Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Discussion After the Fifth or Sixth," by Kenneth Fearing, is a complex exploration of the duality of human nature through the lens of intoxication and sobriety. The poem delves into the relationship between the "sober" self and the "inebriated" self, revealing a nuanced dialogue between these contrasting aspects of the narrator's identity. Fearing uses the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde metaphor to illustrate this inner conflict and expose the hypocrisy, rationalization, and self-deception inherent in both personas.

The poem opens with a reference to "the sober one," suggesting a discussion between two sides of the same person: "Now, about that other one, the sober one, / (To be objective, for a change, about one's public self. After / all, each of us has that stupider side)." The narrator acknowledges the existence of a "public self" while implying that sobriety often leads to judgmental attitudes toward the "stupider side," or the drunk persona.

Fearing introduces the "self-appointed Dr. Jekyll" who shares a name and being with "his Mr. Hyde (as he would put it) of the night." This duality is emphasized through the metaphor of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, suggesting that the sober and drunk personas coexist uneasily within the same person. The sober persona's moralizing attitude is highlighted: "That fellow with the curdled eyes and not quite steady hands (poor guy, he must be slipping), to say nothing of a disposition that is really a wonderful, wonderful thing in itself."

The poem continues with an acknowledgment of the sober self's hypocritical nature: "Take him, / And all his pathetic protests and his monumental vows to abstain, totally, forthwith (these need not concern us here)." The "pathetic protests" and "monumental vows" indicate that the sober persona frequently makes promises to quit drinking but fails to follow through. The narrator dismisses these promises as irrelevant to the discussion, focusing instead on the sober persona's self-righteous attitude.

Fearing exposes the sober persona's hypocrisy: "But, more especially, his pious recantations and denials, his ceaseless libel of one who is (why dodge the issue?) his mental, physical, and yes, moral superior." The drunk persona, despite being perceived as morally inferior, is defended as the "mental, physical, and yes, moral superior." The narrator questions the sober self's judgmental attitude, revealing the hypocrisy in his moral superiority.

The narrator poses a rhetorical question that challenges the sober persona's narrow perspective: "Does he think that he is the only one? / Does he think that he is the only man on earth who has felt this / thing?" The narrator criticizes the sober persona's assumption that his experiences are unique, emphasizing that many people experience similar struggles and emotions.

The poem explores the concept of escape: "From which (drinking, he says, is just an escape) he searches daily, down a thousand familiar avenues, for an escape that simply does not exist." The sober persona dismisses drinking as "just an escape" but fails to recognize that he is also searching for an elusive escape. His "Chinese dreams" and "childish ambitions" are seen as equally futile attempts to find meaning and purpose.

The narrator continues to criticize the sober persona: "That fool (who must, it seems, be suffered) (but not gladly), that bore (and who has tolerated most? Has overlooked most? Which of us has forgiven most?), that fool in love with some frowsy fate that plays with him as a cat plays with a mouse." Here, the narrator suggests that the sober persona is not only hypocritical but also self-pitying, presenting himself as a martyr who "has forgiven most."

The poem culminates in a direct challenge to the sober persona's self-righteousness: "That fool (and this, at last, is the question), what would his decency amount to, but for the simple decency of this escape?" The narrator questions the value of the sober persona's "decency," arguing that it is only sustained through the "simple decency of this escape."

The narrator ends with a conditional statement: "If this is not true, / If this is not the final truth, then no one here is drunk, drunk / as a sovereign Lord of France." The repetition of "if this is not" emphasizes the narrator's certainty in his perspective. The final lines challenge the sober persona's denial of reality, suggesting that the truth is "as hard as hell and stronger than death."

In "Discussion After the Fifth or Sixth," Kenneth Fearing masterfully examines the internal dialogue between conflicting aspects of the self, using the metaphor of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to highlight the hypocrisy and self-deception in human nature. The poem's structure, with its shifting perspectives and rhetorical questions, creates a compelling narrative that exposes the complexity and duality of the narrator's identity. Ultimately, Fearing's work reveals the fragility of moral superiority and the ways in which individuals rationalize their behavior to maintain a sense of self-respect.

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