Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Exasperations of a Novelist" by Howard Nemerov is a two-part poem that explores the frustrations and challenges faced by a writer in bringing characters to life and guiding them through the narrative. The poem delves into themes of creation, control, free will, and the tension between order and chaos within the act of writing.

In the first part of the poem, Nemerov presents the characters as "Locked in the dictionary on the table," existing in a state of potentiality. They "lie dormant, waiting for an author able / To rearrange them from their anagrams." This metaphor suggests that the characters and their stories are like pieces of a puzzle or letters waiting to be arranged into meaningful words and sentences. The author has the power to bring them to life by organizing these elements.

The "great slumber" of the characters is described as being "unconscious of / Every last word that anyone can say / About them and about their doings unto love / And unto death." This state of dormancy highlights the potential within the written word and the role of the author in awakening it. The dictionary, with its ordered list from "A" to "Z," symbolizes the vast repository of language and knowledge that the author draws from to create a coherent narrative.

Nemerov references the "myth of the order of the alphabet," juxtaposing the idea of structured knowledge with the inherent chaos that must be deciphered and arranged. The phrase "Chaos enciphered, of all sets the set" suggests that while language and knowledge are systematically organized, the process of creating meaning from them involves navigating and mastering this chaos.

In the second part of the poem, Nemerov addresses the characters directly, expressing frustration with their perceived independence: "Now hear this, all you people of my book, / You are a stubborn and a stiff-neck'd lot." The author laments the characters' resistance to following the plot and their insistence on asserting their own freedom. This rebellion is captured in the line, "What is all this about your freedom? Look, / Once more, will you try to follow the plot?"

Nemerov acknowledges the characters' free will, but emphasizes the limitations of this freedom: "Free will, in moderation, after all, / Is one thing, you can choose your suits and ties / And have what you like to eat." The author allows the characters some autonomy in their minor choices, but expects them to adhere to the overarching narrative structure. The frustration peaks when the author calls for a character to die and "no one dies," indicating a breakdown in the control the author wields over the story.

The ultimatum given to the characters is stark: "I'll give you a chapter more, / And that's the end: it will be suicide / For Jane and marriage among the other four." The author offers the characters a final chance to comply with the narrative direction, but the characters continue to ignore the "Let There Be" of the author's "creating word." This highlights the tension between the author's desire for control and the characters' assertion of independence, reflecting the broader struggle within the creative process.

"Exasperations of a Novelist" by Howard Nemerov vividly captures the complexities of authorship, the interplay between structure and creativity, and the dynamic relationship between a creator and their creations. Through rich metaphors and a blend of frustration and humor, Nemerov explores the challenges of bringing characters to life and guiding them through the narrative, ultimately reflecting on the nature of artistic creation and the limits of control.

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