'The House Of Dust: Part 03: 09: Cabaret' by Conrad Aiken

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The House of Dust1917We sit together and talk, or smoke in silence.
You say (but use no words) 'this night is passing
As other nights when we are dead will pass . . .'
Perhaps I misconstrue you: you mean only,
'How deathly pale my face looks in that glass . . .'You say: 'We sit and talk, of things important . . .
How many others like ourselves, this instant,
Mark the pendulum swinging against the wall?
How many others, laughing, sip their coffee-
Or stare at mirrors, and do not talk at all? . . .'This is the moment' (so you would say, in silence)
When suddenly we have had too much of laughter:
And a freezing stillness falls, no word to say.
Our mouths feel foolish . . .For all the days hereafter
What have we saved-what news, what tune, what play?'We see each other as vain and futile tricksters,-
Posturing like bald apes before a mirror;
No pity dims our eyes . . .
How many others, like ourselves, this instant,
See how the great world wizens, and are wise? . . .'Well, you are right . . .No doubt, they fall, these seconds . . .
When suddenly all's distempered, vacuous, ugly,
And even those most like angels creep for schemes.
The one you love leans forward, smiles, deceives you,
Opens a door through which you see dark dreams.But this is momentary . . . or else, enduring,
Leads you with devious eyes through mists and poisons
To horrible chaos, or suicide, or crime . . .
And all these others who at your conjuration
Grow pale, feeling the skeleton touch of time,-Or, laughing sadly, talk of things important,
Or stare at mirrors, startled to see their faces,
Or drown in the waveless vacuum of their days,-
Suddenly, as from sleep, awake, forgetting
This nauseous dream; take up their accustomed ways,Exhume the ghost of a joke, renew loud laughter,
Forget the moles above their sweethearts' eyebrows,
Lean to the music, rise,
And dance once more in a rose-festooned illusion
With kindness in their eyes . . .They say (as we ourselves have said, remember)
'What wizardry this slow waltz works upon us!
And how it brings to mind forgotten things!'
They say 'How strange it is that one such evening
Can wake vague memories of so many springs!'And so they go . . .In a thousand crowded places,
They sit to smile and talk, or rise to ragtime,
And, for their pleasures, agree or disagree.
With secret symbols they play on secret passions.
With cunning eyes they seeThe innocent word that sets remembrance trembling,
The dubious word that sets the scared heart beating . . .
The pendulum on the wall
Shakes down seconds . . .They laugh at time, dissembling;
Or coil for a victim and do not talk at all.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The House Of Dust: Part 03: 09: Cabaret - A Dazzling Display of Imagery and Emotion

Conrad Aiken's "The House of Dust: Part 03: 09: Cabaret" is a masterpiece of poetic imagery and emotional depth. The poem paints a vivid picture of a cabaret, where various characters each have their own unique story to tell. Through the use of powerful language and evocative imagery, Aiken transports the reader to this world of glittering lights and dark desires. In this literary criticism, we will explore the various themes and symbols present in the poem, and examine how they contribute to the overall effect of the work.

The Setting

The cabaret is the central setting of the poem, and Aiken's descriptions of it are truly breathtaking. He paints a picture of a world of "smoke and shimmer and glittering lights," where "the wine flows, and the laughter is free." This world is one of excess and indulgence, where people come to forget their troubles and lose themselves in the moment. Aiken captures this atmosphere perfectly, with his rich descriptions of the "purple shadows" and "dazzling mirrors" that fill the cabaret.

At the same time, however, Aiken never lets us forget that this world is also one of darkness and danger. The cabaret is a place of "whispers and strange laughter," where "eyes gleam in the shadows." Aiken uses this imagery to suggest that there is always a hidden danger lurking beneath the surface of this seemingly carefree world. The cabaret is a place of both pleasure and pain, where people come to escape their problems, but also where they are confronted with the harsh realities of life.

The Characters

The poem is populated by a cast of characters, each with their own unique story to tell. There is the "dancer," who is "pale and fragile as a flower," and who seems to be hiding a secret pain. There is the "musician," who plays "with a fierce, wild joy," and who seems to be living only for the moment. There is the "old man," who watches the scene from a distance, and who seems to be filled with regret for the things he has lost.

Each of these characters represents a different aspect of human experience, and Aiken uses them to explore some of the deepest emotions and desires that drive us all. The dancer, for example, represents the fragility of human life, and the pain that we all carry with us. The musician represents the joy and passion that we all seek, while the old man represents the regret and nostalgia that comes with age and experience.

