Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Howard Nemerov's poem "The Murder of William Remington" confronts the chilling realities of political repression, the consequences of mob mentality, and the pervasive fear that permeates a society where dissent is equated with betrayal. Through his reflection on the brutal killing of William Remington, a government official accused of being a communist sympathizer during the Red Scare, Nemerov critiques the broader implications of such an environment.

The poem opens with a resigned acknowledgement: "It is true, that even in the best-run state / Such things will happen; it is true, / What's done is done." These lines set a tone of inevitability and resignation, suggesting that even in a supposedly just society, atrocities occur. The repetition of "it is true" underscores a sense of grim acceptance, emphasizing that the event is an unfortunate but real consequence of societal dynamics.

Nemerov then addresses the limitations of the law: "The law, whereby we hate / Our hatred, sees no fire in the flue / But by the smoke, and not for thought alone / It punishes, but for the thing that's done." Here, he critiques the legal system's inability to address the underlying emotions and thoughts that lead to violence. The law reacts to visible actions ("the smoke") rather than the hidden motivations ("the fire"), punishing individuals for their deeds without understanding the deeper causes.

The poem transitions to a more personal and empathetic perspective: "And yet there is the horror of the fact, / Though we knew not the man." Nemerov emphasizes the universal horror of Remington's fate, irrespective of personal acquaintance. The vivid imagery of "To die in jail, / To be beaten to death, to know the act / Of personal fury before the eyes can fail" captures the brutality and intimate terror of Remington's final moments. The mention of "the cold last wall / Of the lonely world" evokes a profound sense of isolation and despair.

Nemerov expands the scope of his critique to societal fears: "There is the terror too of each man's thought, / That knows not, but must quietly suspect / His neighbor, friend, or self of being taught / To take an attitude merely correct." This reflects the pervasive atmosphere of suspicion and conformity, where individuals fear being perceived as disloyal or subversive. The phrase "merely correct" suggests a shallow adherence to socially sanctioned beliefs, driven by fear rather than genuine conviction.

The poem continues with the image of self-reflection: "Being frightened of his own cold image in / The glass of government, and his own sin." Nemerov highlights the anxiety of seeing oneself mirrored in the state's oppressive apparatus, recognizing one's own potential complicity or vulnerability. The fear of "senate house and prison wall / Be quarried of one stone" suggests a seamless, indistinguishable blend of governance and punishment, where political institutions and penal systems are constructed from the same material of control and repression.

The concluding lines deliver a powerful indictment: "Lest righteous and high / Look faintly smiling down and seem to call / A crime the welcome chance of liberty, / And any man an outlaw who aggrieves / The patriotism of a pair of thieves." Nemerov condemns the hypocrisy of those in power, who mask their self-interest and corruption with a veneer of patriotism and righteousness. The idea that true freedom is criminalized while the deceitful cloak themselves in patriotic virtue captures the poem's central critique of moral and political corruption.

"The Murder of William Remington" is a poignant and incisive commentary on the dangers of political persecution, the dehumanizing effects of fear, and the moral complexities faced by individuals within a repressive society. Through his evocative language and penetrating insights, Nemerov invites readers to reflect on the consequences of allowing hatred and suspicion to govern societal actions, and the tragic outcomes of a world where justice is subverted by fear and hypocrisy.

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