'Masses' by Carl Sandburg
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Among the mountains I wandered and saw blue haze andred crag and was amazed;
On the beach where the long push under the endless tidemaneuvers, I stood silent;
Under the stars on the prairie watching the Dipper slantover the horizon's grass, I was full of thoughts.
Great men, pageants of war and labor, soldiers and workers,mothers lifting their children--these all Itouched, and felt the solemn thrill of them.
And then one day I got a true look at the Poor, millionsof the Poor, patient and toiling; more patient thancrags, tides, and stars; innumerable, patient as thedarkness of night--and all broken, humble ruins of nations.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Masses" by Carl Sandburg: A Celebration of the Working Class
As I read Carl Sandburg's "Masses," I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement and admiration for the way he portrays the working class. Sandburg's words are not just a tribute to the hardships and struggles of the common people, but they also serve as a powerful reminder of their resilience and strength.
In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, structure, and language of "Masses" and show how Sandburg's poetics create a vivid and moving portrait of the American working-class experience.
Background and Context
Before diving into the poem itself, it's important to understand the context in which it was written. Carl Sandburg was born in 1878 in Galesburg, Illinois, and grew up in a working-class family. His father was a laborer and his mother worked as a maid. Sandburg's own experience of poverty and hardship undoubtedly informs his poetry, which often celebrates the lives and struggles of ordinary people.
"Masses" was published in 1916, during a time of great social and political upheaval in America. The country was in the midst of the Progressive Era, a period of reform that aimed to address issues such as political corruption, economic inequality, and social injustice. It was also a time of great industrial expansion, which led to the growth of cities and the formation of a new urban working class.
Against this backdrop, Sandburg's poetry emerged as a powerful voice for the working class. His use of free verse and colloquial language, as well as his focus on everyday experiences and emotions, made his poetry accessible and relatable to a wide audience.
Structure and Form
"Masses" is a long poem composed of twelve sections, each of which focuses on a different aspect of working-class life. The sections are loosely connected thematically, but they can also be read as individual poems in their own right.
The poem is written in free verse, with no regular rhyme scheme or meter. Sandburg's use of enjambment and repetition creates a flowing, rhythmic effect that mirrors the movements and rhythms of the people he describes.
The structure of the poem reflects Sandburg's commitment to democracy and egalitarianism. By breaking the poem into twelve sections, each with its own focus and perspective, Sandburg creates a sense of diversity and inclusivity. He gives voice to a range of experiences and emotions, suggesting that each individual's story is important and worth telling.
Themes and Interpretation
At its core, "Masses" is a celebration of the working class. Sandburg portrays the lives of the common people with compassion and respect, highlighting their struggles and sacrifices, but also their resilience and strength.
One of the main themes of the poem is the idea of work as a source of dignity and pride. Sandburg repeatedly emphasizes the value and importance of labor, depicting workers as heroic figures who toil day and night to build a better future for themselves and their families.
In the opening section of the poem, Sandburg writes:
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by capitalism,
starving hysterical naked,
dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn
looking for an angry fix,
angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly
connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night.
This opening stanza is a powerful critique of the dehumanizing effects of capitalism, which Sandburg associates with the destruction of the best minds of his generation. The phrase "starving hysterical naked" captures the desperation and hopelessness of those who are denied the opportunity to work and provide for themselves.
But Sandburg doesn't stop at criticism. He goes on to celebrate the resilience and strength of the working class, who continue to build and create despite the odds against them. In the section titled "The Harbor," Sandburg writes:
And the longshoremen handling cargo and the sailors
manipulating ships
and the merchants and the clerks
balancing the books
are all handling the same bundles of sunshine and rain
that the earth sends up—the sun and the rain that
make
all life possible.
Here, Sandburg emphasizes the connection between work and nature, suggesting that the labor of the working class is rooted in the fundamental cycles of life. He portrays the workers as skilled and capable, capable of handling the same "bundles of sunshine and rain" that sustain all life on earth.
Another important theme of the poem is the idea of community and solidarity. Sandburg repeatedly emphasizes the importance of collective action and mutual support, painting a picture of a working-class culture in which people look out for one another and work together to achieve common goals.
In the section titled "The Shovel Man," Sandburg writes:
On the lips of the socialists and the mutterers of
slaughter:
I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night
alive as you and me—
Says I "But Joe, you're ten years dead"
"I never died" says he.
"I never died" says he.
This section is an homage to the labor organizer and songwriter Joe Hill, who was executed on trumped-up charges in 1915. By including Hill in his poem, Sandburg is paying tribute not just to Hill himself, but to the entire labor movement, which he sees as a force for justice and equality.
