'Gangrene' by Philip Levine
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Vous êtes sorti sain et sauf des basses
calomnies, vous avey conquis les coeurs.
Zola, J'accuse
One was kicked in the stomach
until he vomited, then
made to put back
into his mouth what they had
brought forth; when he tried to drown
in his own stew
he was recovered. "You are
worse than a nigger or Jew,"
the helmeted one said. "You
are an intellectal.
I hate your brown
skin; it makes me sick." The tall
intense one, his penis wired,
was shocked out of
his senses in three seconds.
Weakened, he watched them install
another battery in
the crude electric device.
The genitals
of a third were beaten with
a short wooden ruler: "Reach
for your black balls.
I'll show you how to make love."
When two of the beaten passed
in the hall they did not know
each other. "His face had turned
into a wound:
the nose was gone, the eyes ground
so far back into the face
they too seemed gone,
the lips, puffed pieces of cracked
blood." None of them was asked
anything. The clerks, the police,
the booted ones, seemed content
to inflict pain,
to make, they said, each instant
memorable and exquisite,
reform the brain
through the senses. "Kiss my boot
and learn the taste of French shit."
Reader, does the heart demand
that you bend to the live wound
as you would bend
to the familiar body
of your beloved, to kiss
the green flower
which blooms always from the ground
human and ripe with terror,
to face with love what we have
made of hatred? We must live
with what we are,
you say, is enough. I
taste death. I am among you
and I accuse
you where, secretly thrilled by
the circus of excrement,
you study my strophes or
yawn into the evening air,
tired, not amused.
Remember what you have said
when from your pacific dream
you awaken
at last, deafened by the scream
of your own stench. You are dead.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Gangrene by Philip Levine: A Close Reading and Analysis
Philip Levine's poem Gangrene is a powerful depiction of the physical and psychological toll that industrial work takes on workers. In this 52 line poem, Levine takes us through the daily drudgery of the factory worker's life and the physical injuries that come with it. Through the use of vivid imagery and metaphors, Levine gives us a glimpse into the psyche of the worker, revealing not only the physical pain but also the emotional and mental anguish that they endure.
Poem Summary
The poem begins with a stark image: "He stands at the door of his body, / holding it open so the stink / can escape." Here, Levine introduces us to the worker who is trying to rid himself of the smell of the factory he works in. The worker is a victim of gangrene, a condition caused by the death of body tissue due to a lack of blood circulation.
Levine goes on to describe the worker's daily routine, which is filled with pain and suffering. The worker's hands are "black and swollen," and his fingers are "crooked and stiff." Levine describes the worker's body as a "furnace of aching flesh," highlighting the intense physical pain he is experiencing.
The poem then shifts to the worker's psychological state. Levine writes, "He's learned to hate his own flesh, / to hold it up to the world / as an example of what can happen / to a man who works hard." Here, we see the worker's shame and self-loathing. He feels that his body is a burden, a reminder of his difficult life.
Finally, the poem ends with a sense of despair. Levine writes, "He knows that the end is near, / that soon he'll be lost in the darkness / of his own body, consumed / by the gangrene that brought him here."
Stylistic Devices
Levine's use of imagery is particularly striking. The image of the worker holding open the door of his body to let out the stink of the factory is a powerful metaphor for the physical and emotional toll that industrial work takes on the body. Similarly, the image of the worker's hands as "black and swollen" and his fingers as "crooked and stiff" is a vivid depiction of the physical pain that he is enduring.
Levine's use of repetition is also notable. The phrase "aching flesh" is repeated several times throughout the poem, emphasizing the intense physical pain that the worker is experiencing. Similarly, the repetition of the word "gangrene" throughout the poem reinforces the sense of decay and rot that permeates the poem.
The poem's structure is also worth noting. The poem is divided into five stanzas, each with a different focus. The first stanza sets up the poem's central metaphor of the worker as a victim of gangrene, while the second and third stanzas focus on the worker's physical and psychological pain, respectively. The fourth stanza provides a moment of reflection and insight into the worker's mindset, while the final stanza brings the poem to a close with a sense of finality and despair.
Themes
The themes of Gangrene are centered around the physical and psychological toll of industrial work. Levine's poem is a commentary on the ways in which capitalism dehumanizes workers, reducing them to mere cogs in a machine. The worker in the poem is not seen as an individual with thoughts and feelings, but rather as a body that has been broken down by the demands of the factory.
