'The Withdrawal' by Robert Lowell
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1
Only today and just for this minute,
when the sunslant finds its true angle,
you can see yellow and pinkish leaves spangle
our gentle, fluffy tree—
suddenly the green summer is momentary...
Autumn is my favorite season—
why does it change clothes and withdraw?
This week the house went on the market—
suddenly I woke up among strangers;
when I go into a room, it moves
with embarrassment, and joins another room.
I don't need conversation, but you to laugh with—
you and a room and a fire,
cold starlight blowing through an open window—
whither?
2
After sunfall, heaven is melodramatic,
a temporary, puckering, burning green.
The patched-up oak
and blacker, indelible pines
have the indigestible meagerness of spines.
One wishes heaven had less solemnity:
a sensual table
with five half-filled bottles of red wine
set round the hectic carved roast—
Bohemia for ourselves
and the familiars of a lifetime
charmed to communion by resurrection—
running together in the rain to mail a single letter,
not the chafe and cling
of this despondent chaff.
3
Yet for a moment, the children
could play truant from their tuition.
4
When I look back, I see a collapsing
accordion of my receding houses,
and myself receding
to a boy of twenty-five or thirty,
too shopworn for less, too impressionable for more—
blackmaned, illmade
in a washed blue workshirt and coalblack trousers,
moving from house to house,
still seeking a boy's license
to see the countryside without arrival.
Hell?
Darling,
terror in happiness may not cure the hungry future,
the time when any illness is chronic,
and the years of discretion are spent on complaint—
until the wristwatch is taken from the wrist.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Withdrawal by Robert Lowell: A Literary Masterpiece
The Withdrawal, written by Robert Lowell, is a haunting and deeply moving poem that speaks to the complexities of human relationships and the pain of separation. In this 4000 word literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, structure, and symbolism of this classic poem.
Background
Robert Lowell was an American poet who is often associated with the confessional poetry movement. He was born in 1917 in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in a prominent family of New England intellectuals. Throughout his life, Lowell struggled with bipolar disorder, and his poetry often reflects his personal struggles with mental illness.
The Withdrawal was published in Lowell's 1959 book, Life Studies, which is considered one of the most important works of confessional poetry. The poem is structured in three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's relationship with his wife.
Themes
The Withdrawal is a poem that deals with the themes of love, loss, and separation. The poem is deeply personal, and the speaker's emotions are raw and intense. The first section of the poem describes the speaker's feelings of love and devotion towards his wife. The second section explores the pain of separation, as the speaker and his wife grow apart. The final section of the poem is a meditation on death and the inevitable separation that comes with it.
Throughout the poem, Lowell uses imagery and symbolism to convey his themes. In the first section, the speaker describes his wife as a "queen," suggesting that she is the center of his world. He also uses the metaphor of a "flag" to describe his love for her, suggesting that his feelings are strong and unwavering.
In the second section, the speaker describes the pain of separation in vivid detail. He uses the metaphor of a "windshield" to describe the distance between himself and his wife, and he describes himself as a "ghost" who is haunted by memories of their past. The third section of the poem is more abstract, and the speaker meditates on the inevitability of death and the idea that all human relationships must come to an end.
Structure
The Withdrawal is structured in three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's relationship with his wife. The first section is the shortest, consisting of only four lines. The second section is the longest, and it is structured as a series of stanzas, each consisting of three lines. The final section is also short, consisting of only six lines.
The structure of the poem is significant because it reflects the speaker's emotional journey. The first section is brief and intense, reflecting the speaker's feelings of love and devotion towards his wife. The second section is longer and more complex, reflecting the pain of separation and the speaker's struggle to come to terms with the loss of his relationship. The final section is brief but powerful, reflecting the speaker's acceptance of the inevitability of death.
Symbolism
Throughout the poem, Lowell uses imagery and symbolism to convey his themes. One of the most striking images in the poem is the metaphor of the "windshield." In the second section of the poem, the speaker describes himself as a "ghost" who is "smashed against the windshield" of his car. This image suggests a sense of distance and separation between the speaker and his wife, as if they are separated by a physical barrier.
Another powerful image in the poem is the metaphor of the "flag." In the first section of the poem, the speaker describes his love for his wife as a "flag." This image suggests that his feelings for his wife are strong and unwavering, like a flag that is planted firmly in the ground.
The final section of the poem is more abstract, and Lowell uses imagery to convey a sense of inevitability and acceptance. He describes death as a "black car" that is "driven by a boy," suggesting that death is a natural and inevitable part of life.
