Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Last Supper" by Rainer Maria Rilke delves into one of the most iconic moments in Christian theology, capturing it with a profound psychological acuity. The poem illustrates the scene of Jesus' last supper with his disciples, a moment heavy with foreshadowing and complex emotions. Rilke chooses to focus less on the doctrinal aspects of the event and more on the emotional and psychological states of the figures involved, particularly Jesus himself.

The poem begins with the disciples described as "wondering and deranged," highlighting the emotional turbulence in the air. Despite being in the presence of the one they have followed and revered, they find themselves baffled and disconnected. This is particularly significant when we consider the man at the center, Jesus, who "wisely doth Himself inclose." He is portrayed as simultaneously present and absent, accessible and remote. The line "And who now takes Himself away, estranged," captures this paradox: Jesus is physically there but mentally and spiritually preparing for the lonely path that he must walk, a path that leads to the crucifixion.

As the poem progresses, Rilke homes in on Jesus' emotional state, describing him as feeling "the ancient loneliness" that has guided his most profound acts of love. This loneliness will continue to envelop him, even as he goes to the olive groves, foreshadowing the garden of Gethsemane where he will be betrayed. The disciples, despite their love for him, "all will flee away," underscoring the inevitable solitude that Jesus must face.

Rilke draws a vivid comparison between the disciples and birds frightened from a garden-bed, an analogy that evokes the disciples' sudden realization of the gravity of the moment. The word of Jesus, presumably his prediction of betrayal, scatters them, making them "flutter round the table in their fright." Yet, no matter where they go, Jesus "Is everywhere, like dusk at fall of night." This haunting line captures the inescapable presence of Jesus, a presence that will linger long after his physical departure.

In this compact narrative, Rilke captures the tension, the awe, and the looming sense of tragedy that surrounds the Last Supper. He renders the complexities of human emotion and divine purpose through well-crafted lines and vivid imagery. As with much of Rilke's work, the poem serves as a meditation on isolation, both human and divine, and the conflicting pulls of love and destiny. It reveals the emotional layers behind a scene often depicted in religious and artistic traditions, adding depth and nuance to an already powerful narrative.

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