Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Paul Verlaine's "Cortege" constructs a tableau that is both extravagant and unsettling, inviting us to ponder themes of colonialism, desire, and objectification. The poem begins with a "silver-vested monkey" performing tricks for a woman, who is described in detail, focusing on her "well-gloved finger-tips" and the "kerchief's lace" she is twisting. Following her is a "little negro," who is also described as "a red elf," carrying her "drooping train." The poem evokes a sense of aristocratic luxury but then complicates this image with layers of subtext about race, class, and power dynamics.

The primate in the poem is depicted as entranced by the woman's allure, particularly her "breast." This fixation suggests the human inclination toward desire and material possession, elevated here to an almost divine level-"Would call a god out of the skies." On the other hand, the monkey could represent the way colonial 'exoticism' is packaged for consumption in aristocratic settings.

The figure of the "little negro" is troubling in its representation. He is described as an "elf," stripping him of his humanity and reducing him to a mythic or fictional figure. He lifts the woman's train "higher than need be," aspiring perhaps to get a glance at what he "dreams" about "all night." This seems to be a perverse reversal; while the monkey is fixated on the woman's breast, the young servant is focused on the hidden parts beneath her "train." These observations are imbued with the racial and colonial exploitation that was rampant during Verlaine's time, presenting a tableau that is luxurious on the surface but rotten underneath.

Both the monkey and the young servant are performing roles for the woman's benefit, yet she is "Indifferent or unaware" of their actions. Her aloofness suggests a complicit, or at least passive, acceptance of the colonial and racial dynamics at play. Her detachment from her "familiar animals" also draws attention to the nature of subjugation: she is so accustomed to the performances surrounding her that they've lost all sense of meaning or importance.

This poem is a rich tapestry of opulence and exploitation, inviting a close scrutiny of the manners in which desires-whether sexual, material, or colonial-are manifested and consumed within society. At its core, "Cortege" is a critique of aristocratic indulgence, drawing attention to the troubling underpinnings of what, at first glance, seems to be a scene of mere luxury and excess. It holds up a mirror to the reader, challenging us to confront the complex interplay of race, class, and desire that continues to be a part of our collective social consciousness.

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