Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Ludwig Van Beethoven's Return to Vienna" by Rita Dove captures the turbulent yet profound inner world of Beethoven as he confronts his increasing deafness. Through eloquent and vivid imagery, Dove illustrates not only Beethoven’s personal struggles and resilience but also his complex relationship with music and his environment.

The poem begins with Beethoven describing a village near Vienna, a place of serenity and apparent tranquility where he was sent to recover. The imagery of the Danube as "a pale ribbon tossed onto the landscape by a girl’s careless hand" evokes a sense of gentle, untroubled nature, in stark contrast to the inner turmoil that Beethoven experiences. This setting of peace outside contrasts sharply with the storm within Beethoven, emphasizing the discord between his external and internal worlds.

Beethoven’s accommodations are modest, "two rooms, plus a small kitchen," a setting that suggests a retreat into simplicity and reflection. The image of the linden tree, "leafy umbilicus canted toward light, warped in the very act of yearning," metaphorically mirrors Beethoven’s own striving and distorted pursuit for artistic clarity and creation in the face of his deafness. The notion of feeding "on the sun as if that alone would dismantle the silence around me" poignantly expresses his desperate desire to transcend his isolation caused by his encroaching silence.

Dove skillfully captures Beethoven's frustration and rage against his condition, describing how "music raged in me, rising so swiftly I could not write quickly enough to ease the roiling." The music within him is relentless, an unstoppable force that compels him to compose, despite physical limitations. His interruptions—"to light a lamp"—only to be overwhelmed by the missed sounds of life (larks, church bells, shepherd’s song) highlight the acute sensitivity to the absence of sound, which fuels his frustration and creative fury.

Beethoven characterizes himself as "a conflagration," a powerful force more inclined to action than passivity. His return to Vienna is depicted as an almost triumphant reclaiming of his space within the vibrant cultural life of the city, despite his personal afflictions. The city, with her "gypsy skirts," is personified as a dynamic entity that welcomes him back, an ever-burning source of inspiration and challenge.

The poem then delves deeper into Beethoven’s psyche, revealing his view of tenderness and violence as intertwined forces within him. Every gentle touch revives an "ache so permanent and deep," underscoring the persistent pain of his unending struggle with deafness and the emotional volatility that accompanies his genius.

The final lines are a testament to his complex identity and the irony of his condition. He has composed a new symphony and piano variations named after Prometheus, the mythological figure who suffered eternally for giving fire to humanity—a fitting parallel to Beethoven's own sacrifices for his art. The poem concludes with a heart-wrenching acknowledgment of his deafness amidst the applause he cannot hear, capturing the poignant reality of his existence where he "cannot stop listening," despite his profound hearing loss.

Through "Ludwig Van Beethoven's Return to Vienna," Rita Dove presents a powerful portrayal of Beethoven that intertwines his personal afflictions with his relentless pursuit of musical expression, framed within a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

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