Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Tales of the Island: 9. 'Le Loup-Garou.'" by Derek Walcott blends folklore, superstition, and moral consequence, offering a vivid narrative of transformation, greed, and punishment. The poem revolves around the figure of Le Brun, whose downfall is tied to both his greed and his involvement in dark supernatural forces. Walcott’s use of a mythical creature, the "loup-garou" (a French term for werewolf), gives the poem a fantastical, eerie quality while simultaneously grounding it in the moral and social realities of the Caribbean community. Themes of betrayal, transformation, and moral reckoning permeate the poem, as Walcott explores the consequences of one man's choices.

The poem begins by describing the story of Le Brun as a "curious tale that threaded through the town," indicating that this is a well-known piece of gossip or legend passed among the townspeople. The image of "graying women sewing under eaves" suggests an oral tradition, where stories are shared and preserved by the community, particularly by older women who are often the keepers of local history and superstition. The idea of storytelling, gossip, and legend is central to the poem, as the tale of Le Brun becomes a moral lesson intertwined with the supernatural.

Le Brun's downfall is attributed to his greed, which, according to the town’s collective memory, brought him "down." The townspeople react to his presence with suspicion and rejection, as evidenced by the "slowly shutting jalousies" when he approaches. The image of closed shutters emphasizes how Le Brun has been ostracized by the community, his reputation tainted by his actions. His appearance—dressed in a "white-linen suit, / Pink glasses, cork hat, and tap-tapping cane"—suggests a certain air of wealth or vanity, though his image of success is undercut by the knowledge of his impending doom. The white-linen suit, often associated with tropical elegance, contrasts with the darker undertones of his moral corruption.

Le Brun is described as "a dying man licensed to sell sick fruit," a metaphor that speaks to both his physical and moral decline. The "sick fruit" suggests that his wealth or success was built on something tainted, and now he is facing the consequences of his bargain with "fiends." These "fiends" likely symbolize the corrupt or evil forces with whom Le Brun made a pact, resulting in his eventual ruin. The image of him selling "sick fruit" also carries biblical connotations, particularly the idea of the fruits of one’s labor being spoiled due to moral failings.

The supernatural element of the poem emerges as the tale shifts to Le Brun’s transformation into a "loup-garou", or werewolf. The Christian witches in the town claim that one night Le Brun "changed himself to an Alsatian hound," a fearsome image of a "slavering lycanthrope hot on a scent." The werewolf, in folklore, is often a symbol of the darker, bestial side of human nature, representing the loss of control and the succumbing to primal urges. In this case, Le Brun's transformation into a werewolf reflects the manifestation of his inner greed and corruption. His deal with the fiends has literally turned him into a monster, a predator driven by instinct rather than reason.

However, Le Brun’s transformation does not go unchecked. His own watchman deals the werewolf "a wound," causing the creature to "howl and lug its entrails, trailing wet / With blood back to its doorstep." This image is both grotesque and tragic, as Le Brun, now in his monstrous form, is fatally wounded and forced to return to his own home, almost dead. The wound inflicted on him by his own watchman—someone presumably tasked with protecting his property—adds an ironic twist to the tale. The watchman, symbolizing justice or retribution, delivers the blow that leads to Le Brun's undoing. The imagery of the werewolf dragging its entrails back to the doorstep emphasizes the physical and moral consequences of his actions, as he literally returns home to face the outcome of his choices.

In "Le Loup-Garou," Derek Walcott uses the figure of the werewolf to explore themes of transformation, greed, and moral reckoning. The poem's blending of folklore and everyday life in the Caribbean creates a rich narrative that speaks to both individual and communal concerns. Le Brun's downfall serves as a cautionary tale, warning of the dangers of making deals with dark forces and allowing greed to corrupt one's soul. Through the imagery of the werewolf, Walcott delves into the darker aspects of human nature, showing how the consequences of moral failings can manifest in both supernatural and physical forms. The poem leaves readers with a sense of the inescapable consequences of one's actions, as Le Brun’s greed leads not only to his physical transformation into a monster but also to his ultimate demise.

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