'The House Of Dust: Part 02: 08: The Box With Silver Handles' by Conrad Aiken
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Well,—it was two days after my husband died—
Two days! And the earth still raw above him.
And I was sweeping the carpet in their hall.
In number four—the room with the red wall-paper—
Some chorus girls and men were singing that song
'They'll soon be lighting candles
Round a box with silver handles'—and hearing them sing it
I started to cry. Just then he came along
And stopped on the stairs and turned and looked at me,
And took the cigar from his mouth and sort of smiled
And said, 'Say, what's the matter?' and then came down
Where I was leaning against the wall,
And touched my shoulder, and put his arm around me . . .
And I was so sad, thinking about it,—
Thinking that it was raining, and a cold night,
With Jim so unaccustomed to being dead,—
That I was happy to have him sympathize,
To feel his arm, and leaned against him and cried.
And before I knew it, he got me into a room
Where a table was set, and no one there,
And sat me down on a sofa, and held me close,
And talked to me, telling me not to cry,
That it was all right, he'd look after me,—
But not to cry, my eyes were getting red,
Which didn't make me pretty. And he was so nice,
That when he turned my face between his hands,
And looked at me, with those blue eyes of his,
And smiled, and leaned, and kissed me—
Somehow I couldn't tell him not to do it,
Somehow I didn't mind, I let him kiss me,
And closed my eyes! . . . Well, that was how it started.
For when my heart was eased with crying, and grief
Had passed and left me quiet, somehow it seemed
As if it wasn't honest to change my mind,
To send him away, or say I hadn't meant it—
And, anyway, it seemed so hard to explain!
And so we sat and talked, not talking much,
But meaning as much in silence as in words,
There in that empty room with palms about us,
That private dining-room . . . And as we sat there
I felt my future changing, day by day,
With unknown streets opening left and right,
New streets with farther lights, new taller houses,
Doors swinging into hallways filled with light,
Half-opened luminous windows, with white curtains
Streaming out in the night, and sudden music,—
And thinking of this, and through it half remembering
A quick and horrible death, my husband's eyes,
The broken-plastered walls, my boy asleep,—
It seemed as if my brain would break in two.
My voice began to tremble . . . and when I stood,
And told him I must go, and said good-night—
I couldn't see the end. How would it end?
Would he return to-morrow? Or would he not?
And did I want him to—or would I rather
Look for another job?—He took my shoulders
Between his hands, and looked down into my eyes,
And smiled, and said good-night. If he had kissed me,
That would have—well, I don't know; but he didn't . .
And so I went downstairs, then, half elated,
Hoping to close the door before that party
In number four should sing that song again—
'They'll soon be lighting candles round a box with silver handles'—
And sure enough, I did. I faced the darkness.
And my eyes were filled with tears. And I was happy.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The House Of Dust: Part 02: 08: The Box With Silver Handles by Conrad Aiken
Are you a fan of gothic literature? Do you find yourself drawn to the eerie, the macabre, and the unsettling? If so, Conrad Aiken's "The House of Dust: Part 02: 08: The Box with Silver Handles" is a poem that you won't want to miss.
First published in 1920 as part of Aiken's "The House of Dust" collection, "The Box with Silver Handles" is a haunting piece that explores themes of death, grief, and the supernatural. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we'll take a closer look at what makes this poem so captivating, examining its structure, imagery, and symbolism.
Structure
"The Box with Silver Handles" is divided into four stanzas of varying length, with a total of 34 lines. The poem follows an ABAB rhyme scheme, with the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhyming. This rhyme scheme creates a sense of symmetry and order, which is juxtaposed against the chaotic and unsettling themes of the poem.
The poem's structure is also significant in that it mirrors the structure of a coffin. The four stanzas can be seen as the four sides of a coffin, with the final two lines serving as the lid. This structure reinforces the poem's focus on death and the grave.
Imagery
Aiken's use of imagery is one of the most striking features of "The Box with Silver Handles." He employs vivid and unsettling descriptions to create a sense of unease in the reader.
The poem begins with a description of a "long brown box with silver handles." This image is relatively benign on its own, but with each subsequent stanza, the box becomes more ominous. In the second stanza, we learn that the box "is filled with things…that chilled you through when you looked in." The third stanza describes a "face that had once been dear," now "white and drawn and strange." Finally, in the fourth stanza, we see the box as a "terrible thing" that is "bound with iron bands."
