Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Lawrence Durrell’s poem "Thasos" is a meditation on the indifference of history and the nature of human existence as viewed through the lens of a specific place, Thasos, an island rich in historical and cultural significance. Through its ironic and reflective tone, the poem explores themes of power, war, peace, and the role of poets and artists in interpreting the world around them. Durrell contrasts the fleeting nature of political and historical events with the enduring power of poetry and artistic expression.

The poem opens with the exclamation "Indifferent history!"—a phrase that sets the tone for the entire piece. History, as Durrell presents it, is indifferent to the human drama that unfolds within it. This indifference raises a fundamental question: "Can we choose what really matters most?" This question implies that, in the grand sweep of history, human efforts to assign meaning and importance to events may be futile or arbitrary, as history itself remains unconcerned with our attempts to impose order or significance on it.

Durrell then provides a vivid image of "Three hundred oars" that "munched up the gulf," a reference to naval warfare, likely evoking the ancient conflicts that have shaped the history of places like Thasos. The image is both physical and metaphorical, capturing the relentless advance of history and the violence that often accompanies it. The "tyrant fell," and "the wise men turned their beds / To face the East"—a symbolic act that might represent a shift in power or allegiance. However, Durrell immediately undercuts the gravity of these historical events by noting that they were "war," but also equates the mundane acts of "eating and excreting" with "peace," suggesting that the distinction between war and peace is superficial, defined not by noble ideals but by the exhaustion of those in power.

The line "Sporting the broad purple — this was peace" is particularly telling. The "broad purple" refers to the color of royalty or high rank, implying that peace, in this context, is merely the preservation of status and power for the ruling class. For "demagogues exhausted by sensations," peace is less about genuine tranquility or justice and more about the maintenance of their comfort and authority.

Durrell then introduces the concept of "covens of delight," where the ruling elites indulge in excess and luxury, symbolized by "silver lampreys served on deathless chargers." This image combines the opulence of their lifestyle with the absurdity and grotesqueness of their indulgences. The "cooks of polity and matchless tact" who serve these dishes represent the politicians and statesmen who manipulate public opinion and govern with a focus on maintaining their own pleasure and power.

However, the poem shifts in tone when Durrell turns to the poets, who "differed in being free / From the historic consciousness and its / Defeats." Here, the poets are distinguished from the political and military figures who are mired in the machinations of history. Unlike these figures, the poets are not bound by the same concerns or defeats that preoccupy those who wield power. Instead, they are "wise servants of the magnet and / The sieve," suggesting that poets are guided by a deeper, almost mystical understanding of the world, one that draws from and filters the complexities of life to reveal essential truths.

Durrell highlights the poets' unique role in society: they "told / The truth in oracles," speaking in a manner that transcends the immediate concerns of their time, offering insights that are both timeless and universal. Yet, despite their ability to convey profound truths, these poets "never asked themselves / In what or why they never could believe." This suggests a certain existential detachment or skepticism on the part of the poets. They are able to articulate truths and visions, but they do so without being fully invested in the beliefs that underpin those truths. This detachment might be seen as a form of freedom, allowing poets to observe and comment on the world without being constrained by the same historical consciousness that binds others.

In "Thasos," Durrell uses the island's historical and cultural backdrop to explore the tension between the temporal and the eternal, the mundane and the profound. The poem contrasts the superficiality and corruption of those in power with the deeper, more enduring insights offered by poets and artists. While history may be indifferent to human struggles and achievements, the role of the poet, as Durrell sees it, is to rise above this indifference, to capture and convey truths that resonate beyond the immediate concerns of any particular moment or place. The poem ultimately suggests that, in a world where the significance of events can be fleeting and arbitrary, it is the poetic and artistic vision that offers a more lasting and meaningful perspective on what truly matters.

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