Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Eleanor Wilner's poem "The Show Must Go On" serves as a profound commentary on the cyclical and unending nature of conflict, as well as the desensitization of society to the horrors of war. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, Wilner critiques the way violence and suffering are often presented as distant spectacles, reducing the gravity of human loss to mere entertainment or remote events.

The poem opens with an epigraph from Mahmoud Darwish, which immediately sets a somber tone and signals the reader that the following verses will delve into the harsh realities of conflict and remembrance. The line "I just want to remember the dead piled high behind the curtain" foreshadows the poem's exploration of concealed truths and the unseen consequences of ongoing violence.

Wilner begins by reflecting on the longevity of the "play," a metaphor for the continuous cycle of war and conflict. The shifting allegiances and changing names of enemies underscore the arbitrary and often confusing nature of political and military strife. The idea that "truth kept changing sides" suggests a world where moral clarity is elusive, and the reasons for conflict are constantly redefined.

The poem's middle section starkly contrasts the experiences of those directly affected by violence with those who observe it from a distance. The "players" who "spilled into the audience" symbolize the intrusion of war into everyday life, forcing people to confront its brutal reality. In contrast, the "dollhouse screen" represents the sanitized and detached portrayal of conflict through media, where distant suffering becomes mere "fireflies in a bottle," devoid of immediacy and emotional impact.

Wilner poignantly addresses the disparity between lived experiences and mediated representations of violence. The phrase "unless the street were yours" emphasizes that empathy and true understanding are often reserved for those directly affected. For others, the line between reality and fiction blurs, as "so much was not what it seemed," creating a sense of disbelief and detachment.

The poem critiques the role of media and propaganda, represented by the "upbeat" music and the "reassuring pour of syrup" from the voiceover. This comforting narrative contrasts sharply with the grim reality behind the scenes, where the "labels changed" but the "plot remained unvarying." This unchanging plot signifies the inevitability and predictability of violence, despite superficial changes in context or presentation.

The closing stanzas return to the imagery of the theater, where the audience's hopeful anticipation contrasts with the grim reality concealed by the curtain. The "piled high" bodies symbolize the accumulating toll of human suffering hidden from public view. The poem suggests a collective denial or hope that somehow the actors, representing those caught in the conflict, might "untwine themselves" and return to normalcy.

However, the final image of actors removing their "eyeless masks" in the darkened hall underscores the futility of this hope. The masks, which obscure vision and identity, symbolize the dehumanization and anonymity of those involved in the conflict. The act of lifting these masks reveals the exhausted and disillusioned individuals behind them, who remain unseen and unrecognized in the broader narrative.

"The Show Must Go On" is a powerful critique of how society consumes and processes the spectacle of war. Wilner's use of theater as a metaphor exposes the disconnection between the observed and the experienced, highlighting the moral and emotional distance that allows such cycles of violence to persist. Through this poignant and unsettling imagery, the poem calls for a deeper awareness and remembrance of the true cost of conflict.

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