Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Mr. Edwards and the Spider" by Robert Lowell is a haunting and introspective poem that explores themes of mortality, divine judgment, and the fleeting nature of life. The poem draws inspiration from the fire-and-brimstone theology of Jonathan Edwards, an 18th-century preacher known for his vivid depictions of human sinfulness and the terrifying consequences of divine wrath. The spider, a central symbol in the poem, represents human vulnerability and insignificance in the face of an omnipotent God.

The poem begins with a vivid and eerie image of "spiders marching through the air, / Swimming from tree to tree" on a "mildewed day." The setting is described as latter August, a time when the hay is being gathered, evoking a pastoral scene tinged with decay. The spiders' movement through the air and their eventual death as they "purpose nothing but their ease and die" suggests the futility and transience of life. The spiders' journey "east to sunrise and the sea" implies a quest for renewal or escape, yet they meet an inevitable end.

Lowell then shifts to a theological reflection, questioning the nature of humanity in relation to God: "What are we in the hands of the great God?" This rhetorical question underscores human powerlessness and the absolute authority of the divine. The speaker reflects on the futility of human efforts to resist divine judgment, comparing it to setting up "thorn and briar / In battle array against the fire." This metaphor illustrates the inevitable failure of such resistance, as the "wild thorns grow tame / And will do nothing to oppose the flame."

The poem's central metaphor of the spider recurs with the assertion that "a little worm, / Or hourglass-blazoned spider" can kill a tiger, suggesting the disproportionate power of small, seemingly insignificant creatures. This parallels the idea that even a small sin can have dire consequences in the eyes of an omnipotent God. The imagery of God holding sinners "to the pit of hell, / Much as one holds a spider" emphasizes the precariousness of human existence and the ease with which God can condemn a soul.

Lowell recalls a personal childhood memory of watching a spider die when thrown into fire: "On Windsor Marsh, I saw the spider die / When thrown into the bowels of fierce fire." This image serves as a powerful metaphor for the sinner's final judgment, where "there’s no long struggle, no desire / To get up on its feet and fly." The spider's death is swift and absolute, mirroring the totality of divine condemnation. The phrase "whistle on a brick" further emphasizes the finality and helplessness of the situation, as the sinner is left with nothing but the remnants of their existence.

The poem concludes with a contemplation of the ultimate fate of the soul, using the example of Josiah Hawley, a historical figure from Edwards' congregation. Lowell imagines Hawley being cast "Into a brick-kiln where the blast / Fans your quick vitals to a coal." The intensity and eternity of this fiery punishment are underscored by the lines "Let there pass / A minute, ten, ten trillion; but the blaze / Is infinite, eternal." The repetition of time frames conveys the inescapability and horror of eternal damnation. The final line, "This is the Black Widow, death," identifies death itself as a consuming force, personified as a black widow spider, notorious for its lethal nature.

"Mr. Edwards and the Spider" is a profound meditation on the human condition, sin, and the power of divine judgment. Through rich and unsettling imagery, Robert Lowell captures the tension between human frailty and the omnipotence of God, reflecting on the existential dread and moral imperatives that such beliefs impose. The poem's allusions to Jonathan Edwards' theological ideas and its vivid portrayal of the spider as a symbol of mortality create a compelling narrative about the inevitable confrontation with death and judgment.

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