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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"The Angels" by John Updike provides a profound meditation on the transcendent power of art and literature, likening the works of great composers and writers to celestial beings that influence and illuminate our mundane existence. Updike's poem elegantly crafts an analogy between these cultural icons and angels, suggesting that their creations offer glimpses of a higher, more enlightened state of being. The poem begins by elevating the composers—Mozart, Bach, Scarlatti, Handel, and Brahms—to the status of benevolent watchers "above us all the time." These "good gentlemen" are depicted as dispensing "measures of light down upon us," a metaphor for the enlightenment and beauty their music provides. The reference to these measures of light as something lavished upon us underscores the generosity and abundance with which these artistic gifts are given. Through their music, they communicate a persistent message: "there is a realm above this plane of silent compromise." This line suggests that art provides insight into a more perfect, idealistic existence that transcends the everyday world of concessions and mediocrity. Transitioning from music to literature, Updike shifts focus to the giants of literary history—Shakespeare, Tolstoy, the Bible, Proust, and Cervantes. These works are metaphorically described as "the abysmal books," a phrase that captures both their profound depth and perhaps a hint of the overwhelming challenge they pose to readers. Like leaky furnace doors, these books emit a continuous warmth and energy, yet they also pose a hazard with their intense, sometimes uncomfortable, truths. They are "minepits of honesty," suggesting both the danger and the rich rewards of delving into their depths. The act of escaping from these literary depths with "dilated suspicions" implies that these encounters expand our perceptions and leave us with more questions than answers, challenging our understanding of truth and reality. The final plea of the poem, "Love us, dead thrones, sing us to sleep, awaken our eyes, comfort with terror our mortal afternoons," encapsulates the dual nature of great art and literature: it is both a solace and a challenge. The phrase "dead thrones" interestingly conveys a sense of lost majesty and authority, perhaps acknowledging the diminished role of classical art in the modern world. Yet, there is also a call for these works to continue their influence— to lull us, to enlighten us, and to unsettle us. This contradiction—comforting yet terrifying—highlights the complex impact of art on human consciousness. It comforts by providing beauty and escape, yet it terrifies by forcing us to confront profound truths about our existence. Overall, "The Angels" suggests that artists and their creations are not merely relics of the past but are ever-present forces that guide, challenge, and elevate the human spirit. Through this poem, Updike celebrates the enduring power of cultural achievement to speak across generations, offering both solace and stimulation in our "mortal afternoons." The imagery and language employed here elevate the discourse to a near-spiritual experience, inviting readers to reconsider the essential role of the arts in understanding and enriching life.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ARTIST'S SUSTENANCE by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN THE OLD AND THE NEW MASTERS by RANDALL JARRELL TO A YOUNG ARTIST by ROBINSON JEFFERS BOATS IN A FOG by ROBINSON JEFFERS ART VS. TRADE by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE POET VISITS THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS by MARY OLIVER ON PASSION AS A LITERARY TRADITION by JOHN CIARDI |
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