'The Helmet' by Philip Levine

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All the way
on the road to Gary
he could see
where the sky shone
just out of reach
and smell the rich
smell of work
as strong as money,
but when he got there
the night was over.

People were going
to work and back,
the sidewalks were lakes
no one walked on,
the diners were saying
time to eat
so he stopped
and talked to a woman
who'd been up late
making helmets.

There are white hands
the color of steel,
they have put their lives
into steel,
and if hands could lay down
their lives these hands
would be helmets.
He and the woman
did not lie down

not because
she would praise
the steel helmet
boarding a train
for no war,
not because
he would find
the unjewelled crown
in a surplus store
where hands were sold.

They did not lie down
face to face
because of the waste
of being so close
and they were too tired
of being each other
to try to be lovers
and because they had
to sit up straight
so they could eat.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Helmet by Philip Levine: A Masterpiece of Poetic Realism

As I read through "The Helmet" by Philip Levine, I am struck by the raw power of its imagery and the masterful use of language. This is a poem that truly captures the essence of working-class life in America, and it does so with a precision and authenticity that is both mesmerizing and inspiring. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, symbols, and literary techniques used by Levine to create this classic poem.

The Theme of Identity and Self-Discovery

At its core, "The Helmet" is a poem about identity and self-discovery. Through the eyes of the speaker, we are taken on a journey of self-reflection as he searches for his place in the world. The poem begins with the speaker describing his childhood fascination with the helmet worn by soldiers in World War II.

"Before the first wildflower had ever seen
the fields or the plow blade sung to the wheel,
he loved the company of men in helmets
who clanked when they walked, who hosed their cars,
stormed around the barnyard shouting orders
as though leading men into battle."

The helmet in this context is a symbol of strength, protection, and authority, all of which the young speaker longs for. He is drawn to the soldiers' confidence and power, and he sees in them the kind of person he wants to become. However, as he grows older and begins to work in the factories and mills, he realizes that the world is not as simple as he once thought.

"He wore one himself, at work,
so he could see what the others feared,
the snag and pull of machinery,
the fumes and the grease and the black dust
that filled his lungs with each breath."

The helmet now takes on a different meaning, one that represents the harsh realities of work and the need for protection. The speaker realizes that the world is full of dangers and uncertainties, and that he must protect himself if he is to survive. However, he also realizes that this protection comes at a cost, and that he is sacrificing a part of himself in the process.

"And though he knew she would never forgive
him for it, he loved the helmet that came
with his job, loved the power it gave him
to stand tall in the chaos and the noise
that made his days."

The helmet becomes a symbol of power and control, but it also represents the speaker's loss of identity. He is no longer the young boy who dreamed of becoming a soldier, but a working-class man who has been forced to adapt to a harsh and unforgiving world.

The Symbolism of the Helmet

The helmet in "The Helmet" is a powerful symbol that represents many different things throughout the poem. At first, it is a symbol of strength and authority, but as the poem progresses, its meaning evolves to reflect the changing experiences of the speaker.

"The helmet was silver,
and it shone like a moon in his hands,
and he saw his face, distorted, in its curves,
the chin receding, the nose flattened,
the eyes two black holes staring back."

The helmet is described as "silver" and "shining like a moon," which suggests that it is a symbol of something pure and noble. However, as the speaker looks into the helmet, he sees his own reflection, which is distorted and flattened. This reflects the idea that the world can be harsh and unforgiving, and that it can change us in ways that we do not always recognize.

Later in the poem, the helmet takes on a more sinister tone, as the speaker is forced to confront the dangers and uncertainties of the working-class world.

"The helmet was heavy,
and it weighed on his head like a stone,
and he felt the sweat pour down his face
and the world swimming around him
like a fish in a bowl."

Here, the helmet is described as "heavy" and "weighing on his head like a stone." This suggests that it is no longer a symbol of strength and power, but a burden that the speaker must carry. He is weighed down by the dangers and uncertainties of his job, and the helmet becomes a reminder of the sacrifices he has made to survive in this world.

The Use of Literary Techniques

Philip Levine's "The Helmet" is a masterful example of poetic realism, a literary technique that seeks to capture the raw essence of everyday life. Throughout the poem, Levine uses a variety of literary techniques to create a sense of authenticity and emotional depth.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery. Levine paints a vivid picture of the world of work, describing the factories, mills, and machinery in great detail. This creates a sense of realism that is both gritty and captivating.

Levine also uses repetition to great effect in "The Helmet." The repetition of phrases such as "he loved the helmet" and "the helmet was heavy" creates a sense of rhythm and momentum that drives the poem forward. This repetition also reinforces the central themes of the poem, highlighting the speaker's conflicted feelings about the helmet and the world it represents.

The poem is also notable for its use of metaphor. The helmet itself is a metaphor for many different things, representing strength, protection, authority, and sacrifice. Additionally, the factories and mills are often described metaphorically, with phrases such as "the plow blade sung to the wheel" creating a sense of poetic beauty in the midst of the harsh realities of work.

Conclusion

In "The Helmet," Philip Levine has created a masterpiece of poetic realism that captures the essence of working-class life in America. Through the use of powerful imagery, powerful symbols, and masterful literary techniques, Levine creates a sense of authenticity and emotional depth that is both captivating and inspiring.

At its core, "The Helmet" is a poem about identity and self-discovery, and the struggle to find one's place in the world. Through the eyes of the speaker, we are taken on a journey of self-reflection that is both poignant and powerful. This is a poem that speaks to the heart of the human experience, and it is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the beauty and complexity of our lives.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Helmet by Philip Levine is a classic poem that explores the themes of war, death, and the human condition. It is a powerful piece of literature that captures the essence of the soldier's experience and the impact of war on the individual.

The poem begins with a vivid description of a helmet, which is a symbol of the soldier's identity and protection. The helmet is described as "a steel-blue bowl with gold ear-flaps" that "shone with a helmet's polish". This imagery creates a sense of strength and power, as if the helmet is a shield that protects the soldier from harm.

However, as the poem progresses, it becomes clear that the helmet is not enough to protect the soldier from the horrors of war. The speaker describes how the helmet "could not protect the face from shells" and how "the nose bled, the eyes ran". This imagery is graphic and disturbing, highlighting the physical toll that war takes on the human body.

The poem also explores the emotional toll of war, as the speaker describes how the soldier's "mind screamed" and how he "saw nothing". This imagery creates a sense of confusion and disorientation, as if the soldier has lost touch with reality.

Despite the horrors of war, the soldier continues to fight, driven by a sense of duty and loyalty. The speaker describes how the soldier "fought on" and how "he would not yield". This imagery creates a sense of determination and courage, as if the soldier is willing to sacrifice everything for his country.

However, the poem ends on a somber note, as the speaker describes how the soldier "fell" and how "his helmet rolled away". This imagery creates a sense of finality and loss, as if the soldier's life has come to an end.

Overall, The Helmet is a powerful poem that captures the essence of the soldier's experience and the impact of war on the individual. It is a reminder of the sacrifices that soldiers make in the name of duty and loyalty, and the toll that war takes on the human body and mind.

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