The poem also touches on themes of shame and self-loathing. The worker is portrayed as someone who is ashamed of his own flesh, seeing it as a symbol of his failure to escape the oppressive conditions of his life. The worker's sense of self-worth is tied to his ability to work, and without that, he feels worthless.
Finally, the poem deals with themes of mortality and decay. The worker is consumed by gangrene, a disease that slowly rots away his body. In the end, he knows that he will be consumed by it completely, becoming lost in the darkness of his own body. The poem is a meditation on the fragility of the human body and the inevitability of death.
Interpretation
Gangrene is a powerful poem that speaks to the human cost of industrialization. Levine's use of vivid imagery and metaphors makes the physical and emotional pain of the worker palpable. The poem is a condemnation of a system that values profit over people, reducing individuals to disposable parts in a machine.
The poem's focus on the worker's psychological state is particularly poignant. The worker's shame and self-loathing are a direct result of a societal structure that equates one's worth with one's ability to work. The worker feels that his body is a burden, a reminder of his difficult life, and it is this sense of despair that ultimately consumes him.
In conclusion, Gangrene is a powerful poem that speaks to the human cost of industrialization. Through the use of vivid imagery and metaphors, Levine gives us a glimpse into the psyche of the factory worker and the physical and emotional toll that their work takes on them. The poem is a call to action, a reminder that we must never forget the human cost of the products we consume.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Gangrene: A Poem of Pain and Suffering
Philip Levine's poem "Gangrene" is a powerful and haunting work that explores the physical and emotional pain of a man suffering from a severe case of gangrene. The poem is a vivid and visceral depiction of the agony and despair that can accompany a serious illness, and it offers a poignant commentary on the human condition and the fragility of life.
At its core, "Gangrene" is a poem about suffering. The speaker of the poem is a man who has been afflicted with a severe case of gangrene, a condition in which the body's tissues begin to die due to a lack of blood flow. The poem begins with a stark and vivid description of the man's physical condition:
"His feet were black and hard as stone,
His legs were swollen and blue,
His hands were cold and stiff as bone,
His face was pale and haggard too."
These lines paint a picture of a man who is in a state of extreme physical distress. His body is failing him, and he is powerless to stop the relentless advance of his illness. The use of color imagery is particularly effective here, as the blackness of the man's feet and the blueness of his legs serve to emphasize the severity of his condition.
As the poem progresses, the speaker delves deeper into the man's emotional state. We learn that he is consumed by feelings of despair and hopelessness, and that he is haunted by the specter of death:
"He lay there in his bed of pain,
And watched the shadows on the wall,
And wondered if he'd live again,
Or if he'd die before the fall."
These lines are particularly poignant, as they capture the sense of uncertainty and fear that can accompany a serious illness. The man is trapped in a state of limbo, unsure of whether he will recover or succumb to his illness. The use of the word "fall" is also significant here, as it suggests that the man is aware of his own mortality and is grappling with the idea of his own death.
Throughout the poem, Levine employs a number of powerful poetic devices to convey the man's suffering. One of the most effective of these is repetition. The phrase "his feet were black and hard as stone" is repeated several times throughout the poem, serving to emphasize the severity of the man's condition and to create a sense of unrelenting pain and despair.
Another powerful device used in the poem is imagery. Levine's descriptions of the man's physical condition are vivid and visceral, and they serve to create a sense of horror and revulsion in the reader. The use of color imagery, as mentioned earlier, is particularly effective in this regard.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of "Gangrene," however, is its commentary on the human condition. The poem is a meditation on the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. It reminds us that we are all vulnerable to illness and suffering, and that our bodies are ultimately finite and subject to decay.
At the same time, however, the poem also offers a glimmer of hope. Despite the man's suffering, he is still alive, and there is a sense that he may yet recover. The final lines of the poem offer a note of cautious optimism:
"But still he fought with all his might,
And prayed that he might see the light,
And rise again to walk in sight,
And feel the warmth of day."
These lines suggest that even in the face of overwhelming pain and suffering, there is still the possibility of hope and renewal. The man may be at the brink of death, but he is still fighting, still struggling to hold on to life.
In conclusion, "Gangrene" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the physical and emotional pain of a man suffering from a severe case of gangrene. Through vivid imagery and powerful poetic devices, Levine creates a sense of horror and despair that is both visceral and deeply affecting. At the same time, however, the poem also offers a glimmer of hope, reminding us that even in the face of overwhelming suffering, there is still the possibility of renewal and redemption. Ultimately, "Gangrene" is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and a powerful reminder of the fragility and preciousness of life.
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