The imagery in "The Box with Silver Handles" is also notable for its use of synecdoche. The box itself is not necessarily frightening, but its contents are. By using the box as a stand-in for the horrors it contains, Aiken creates a sense of foreboding that pervades the entire poem.
Symbolism
Perhaps the most significant aspect of "The Box with Silver Handles" is its use of symbolism. The poem is rich with images that represent death, grief, and the supernatural.
The box itself is a powerful symbol, representing both the physical container for the dead and the emotional baggage that loved ones carry after a loss. The box is described as "long" and "brown," evoking the image of a coffin. The silver handles suggest a sense of elegance and refinement, but they also serve as a reminder of the preciousness of life.
The box's contents are also highly symbolic. The "things" inside the box represent the memories and emotions associated with the deceased. The third stanza describes a "face that had once been dear," now "white and drawn and strange." This image represents the way that grief can transform our memories of those we have lost. The final stanza describes the box as a "terrible thing" that is "bound with iron bands." This image suggests that the box represents not only the physical remains of the dead but also the emotional weight of grief.
Themes
At its core, "The Box with Silver Handles" is a meditation on death, grief, and the supernatural. The poem explores the ways in which we cope with loss and the power that the dead can hold over the living.
One of the most striking themes of the poem is the idea of transformation. The image of the "face that had once been dear" transformed into something "white and drawn and strange" represents the way that our memories of the dead can change over time. The box itself is also transformed throughout the poem, going from a simple container to a "terrible thing" that is "bound with iron bands." This transformation suggests that grief can become a burden that we carry with us long after the physical remains of the dead have been laid to rest.
Another significant theme of the poem is the idea of the supernatural. The box's contents are described as "things…that chilled you through when you looked in." This image suggests that there is something otherworldly about the dead and the memories they leave behind. The final lines of the poem also suggest a supernatural element, with the speaker claiming that "the dead man walks behind you." This image represents the persistence of the dead in our lives and the way that they can continue to influence us long after they are gone.
Conclusion
Conrad Aiken's "The House of Dust: Part 02: 08: The Box with Silver Handles" is a haunting and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of death, grief, and the supernatural. With its vivid imagery, powerful symbolism, and masterful use of structure, this poem is a must-read for anyone who loves gothic literature or who is interested in exploring the darker side of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The House of Dust: Part 02: 08: The Box With Silver Handles by Conrad Aiken is a classic poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and memory. This poem is part of a larger work, The House of Dust, which is a collection of poems that tell the story of a house and the people who have lived in it over time. In this particular poem, Aiken uses vivid imagery and powerful language to convey the emotions of the speaker as they reflect on a box with silver handles.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the box with silver handles, which is a symbol of the past. The box is described as being "heavy" and "old," which suggests that it contains something of great importance. The silver handles are also significant, as they represent the value and worth of the box's contents. The speaker then goes on to describe the box's contents, which are memories of a lost love.
The memories are described as being "faded" and "dim," which suggests that they are old and have been forgotten over time. However, the speaker still holds onto these memories, as they are a reminder of a time when they were happy and in love. The memories are also described as being "sweet" and "bitter," which suggests that they are a mix of both happy and sad emotions.
As the poem progresses, the speaker becomes more emotional and begins to reflect on their lost love. They describe the love as being "deep" and "true," which suggests that it was a powerful and meaningful relationship. However, the love is also described as being "lost" and "gone," which suggests that it is no longer present in the speaker's life.
The speaker then goes on to describe the pain and sadness that they feel as a result of the lost love. They describe the pain as being "sharp" and "deep," which suggests that it is a physical as well as emotional pain. The sadness is also described as being "heavy" and "dark," which suggests that it is a burden that the speaker carries with them.
Despite the pain and sadness, the speaker still holds onto the memories of their lost love. They describe the memories as being "precious" and "dear," which suggests that they are of great value to the speaker. The memories are also described as being "fragile" and "fleeting," which suggests that they are easily lost and must be cherished.
In the final stanza of the poem, the speaker reflects on the box with silver handles and the memories that it contains. They describe the box as being a "treasure" and a "relic," which suggests that it is something of great value and importance. The memories are also described as being a "gift" and a "blessing," which suggests that they are a source of comfort and hope for the speaker.
Overall, The House of Dust: Part 02: 08: The Box With Silver Handles is a powerful and emotional poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and memory. Aiken's use of vivid imagery and powerful language creates a sense of nostalgia and longing that is both beautiful and heartbreaking. The poem is a reminder that even though love may be lost, the memories of that love can still be cherished and held onto.
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