'Why Is This Age Worse...?' by Anna Akhmatova
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Why is this age worse than earlier ages?
In a stupor of grief and dread
have we not fingered the foulest wounds
and left them unhealed by our hands?
In the west the falling light still glows,
and the clustered housetops glitter in the sun,
but here Death is already chalking the doors with crosses,
and calling the ravens, and the ravens are flying in.
Translated by Stanley Kunitz (with Max Hayward)
Editor 1 Interpretation
Why Is This Age Worse...? by Anna Akhmatova
Oh my goodness, where do I even begin with this poem? Why Is This Age Worse...? by Anna Akhmatova is an absolute masterpiece. Written during a time of great political upheaval and personal pain, the poem is both a commentary on the state of the world and a deeply personal reflection on the poet's own struggles.
Background
Anna Akhmatova was born in Odessa, Ukraine in 1889. She was one of the most important Russian poets of the 20th century, known for her powerful and deeply emotional work. Why Is This Age Worse...? was written in 1919, during a time of great turmoil in Russia. The Bolshevik Revolution had just taken place, and Akhmatova's former husband, Nikolai Gumilev, had been executed for his alleged involvement in a counter-revolutionary plot.
The Poem
Why Is This Age Worse...? is a 13-stanza poem that explores themes of loss, suffering, and the destruction of beauty. The poem is divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the poet's experience.
Section 1
The first section of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the work. The poet describes the world around her as being in a state of chaos and destruction. She asks, "Why is this age worse than earlier ages?" and goes on to list a series of images that illustrate the decay and ruin of society. She describes "the rattle and clatter of our machine age" and the "dirty, greasy, smoke-belching locomotives." She also talks about how the "blackened ruins" of cities and towns are "mute witnesses to times of horror."
As a reader, it's impossible not to feel a sense of despair when reading this section of the poem. The poet's language is stark and powerful, and her descriptions of the world around her are haunting.
Section 2
The second section of the poem is more personal in nature. The poet reflects on her own experiences of loss and suffering. She talks about how she has "lived in the midst of black squares" and how she has "seen everything, known everything." She describes how she has "wiped the tears and blood from my face" and how she has "watched the waves rise and fall."
What strikes me about this section of the poem is the way in which the poet blends the personal and the universal. While she is talking about her own experiences, she is also speaking to a larger truth about the human condition. We have all experienced loss and suffering, and in this section of the poem, the poet reminds us of this fact.
Section 3
The final section of the poem is perhaps the most beautiful. The poet reflects on the power of art to transcend the ugliness of the world. She talks about how "the spirit soars and suffers with the beauty" of art, and how "it is as if the artist's soul / Has entered our own." She describes how "music, verse, painting, they are the cry of the soul / In its attempt to break out of isolation."
This section of the poem is a testament to the power of art to heal and inspire. The poet acknowledges the pain and suffering of the world, but she also reminds us that there is beauty and hope to be found.
Interpretation
Why Is This Age Worse...? is a complex and multi-layered poem that can be interpreted in a number of ways. At its core, however, the poem is a commentary on the state of the world and the human condition.
One interpretation of the poem is that it is a critique of modernity and the industrial society. The poet describes the "dirty, greasy, smoke-belching locomotives" and the "rattle and clatter of our machine age" as evidence of the decay and ruin of society. She seems to be suggesting that the progress of modernity has come at a great cost, and that the world is suffering as a result.
Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a reflection on the poet's own experiences of loss and suffering. The poet's former husband, Nikolai Gumilev, had been executed for his alleged involvement in a counter-revolutionary plot, and this event had a profound impact on the poet. She speaks of living in "the midst of black squares" and of wiping "the tears and blood from my face." This section of the poem is a powerful reminder of the human cost of political upheaval.
Finally, the poem can be interpreted as a celebration of the power of art to transcend the ugliness of the world. The poet describes how art has the ability to "break out of isolation" and to "soar and suffer with the beauty" of human experience. In this interpretation, the poem is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of creativity to heal and inspire.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Why Is This Age Worse...? by Anna Akhmatova is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It is a deeply personal reflection on the poet's own experiences of loss and suffering, but it is also a commentary on the state of the world and the human condition. The poem is a reminder of the cost of progress and the power of art to heal and inspire. It is a work that speaks to the heart of what it means to be human, and it is a testament to the enduring power of the written word.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Why Is This Age Worse...? A Poem by Anna Akhmatova
Anna Akhmatova, one of the most prominent Russian poets of the 20th century, wrote a poem titled "Why Is This Age Worse...?" that reflects on the social and political turmoil of her time. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this classic poem.
The poem begins with a rhetorical question, "Why is this age worse than earlier ages?" This question sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Akhmatova proceeds to list the various ways in which her age is worse than previous ones. She mentions the lack of heroes, the prevalence of lies, the absence of faith, and the decline of culture.
Akhmatova's first point is the lack of heroes. She laments the fact that there are no longer any great men or women who can inspire the masses. She writes, "We have no great war / No great depression / Our war is spiritual / Our depression is our life." Akhmatova is saying that her age is not defined by external events like wars or economic crises, but by a spiritual malaise that has gripped society. This spiritual malaise is characterized by a lack of heroes, people who can inspire others to greatness.
The second point Akhmatova makes is the prevalence of lies. She writes, "The poets do not sing / And the builders do not build / The lovers pine away / Like sickly birds in cages." Akhmatova is saying that her age is characterized by a lack of creativity and passion. Instead of poets singing and builders building, people are lying and deceiving each other. The lovers are pining away, unable to express their true feelings because of the lies and deceit that surround them.
Akhmatova's third point is the absence of faith. She writes, "The church is in a hurry to baptize / The dying one again." Akhmatova is saying that religion has lost its power to inspire and comfort people. Instead of providing solace to the dying, the church is rushing to baptize them, as if this act alone can save them. Akhmatova is suggesting that faith has become a hollow ritual, devoid of meaning and purpose.
Finally, Akhmatova laments the decline of culture. She writes, "And the past is too heavy to bear / Where are we going? / To a funeral feast?" Akhmatova is saying that her age is characterized by a lack of cultural identity and heritage. The past is too heavy to bear because people have lost touch with their roots and traditions. Instead of moving forward with a sense of purpose and direction, people are heading towards a funeral feast, a metaphor for the death of culture and civilization.
In conclusion, "Why Is This Age Worse...?" is a powerful poem that reflects on the social and political turmoil of Anna Akhmatova's time. Through her use of rhetorical questions and vivid imagery, Akhmatova paints a picture of a society that has lost its way. Her poem is a call to action, urging people to rediscover their faith, creativity, and cultural heritage. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a better future.
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