Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Lawrence Durrell’s poem "Hanged Man" is a haunting and evocative meditation on death, justice, and the eerie stillness that surrounds an execution. The poem uses vivid and unsettling imagery to explore the perspective of a man who has been hanged, presenting a surreal, almost detached reflection on the world from his upside-down vantage point. The poem delves into themes of mortality, the passage of time, and the somber rituals of death, all while maintaining a tone that is both macabre and contemplative.

The opening lines set the scene with the phrase "From this glass gallows in famous entertainment," immediately introducing the idea that the hanging is not just an execution but a spectacle—a public event observed by many. The "glass gallows" suggests transparency, exposure, and the idea that this execution is being watched, perhaps even scrutinized, by society. The hanged man, "upside down and by the dust yellowed," is depicted as an object of attention, suspended between life and death, his body literally and figuratively turned upside down.

Durrell then shifts to the perspective of the hanged man, who "considers a green county, / Hallowed by gallows on a high hill." The green county represents the land of the living, fertile and vibrant, yet it is "hallowed"—made sacred or cursed—by the presence of the gallows. The high hill, traditionally a place of execution, becomes a symbol of both death and the judgment passed by society. The juxtaposition of the green, living county with the grim symbol of the gallows underscores the tension between life and death that permeates the poem.

The next lines introduce a grotesque image: "The rooks of his two blue eyes eating / A mineral diet, that smile not while / The invaders move." Here, Durrell blends the natural with the macabre, as the man's eyes, once vibrant and blue, are now likened to rooks—carrion birds—feeding on minerals, symbolizing the lifelessness and decay that have overtaken him. The "invaders" likely refer to those who have come to observe or execute the hanging, moving through the landscape with a purpose that contrasts sharply with the stillness of the hanged man. The phrase "owls with soft scissors cherish him" adds to the eerie atmosphere, suggesting that even in death, the hanged man is gently tended to by the creatures of the night, the owls silently severing the ties that bind him to life.

The poem continues with a focus on the man's hands, which are "yellower than plantains by the dust touched," emphasizing the lifeless, decayed state of his body. Durrell's comparison of the hands to musical instruments, "as viol or cello," evokes the idea of a final, silent music—an echo of the life that has left the body. The "sullen fingers of a fallen Charles" could refer to the executed King Charles I of England, drawing a parallel between the hanged man and the fallen monarch, both of whom faced death with dignity or resignation, their hands now silent and still.

As the poem progresses, Durrell introduces the figure of "the horseman" who "speculates in his cloak," perhaps representing a witness or a figure of authority, contemplating the scene before him. The "felloes of the wagon" that "cease their screech" suggest that the machinery of death—the execution apparatus—has come to a halt, completing its grim task. The silence that follows is heavy and profound, emphasizing the finality of the hanged man's fate.

The poem closes with a focus on a "farm-girl," whose "eye" is "widened" as she hears "how rope ripens on a high hill." This image of the rope "ripening" like a fruit on a tree is both disturbing and poetic, suggesting that the act of hanging, like the growth of a fruit, is a natural process, inevitable and cyclical. The farm-girl's widened eyes indicate the horror and fascination with which she, and by extension, society, views the spectacle of death. The poem ends on this note of unease, leaving the reader to ponder the implications of a society that finds such events both inevitable and captivating.

"Hanged Man" by Lawrence Durrell is a deeply atmospheric and unsettling poem that examines the stark reality of death and the rituals surrounding it. Through its vivid imagery and contemplative tone, the poem invites readers to reflect on the nature of justice, the passage of time, and the ways in which death is both a personal and public experience. Durrell’s portrayal of the hanged man as a figure both tragic and iconic serves as a powerful reminder of the thin line between life and death, and the often voyeuristic role society plays in the process.

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