Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "The Great Palaces of Versailles" by Rita Dove, the poem crafts a vivid juxtaposition between the opulent history of the French aristocracy and the reality of a Black woman named Beulah working in a dress shop in the United States. This piece cleverly uses the metaphor of clothing and fashion to explore themes of racial and social inequality, historical contrast, and personal dignity amidst societal constraints.

The poem opens with Beulah, a seamstress, muttering discontentedly about white people while she works on alterations in the backroom of Charlotte's Dress Shoppe. The setting immediately establishes the contrast between her environment and the grandiosity implied by the title, which references the famed French palace of Versailles. The steam rising from the cranberry wool, imbued with her sweat and the scent of cheap perfume, underscores her physical labor and the oppressive conditions of her work, forming a stark contrast to the luxurious lives of those who once roamed Versailles.

As Beulah irons, the narrative shifts between her immediate surroundings and her thoughts, which are filled with images from the past and from the books she has read. Dove highlights the racial divide by describing the "white girls" in the shop trying on clothes with shoulder pads, aiming to appear delicate like movie stars, while Beulah works out of sight, separated by a mere curtain yet worlds apart in terms of social standing and opportunity.

The poem then delves deeper into Beulah's reflections on the French court. She recalls how the aristocratic women, in a show of false modesty, would discreetly relieve themselves among the garden lilies, their actions belying the elegance of their silken garments. This historical anecdote serves as a metaphor for the hidden, unseemly aspects of those who outwardly maintain a façade of refinement and civility. By paralleling this with her own act of rebellion—saving the lining of a botched coat to use for herself—Beulah connects her small subversions to a broader theme of what lies beneath the surface of genteel appearances.

Dove also brings in the image of the French cavaliers, who, despite their perfumed and powdered exteriors, engaged in less refined behavior by marking the walls of the Orangerie with urine. This act of marking territory, both literal and metaphorical, reflects on the social dynamics of power and entitlement, whether in a French palace or a modern dress shop.

Towards the end of the poem, the clattering of a hanger and the image of a white woman, Autumn, casually discussing her need for a protective man while smoking, bring Beulah back to her reality. These elements emphasize the social and racial barriers that keep Beulah in her place, behind the scenes and out of the glamorous spotlight that the white women effortlessly inhabit.

Through "The Great Palaces of Versailles," Dove uses the historical backdrop of Versailles—a symbol of ultimate luxury and power—as a foil to Beulah's humble and constrained existence. The poem is a critique of social and racial disparities that persist over time, illustrating how the opulence of the past mirrors in the inequities of the present. Beulah's internal world, rich with historical knowledge and a sharp sense of irony, allows her a form of quiet resistance against the social order that seeks to keep her invisible. This poignant narrative weaves together history, literature, and the personal struggle for dignity against the backdrop of societal roles prescribed by race and class.

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