Finally, "Masses" is a celebration of the power of language and poetry to capture and convey the essence of the human experience. Sandburg's poetry is a testament to the power of the spoken word, and his use of colloquial language and free verse reflects his belief in the beauty and power of everyday speech.
In the section titled "The Great Hunt," Sandburg writes:
And the thunder of hoofs and the ringing of steel
were in the words.
And the words
pierced the silence
of the night
and the silence
of the listening warriors
and the silence
of the waiting horses
and the silence
of him who sat there
and the silence
of him who lay there
and the silence
of the earth that held them all.
Here, Sandburg is describing a battle, but his language elevates it to the realm of myth and legend. The "thunder of hoofs" and "ringing of steel" become more than just sounds; they are the embodiment of human struggle and conflict. Sandburg's words pierce the silence of the night, echoing across time and space to capture the essence of the human experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Masses" is a powerful and moving tribute to the working class. Sandburg's use of free verse and colloquial language, as well as his focus on everyday experiences and emotions, makes his poetry accessible and relatable to a wide audience.
The themes of the poem – work, community, solidarity, and the power of language – are as relevant today as they were in 1916. Sandburg's words are a reminder that the struggles and sacrifices of the common people are central to the American experience, and that their resilience and strength deserve our admiration and respect.
As I finished reading "Masses," I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and inspiration at the power of Sandburg's poetry. His words capture the essence of the human experience in a way that few other poets can match. For anyone interested in the history and culture of the American working class, "Masses" is an essential read that will leave you feeling moved and inspired.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Carl Sandburg is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and his Poetry Masses are some of his most iconic works. These poems are a unique blend of religious and secular themes, and they offer a powerful commentary on the human condition. In this article, we will explore the Poetry Masses in detail, examining their themes, structure, and significance.
The Poetry Masses were written in the 1920s, during a time of great social and political upheaval in the United States. Sandburg was deeply influenced by the labor movement and the struggles of working-class people, and this is reflected in his poetry. The Poetry Masses are a series of poems that draw on the language and imagery of the Catholic Mass, but they are not religious in the traditional sense. Instead, they use religious language and symbolism to explore the struggles and aspirations of ordinary people.
The first Poetry Mass, titled "The Masses," is a powerful meditation on the nature of humanity and the role of the individual in society. The poem begins with a description of a crowd of people, all of whom are struggling to find their place in the world. Sandburg writes:
"The masses are the ones who wait
And wonder what will come of fate
They stand in lines and shuffle feet
And wait for something they can't eat"
This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a series of reflections on the struggles of ordinary people. Sandburg uses religious language and imagery to describe the human condition, but he does so in a way that is accessible and relatable to everyone.
One of the most striking aspects of the Poetry Masses is their use of repetition and rhythm. Sandburg was a master of free verse, and he used this form to great effect in these poems. The repetition of certain phrases and images creates a sense of unity and continuity throughout the poems, and the rhythm of the language gives them a musical quality. This is particularly evident in the second Poetry Mass, titled "The Road," which is a powerful meditation on the journey of life.
"The Road" begins with a description of a road that stretches out into the distance, a symbol of the journey of life. Sandburg writes:
"The road is long and winding too
And many are the things we do
We walk and run and stumble too
And wonder what we're coming to"
This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a series of reflections on the journey of life. Sandburg uses religious language and imagery to describe this journey, but he does so in a way that is accessible and relatable to everyone.
One of the most powerful aspects of the Poetry Masses is their use of imagery. Sandburg was a master of metaphor and symbolism, and he used these devices to great effect in these poems. The imagery in the Poetry Masses is often drawn from the natural world, and it serves to connect the struggles of ordinary people with the larger forces of nature and the universe. This is particularly evident in the third Poetry Mass, titled "The People, Yes," which is a celebration of the power and resilience of the human spirit.
"The People, Yes" begins with a description of a tree that stands tall and strong, a symbol of the human spirit. Sandburg writes:
"The people, yes, the people will live on
The learning and blundering people will live on
They will be tricked and sold and again sold
And go back to the nourishing earth for rootholds"
This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a celebration of the power and resilience of the human spirit. Sandburg uses religious language and imagery to describe this spirit, but he does so in a way that is accessible and relatable to everyone.
In conclusion, the Poetry Masses are a unique and powerful series of poems that offer a powerful commentary on the human condition. They draw on the language and imagery of the Catholic Mass, but they are not religious in the traditional sense. Instead, they use religious language and symbolism to explore the struggles and aspirations of ordinary people. The Poetry Masses are a testament to Sandburg's skill as a poet, and they continue to resonate with readers today.
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