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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"The Committee" by Cecil Day Lewis offers a satirical and introspective look at the nature of committee meetings and the broader implications of group decision-making processes. Through detailed character sketches and a keen observation of dynamics, Day-Lewis paints a vivid picture of the archetypical committee, its members, and the often futile quest for consensus and direction. The poem opens with a familiar scene: a committee that convenes repeatedly, adhering to a "never-much-altered agenda" and engaging in well-practiced debates. Each member is characterized by a distinct role or attribute, from A’s conspicuous integrity to B’s ability to argue both sides, C’s possession of facts, and D’s devotion to dogma. E and F add to the diversity with their contrasting dispositions, while the chairman skillfully navigates the complexities of leading such a group without becoming its victim. Despite their differences, Day-Lewis notes a unifying sense of public spirit among the committee members. They are all engaged in the search for an elusive, all-encompassing directive, a metaphor for the often abstract and intangible goals of such gatherings. Meanwhile, the world outside continues unaffected by their deliberations—the changing seasons, the passing of time, the natural world—underscoring the insularity and potential irrelevance of their efforts. The poet questions the purpose and outcome of these meetings, pondering whether a meaningful resolution or merely a temporary modus vivendi can emerge from the clash of "irreconcilables." The eventual compromise, while a common endpoint for committees, leaves open the question of its significance and effectiveness. Is it a satisfactory conclusion, sanctioned by destiny, or merely another step in an endless, cyclical process? The closing lines reveal the speaker’s weariness and disillusionment, not only with the committee's proceedings but with the solitary burden of leadership and decision-making. The silent secretary's task of recording the minutes becomes a poignant symbol of the ephemeral nature of such endeavors, subject to the scrutiny of higher authorities, the erasure of time, or the abrupt changes brought by "a brusque new life." Ultimately, "The Committee" reflects on the inefficiencies and frustrations inherent in collective decision-making, while also touching on broader themes of leadership, responsibility, and the search for meaningful action in a complex world. Day-Lewis’s critique extends beyond the committee room, questioning the value of democratic processes versus autocratic "methods of the dictatorships," and highlighting the existential challenge of navigating between these extremes in both public and personal realms.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE UNKNOWN CITIZEN by WYSTAN HUGH AUDEN THE CHARCOAL-SELLER by PO CHU-YI THE NEW COMMITTEES by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS UNKNOWN CITIZEN by WYSTAN HUGH AUDEN FRIGATE JONES, THE PUSSYFOOTER by KENNETH BURKE SUBURBAN BUREAUCRATIC MENTALITY POEM by MICHAEL CERAOLO |
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