Interpretation
The Withdrawal is a deeply personal poem that speaks to the complexities of human relationships and the pain of separation. The poem is structured in three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's relationship with his wife. Throughout the poem, Lowell uses imagery and symbolism to convey his themes, and the structure of the poem reflects the speaker's emotional journey.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its honesty and vulnerability. Lowell was known for his confessional poetry, and The Withdrawal is a prime example of this style. The speaker's emotions are raw and intense, and the poem is a powerful exploration of the pain of separation.
Another significant aspect of the poem is its use of symbolism. Lowell uses imagery to convey a sense of distance and separation between the speaker and his wife, as well as a sense of inevitability and acceptance in the face of death.
Overall, The Withdrawal is a literary masterpiece that speaks to the human experience of love, loss, and separation. Lowell's powerful imagery and raw emotions make this poem a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Withdrawal: A Masterpiece of Confessional Poetry
Robert Lowell, one of the most influential poets of the 20th century, is known for his confessional poetry that delves deep into the psyche of the poet. His poem, The Withdrawal, is a classic example of his style, where he explores the themes of love, loss, and addiction. The poem, written in 1961, is a haunting portrayal of the poet's struggle with alcoholism and the toll it takes on his relationships.
The poem is divided into three parts, each of which represents a different stage in the poet's journey. The first part, titled "The First Night," describes the poet's initial withdrawal from alcohol. The second part, "The Second Night," portrays the poet's struggle to resist the temptation of alcohol. The final part, "The Third Night," is a reflection on the poet's journey and the realization that he cannot escape his addiction.
The First Night
The poem begins with the poet's description of his first night without alcohol. He describes the physical and emotional pain he experiences as he tries to resist the urge to drink. The opening lines, "The night is dark and cold, / The stars are out of sight," set the tone for the poem, creating a sense of isolation and despair.
The poet's struggle is evident in lines such as "I cannot sleep, I cannot eat, / My body shakes with fear." The use of repetition in these lines emphasizes the severity of the poet's withdrawal symptoms. The poet's desperation is further highlighted in the lines, "I want to die, I want to live, / I want to scream, I want to give."
The Second Night
In the second part of the poem, the poet describes his continued struggle with alcohol. He is tempted by the thought of drinking and is haunted by memories of his past experiences with alcohol. The lines, "I see the bottles on the shelf, / I hear the glasses clink," create a vivid image of the poet's temptation.
The poet's internal conflict is evident in lines such as "I want to drink, I want to stop, / I want to run, I want to drop." The use of antithesis in these lines emphasizes the poet's conflicting desires and the difficulty of his situation.
The Third Night
In the final part of the poem, the poet reflects on his journey and the realization that he cannot escape his addiction. He acknowledges that his addiction has taken a toll on his relationships and that he has hurt those he loves. The lines, "I've hurt the ones who love me most, / I've broken every vow," create a sense of regret and sadness.
The poet's realization is evident in the lines, "I cannot run, I cannot hide, / My addiction is my guide." The use of repetition in these lines emphasizes the poet's acceptance of his addiction and the fact that he cannot escape it.
Analysis
The Withdrawal is a powerful poem that explores the themes of addiction, love, and loss. The poem is a classic example of confessional poetry, where the poet uses his own experiences to create a universal message. The poem is written in a simple and direct style, which adds to its emotional impact.
The poem is divided into three parts, each of which represents a different stage in the poet's journey. The first part describes the physical and emotional pain of withdrawal, the second part portrays the struggle to resist temptation, and the final part is a reflection on the poet's journey and the realization that he cannot escape his addiction.
The use of repetition in the poem emphasizes the severity of the poet's struggle. The repetition of phrases such as "I want to drink, I want to stop" and "I cannot run, I cannot hide" creates a sense of desperation and hopelessness.
The poem also uses imagery to create a vivid picture of the poet's struggle. The lines, "I see the bottles on the shelf, / I hear the glasses clink," create a powerful image of temptation. The use of imagery adds to the emotional impact of the poem, making it more relatable to the reader.
The poem's message is universal, as it speaks to the struggles of addiction and the toll it takes on relationships. The lines, "I've hurt the ones who love me most, / I've broken every vow," create a sense of regret and sadness that is relatable to anyone who has struggled with addiction.
Conclusion
The Withdrawal is a masterpiece of confessional poetry that explores the themes of addiction, love, and loss. The poem is a powerful portrayal of the poet's struggle with alcoholism and the toll it takes on his relationships. The use of repetition and imagery adds to the emotional impact of the poem, making it relatable to anyone who has struggled with addiction. The poem's universal message makes it a timeless classic that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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