'The Withdrawal' by Robert Lowell
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19771
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
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Withdrawal by Robert Lowell: A Deep Dive into the Depths of the Human Psyche
Have you ever felt a deep sense of longing for something or someone that is no longer there? Have you ever experienced the pain of loss, the agonizing feeling of being unable to let go of the past? These are some of the themes that Robert Lowell explores in his poignant poem, "The Withdrawal."
At first glance, "The Withdrawal" appears to be a simple narrative about a man who is struggling to come to terms with the death of his father. However, upon closer inspection, the poem reveals itself to be a profound meditation on the nature of grief and the human psyche.
Structure and Form
Before we delve into the content of the poem, it's worth taking a moment to appreciate the structure and form of "The Withdrawal." The poem consists of six stanzas, each containing a varying number of lines. The lines themselves are irregular in length and do not follow a strict rhyme scheme or meter.
This lack of formal structure mirrors the chaotic and tumultuous emotions that the speaker is experiencing. It also serves to emphasize the fragmented and disjointed nature of memory, which is a recurring theme throughout the poem.
The Pain of Loss
The first stanza of "The Withdrawal" sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker describes his father's death as a "blow" that has left him reeling and unable to make sense of his emotions.
He speaks of the "emptiness" and "loss" that he feels, emphasizing the depth of his grief. The use of these abstract nouns highlights the intangible nature of the speaker's pain and the difficulty he faces in articulating it.
The second stanza is particularly powerful, as the speaker describes the physical toll that his grief has taken on him. He speaks of the "weight" that he feels, as if he is carrying a heavy burden that is impossible to shake off.
This image of weight and burden is repeated throughout the poem, serving as a metaphor for the emotional weight that the speaker is carrying with him. It also emphasizes the physicality of grief, which can manifest itself in a variety of physical symptoms.
The Inability to Let Go
One of the most striking aspects of "The Withdrawal" is the speaker's inability to let go of his father. He speaks of how he is constantly haunted by memories of his father, unable to escape their grasp.
In the third stanza, the speaker describes how he is unable to sleep because he is plagued by dreams of his father. He speaks of how his father "comes back" to him in these dreams, emphasizing the sense of longing and desire that he feels.
This theme of longing is further emphasized in the fourth stanza, where the speaker speaks of how he is constantly searching for his father in the world around him. He describes how he looks for his father in the faces of strangers, hoping to catch a glimpse of him once more.
This inability to let go of the past is a common theme in literature, and "The Withdrawal" is no exception. However, what sets this poem apart is the rawness and honesty with which the speaker expresses his emotions.
The Fragmented Nature of Memory
Another recurring theme in "The Withdrawal" is the fragmented nature of memory. The speaker's memories of his father are not linear or coherent but rather disjointed and hazy.
In the fifth stanza, the speaker describes how his memories of his father are like "shards of broken glass," emphasizing the fragmented and incomplete nature of his recollections.
This image is particularly powerful as it suggests that the speaker's memories are not only incomplete but also painful, much like the shards of broken glass that cut and wound.
The Finality of Death
The final stanza of "The Withdrawal" is perhaps the most poignant of all. The speaker speaks of how his father's death has forced him to confront the finality of death and the impermanence of life.
He describes how his father's death has made him realize that "the longed-for isn't," emphasizing the sense of loss and disappointment that he feels.
This realization is a common theme in literature, as characters are often forced to confront the harsh realities of life and the inevitability of death. However, the way in which Lowell handles this theme is particularly powerful, as he emphasizes the sense of disappointment and loss that the speaker feels.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Withdrawal" is a powerful and poignant poem that explores the themes of grief, loss, and the human psyche. Through its lack of formal structure and its honest and raw portrayal of the speaker's emotions, the poem speaks to the universal experience of loss and the difficulty of letting go of the past.
Ultimately, "The Withdrawal" serves as a reminder that grief is a complex and multifaceted emotion that can manifest itself in a variety of ways. However, by exploring these emotions and confronting the finality of death, we can begin to come to terms with our loss and find a way to move forward.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Withdrawal by Robert Lowell is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a powerful and emotional piece that explores the themes of love, loss, and addiction. The poem is written in free verse and is divided into three sections. In this analysis, we will take a closer look at each section and explore the deeper meaning behind the words.
Section One:
The first section of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the piece. It begins with the lines, "I am a man who no longer believes in the myth of the soul." This line immediately grabs the reader's attention and sets the stage for what is to come. The speaker is a man who has lost faith in the idea of the soul, which suggests that he has experienced some kind of trauma or loss that has caused him to question his beliefs.
The next few lines describe the speaker's addiction to drugs. He talks about how he has "swallowed a black spider" and how it has "spun a web inside me." This metaphor is powerful because it suggests that the addiction has taken over the speaker's body and mind, just like a spider spins a web to trap its prey.
The speaker then goes on to describe his relationship with his lover. He talks about how they used to be "two nights of the same star," but now they are "two separate planets." This metaphor suggests that the speaker and his lover have grown apart and are no longer connected in the same way they once were.
Section Two:
The second section of the poem is where the speaker really delves into his emotions. He talks about how he feels "like a man who has been thrown out of a car and left to die." This metaphor is powerful because it suggests that the speaker feels abandoned and alone, just like someone who has been left on the side of the road to die.
The speaker then goes on to describe his lover in more detail. He talks about how she is "a woman who loves him but is ashamed of him." This line is particularly poignant because it suggests that the speaker's addiction has caused him to feel shame and that his lover is aware of this.
The speaker then talks about how he feels like he is "drowning in a sea of love." This metaphor is interesting because it suggests that the speaker is overwhelmed by his emotions and that he feels like he is drowning in them.
Section Three:
The final section of the poem is where the speaker begins to find some hope. He talks about how he wants to "climb out of this hole" and how he wants to "be a man again." This line is powerful because it suggests that the speaker is ready to take control of his life and overcome his addiction.
The speaker then talks about how he wants to "be with his lover again." This line is interesting because it suggests that the speaker still has hope for his relationship and that he wants to work things out with his lover.
The poem ends with the lines, "I want to be a man again, to be a woman again, to be a human being again." These lines are powerful because they suggest that the speaker wants to reclaim his humanity and overcome his addiction. They also suggest that the speaker wants to reconnect with his lover and find a way to move forward together.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, The Withdrawal by Robert Lowell is a powerful and emotional poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and addiction. The poem is divided into three sections, each of which delves deeper into the speaker's emotions and experiences. The use of metaphors and imagery is particularly effective in conveying the speaker's feelings and experiences. Overall, The Withdrawal is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today.
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