Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Of Being Numerous: 18," George Oppen offers a stark, unsettling reflection on the normalization of violence and atrocity in modern life. The poem's brevity and powerful imagery underscore the chilling reality that such horrors have become commonplace, often met with a level of detachment or acceptance that belies their true nature.

The poem opens with the line, "It is the air of atrocity," which immediately sets a grim tone. The word "air" suggests something pervasive and inescapable, as if atrocity has become a part of the very atmosphere we breathe. This line implies that acts of extreme violence or cruelty have become so frequent or widespread that they no longer shock or surprise; instead, they have become a background element of everyday life.

Oppen then describes an atrocity as "An event as ordinary / As a President." This comparison is particularly striking because it juxtaposes the horror of atrocity with the mundane, routine presence of a national leader. By equating atrocity with something as common and accepted as a president, Oppen highlights how desensitized society has become to acts of violence. The presence of a president is typically associated with order, leadership, and the regular functioning of a state, yet here, it is placed on the same level as atrocity, suggesting a deep moral and ethical erosion.

The poem continues with the image of "A plume of smoke, visible at a distance / In which people burn." This vivid and horrifying imagery captures the aftermath of violence—perhaps a bombing, fire, or other destructive act—where the burning of human beings is reduced to a distant, almost abstract visual. The "plume of smoke" is a familiar sight, something that might be observed from afar without fully grasping the human suffering it represents. The distance in this image not only refers to physical space but also to the emotional and psychological distance that allows people to witness such horrors without being directly affected or moved to action.

By depicting atrocity as both ordinary and distant, Oppen critiques the ways in which modern society has become numb to violence. The poem suggests that the frequent occurrence of such events has led to a kind of collective desensitization, where the burning of people—an unimaginable horror—can be observed from a distance, noted, and perhaps even forgotten.

In "Of Being Numerous: 18," Oppen confronts the reader with the unsettling reality that atrocity has become an accepted part of the modern world, as common and unremarkable as any other routine event. Through his spare and powerful language, he challenges us to consider the implications of this normalization of violence and to reflect on the ways in which we have become detached from the suffering of others. The poem serves as a stark reminder of the moral and ethical consequences of living in a world where such horrors are allowed to occur with alarming regularity, and where the collective response is often one of apathy or helplessness.

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