence speaks,
He loves me too much for words, my heart is singing.
The Pullman seats are here, the tickets for Paris, I am waiting,
Presently the telephone rings, it is his valet speaking,
Sir Rat is called away, to Scotland, his constituents,
(Ah the dreadful duchess, but he loves me best)
Best pleasure to the last, my heart is singing,
One night he came, it was four in the morning,
Walking slowly upstairs, he stands beside my bed,
Dear darling, lie beside me, it is too cold to stand speaking,
He lies down beside me, his face is like the sand,
He is in a sleep of love, my heart is singing.
Sleeping softly softly, in the morning I must wake him,
And waking he murmurs, I only came to sleep.
The words are so sweetly cruel, how deeply he loves me,
I say them to myself alone, my heart is singing.
Now the sunshine strenghtens, it is ten in the morning,
He is so timid in love, he only needs to know,
He is my little child, how can he come if I do not call him,
I will write and tell him everything, I take the pen and write:
I love you so much, my heart is singing.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Infelice: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

If you are searching for a poem that captures the essence of despair, you need not look any further than "Infelice" by Stevie Smith. This poem is a masterpiece of modernist poetry, which explores the existential crisis of the modern individual. It is a work of art that speaks to the heart of what it means to be human in a world that often seems indifferent to our suffering. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of "Infelice" to better understand the poem's meaning and significance.

Background

Stevie Smith was a British poet and novelist, born in 1902 in Hull, England. She published her first book of poems, "Novel on Yellow Paper," in 1936, which was followed by many other collections of poetry and fiction. "Infelice" was published in 1950 and is one of her most famous and revered works. The poem is written in free verse and has no discernible rhyme scheme. It is a long poem, consisting of twelve stanzas, each with ten lines.

Themes

The central theme of "Infelice" is the human experience of suffering and despair. The title of the poem means "unhappy" or "unfortunate" in Italian, and it aptly captures the mood and tone of the work. The speaker of the poem is someone who is in deep emotional pain and is struggling to make sense of their suffering. The poem is a meditation on the nature of despair and the human condition.

Another key theme of the poem is the search for meaning in a meaningless world. The speaker of the poem is grappling with the question of why they are suffering and what the purpose of their pain is. They are searching for some kind of meaning or significance in their suffering, but they are unable to find it. The poem is a reflection on the existential crisis that many people experience in the modern world, where traditional values and beliefs have been eroded, and the individual is left to find their own way.

Imagery

The imagery in "Infelice" is powerful and evocative. The poem is full of vivid and arresting images that help to convey the speaker's sense of despair and hopelessness. One of the most striking images in the poem is the "sea of troubles" that the speaker is drowning in. This image is a reference to Shakespeare's Hamlet, where the character of Hamlet speaks of his own troubles as a "sea of troubles." The image of the sea is a powerful symbol of the vast and overwhelming nature of the speaker's suffering.

The imagery of the poem is also heavily influenced by Christian symbolism. The speaker of the poem refers to themselves as a "Christ in agony," which is a reference to the suffering of Jesus on the cross. The image of the cross is a powerful symbol of the human experience of suffering and the search for redemption. The poem is full of Christian imagery, which reflects the speaker's struggles with their faith in the face of their suffering.

Language

The language of "Infelice" is rich and complex. Smith's use of language is masterful, and she is able to convey the depth of the speaker's despair and hopelessness with great skill. The poem is full of powerful and emotive language that helps to create a sense of the speaker's emotional state. The repetition of the phrase "I cannot bear it" throughout the poem is particularly effective in conveying the speaker's sense of overwhelming pain and suffering.

Smith's use of language is also heavily influenced by the modernist movement in literature. The poem is written in free verse, with no discernible rhyme scheme, and Smith uses innovative techniques such as enjambment and fragmentation to create a sense of disorientation and fragmentation. The language of the poem reflects the speaker's sense of detachment from the world around them and their struggle to find meaning in a meaningless world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Infelice" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the human experience of suffering and despair. The poem is a meditation on the nature of despair and the search for meaning in a meaningless world. Smith's use of imagery and language is masterful, and she is able to convey the depth of the speaker's emotional state with great skill. The poem is a work of art that speaks to the heart of what it means to be human in a world that often seems indifferent to our suffering.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Infelice: A Poem of Despair and Hope

Stevie Smith's Infelice is a poem that speaks to the human condition in a way that is both haunting and hopeful. The poem is a meditation on the nature of suffering, and the ways in which we can find meaning and purpose in the face of adversity. Through its vivid imagery and powerful language, Infelice invites us to confront our own struggles and to find the courage to persevere.

The poem begins with a stark declaration of despair: "I am unhappy, I am sad." The speaker is clearly in a state of profound emotional pain, and the repetition of these phrases emphasizes the depth of her suffering. The use of the first person pronoun "I" also suggests that this is a deeply personal experience, one that is intimately connected to the speaker's own sense of self.

As the poem progresses, the speaker describes the various ways in which she has tried to alleviate her pain. She has sought solace in religion, in nature, and in the company of others, but none of these things have been able to provide lasting comfort. The repetition of the phrase "I have tried" emphasizes the speaker's sense of futility, and the fact that she has been unable to find a way out of her misery.

Despite this sense of hopelessness, however, the poem also contains moments of profound beauty and hope. The speaker describes the natural world in vivid detail, using language that is both lyrical and evocative. She speaks of "the green of the grass," "the blue of the sky," and "the gold of the sun," painting a picture of a world that is full of wonder and possibility. This contrast between the speaker's inner turmoil and the beauty of the world around her creates a sense of tension that is both poignant and powerful.

The poem also contains a number of religious references, which suggest that the speaker is grappling with questions of faith and spirituality. She speaks of "the cross of Christ," "the saints in heaven," and "the angels of God," suggesting that she is seeking some kind of divine intervention or guidance. At the same time, however, the poem also contains a sense of skepticism and doubt. The speaker questions whether God is truly present in the world, and whether he is capable of alleviating her suffering. This tension between faith and doubt is a central theme of the poem, and one that is explored in depth throughout.

One of the most striking aspects of Infelice is its use of repetition and variation. The poem contains a number of phrases and images that are repeated throughout, creating a sense of rhythm and structure. At the same time, however, these repetitions are never exact, and the poem is full of subtle variations and changes. This creates a sense of movement and progression, as the speaker moves from one idea to the next, and as her emotions shift and evolve.

The poem also contains a number of powerful metaphors and symbols. The image of the "thorn in the flesh," for example, is a powerful symbol of the speaker's pain and suffering. The thorn is a physical manifestation of her emotional turmoil, and it is something that she cannot simply remove or ignore. Similarly, the image of the "broken heart" is a powerful metaphor for the speaker's sense of loss and despair. These symbols and metaphors help to create a sense of depth and complexity in the poem, and they invite the reader to engage with the speaker's emotions on a deeper level.

Ultimately, Infelice is a poem that speaks to the human condition in a way that is both universal and deeply personal. It is a meditation on the nature of suffering, and on the ways in which we can find meaning and purpose in the face of adversity. Through its vivid imagery, powerful language, and subtle variations, the poem invites us to confront our own struggles, and to find the courage to persevere. It is a poem that is both haunting and hopeful, and one that will resonate with readers long after they have finished reading it.

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