Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"A Man and Woman Absolutely White" by André Breton offers a vivid and surreal exploration of beauty, desire, and the transient nature of existence, characteristic of Surrealist poetry. Breton, a founder of the Surrealist movement, is renowned for his work's ability to juxtapose the ordinary with the fantastical, creating imagery that challenges perceptions and invites deeper contemplation on the human condition.

The poem opens with a striking image of "marvelous prostitutes" under a parasol, immediately setting a scene that blends elements of everyday life with an aura of the extraordinary. The mention of their dress, "a bit faded on the side of the streetlight color of the woods," introduces a theme of decay and the passage of time, suggesting that beauty and vitality are fleeting. This imagery evokes a sense of nostalgia and melancholy, as the vibrancy of life fades with the passage of time.

Breton's surrealistic vision is further expanded through the metaphor of "a big piece of wallpaper," evoking the idea of life as a facade or a constructed reality that we walk with, unable to separate from our public personas. The comparison of this wallpaper to objects associated with abandonment and decay—a house under demolition, a fallen marble seashell, a net of chains—deepens the sense of transience and loss. These images conjure a world where beauty and decay coexist, where the remnants of the past linger in the present.

The "great instinct of combustion" that "seizes the streets" suggests a destructive yet transformative force, akin to passion or desire that consumes and alters the landscape of our lives. The women stand like "grilled flowers," an image that captures the simultaneous destruction and beauty of their existence, their vitality and allure underscored by the inevitability of their fading.

Breton's poetry often delves into the subconscious, and this poem is no exception, with its dream-like imagery of eyes raising a wind of stone and the women sinking immobile into a whirlwind's center. This paradoxical stillness amidst chaos reflects the complexity of human emotions and experiences, the internal struggles that define our existence.

The poem culminates in a profound meditation on the essence of life, represented by the women's breasts—"a point of sunlight in the dark night," "stars on the waves," sources of "invisible blue milk." These images symbolize life's nurturing and sustaining forces, the deep, often unseen connections that bind us to each other and the world. The rhythm of their rise and fall becomes "the only exact measure of life," a reminder of the constant presence of change and the cycles that govern existence.

"A Man and Woman Absolutely White" is a testament to Breton's mastery of surrealism and his ability to weave complex, layered imagery into a coherent narrative that invites readers to reflect on the beauty, decay, and the profound mysteries of life. Through this poem, Breton challenges us to see beyond the surface, to explore the depths of our own subconscious, and to recognize the impermanent yet eternal nature of human desire and connection.

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