The Themes

The central themes of the poem are those of pleasure and pain, light and darkness, and the fleeting nature of human existence. Aiken uses the cabaret as a metaphor for life itself, with all its joys and sorrows, its beauty and its ugliness. The poem suggests that we are all caught up in this world of smoke and mirrors, and that we are all seeking some kind of escape from the realities of life. At the same time, however, Aiken also suggests that there is a deeper truth behind this world of illusion, and that it is only by confronting our pain and our fears that we can truly understand ourselves and our place in the world.

The Symbols

Throughout the poem, Aiken employs a range of powerful symbols to deepen its emotional impact. The most obvious of these is the cabaret itself, which serves as a symbol for the human condition. The glittering lights and dazzling mirrors represent the illusions that we all cling to in order to avoid the harsh realities of life, while the whispers and strange laughter represent the hidden dangers that lurk beneath the surface.

Another powerful symbol in the poem is the dancer, who represents the fragility of human life. Aiken describes her as "pale and fragile as a flower," suggesting that we are all delicate and ephemeral beings, easily crushed by the weight of the world around us.

The music also serves as a powerful symbol in the poem, representing the emotional power that can be found in art. Aiken describes the musician as playing "with a fierce, wild joy," suggesting that art has the power to lift us out of our everyday lives and transport us to a higher plane of existence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The House of Dust: Part 03: 09: Cabaret" is a dazzling display of poetic imagery and emotional depth. Aiken's descriptions of the cabaret, its characters, and its themes are all masterful, and the symbols he employs serve to deepen the emotional impact of the work. Through this poem, Aiken reminds us that life is both beautiful and painful, and that it is only by confronting our pain and our fears that we can truly understand ourselves and our place in the world.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The House of Dust: Part 03: 09: Cabaret by Conrad Aiken is a classic poem that takes the reader on a journey through the world of cabaret. This poem is a part of the larger work, The House of Dust, which is a collection of poems that explore the themes of love, loss, and the human condition. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning behind this particular poem and explore the various literary devices used by the author to convey his message.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the cabaret as a place of "smoke and mirrors." This phrase immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it suggests that the cabaret is a place of illusion and deception. The speaker goes on to describe the various characters that inhabit the cabaret, including the dancers, the musicians, and the patrons. He describes the dancers as "slender, supple, and languorous," while the musicians are "dark and passionate." The patrons, on the other hand, are described as "jaded and cynical," suggesting that they have been to the cabaret many times before and have become disillusioned with its charms.

As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to focus on one particular dancer, whom he describes as "a flame in a mist." This dancer is clearly the object of the speaker's desire, as he describes her movements in great detail. He notes how she "sways and glides" across the stage, and how her "lithe body" moves in perfect harmony with the music. The speaker is clearly captivated by this dancer, and his description of her is both sensual and poetic.

However, the speaker's infatuation with the dancer is short-lived, as he soon becomes aware of the darker side of the cabaret. He notes how the dancers are "pale and tired," and how the musicians "play on and on, as if they were in a trance." The speaker begins to feel a sense of unease, as he realizes that the cabaret is not the glamorous and exciting place that he had imagined. Instead, it is a place of exhaustion and despair, where the dancers and musicians are trapped in a cycle of endless performances.

The poem reaches its climax when the speaker witnesses a violent altercation between two patrons. He describes how one of the patrons "lunged and struck" the other, and how the other patron "fell back, his face a mask of blood." This sudden outburst of violence shatters the illusion of the cabaret, and the speaker is forced to confront the reality of the world outside.

In the final stanza of the poem, the speaker reflects on his experience at the cabaret. He notes how the dancers and musicians are "slaves of the rhythm," and how the patrons are "slaves of their own desires." He realizes that the cabaret is a place of bondage, where people are trapped by their own passions and desires. The speaker concludes by stating that he will never return to the cabaret, as he has seen the truth behind its glittering facade.

One of the most striking features of this poem is its use of imagery. The author uses vivid descriptions to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. For example, the description of the dancers as "slender, supple, and languorous" creates a sensual and erotic atmosphere, while the description of the musicians as "dark and passionate" creates a sense of intensity and drama. The use of the phrase "smoke and mirrors" also creates a sense of illusion and deception, which is a recurring theme throughout the poem.

Another important literary device used in this poem is symbolism. The cabaret itself can be seen as a symbol of the human condition, where people are trapped by their own desires and passions. The dancers and musicians can be seen as symbols of the creative spirit, which is often exploited and commodified by the entertainment industry. The violent altercation between the patrons can be seen as a symbol of the destructive nature of human desire, which can lead to violence and chaos.

In conclusion, The House of Dust: Part 03: 09: Cabaret by Conrad Aiken is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of illusion, desire, and the human condition. Through its use of vivid imagery and powerful symbolism, the poem creates a sense of atmosphere and mood that is both sensual and unsettling. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human experience, and it remains a classic work of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.

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