Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Blood Feud" by Elinor Wylie, the poem reflects on themes of violence, legacy, and the consequences of familial obligations. Through the narrative of a mysterious, distant relative who arrives at the narrator's husband's family home, Wylie explores the legacy of blood feuds—centuries-old cycles of vengeance and death that shape the lives of those involved. The poem contrasts the stranger’s violent past with the calm and ordinary life of the family, ultimately suggesting the haunting, inevitable nature of violence within families and traditions.

The poem opens with a striking image of a relative visiting when the speaker's husband was a child. The man is described as having a strange, almost ghostly presence, "in sunbleached corduroys paler than his skin," evoking a figure who seems to have faded from life or nature, worn down by time or by the burdens of his past. His appearance is described as "grave and kind," suggesting that despite his past actions, he carries an air of solemnity and perhaps even regret. His kinship is tied to the "dead singer of Senlac," linking the relative to an older, perhaps mythical or historical lineage, further emphasizing his connection to a violent legacy.

The man’s speech is gentle and polite, as he mentions having spent time "in the laurel since the winter broke," implying that he has been in seclusion, removed from the world for some time, perhaps as part of his self-imposed punishment or penance. The use of "shyly and courteously" to describe his demeanor contrasts sharply with the violent nature of his past. The idea of "four months" in the laurel (a reference to the laurel tree, which historically symbolized both victory and sacrifice) hints at the long period of time he has spent reflecting or hiding, possibly from the consequences of his actions.

The revelation of his violent past—having "killed a score of foemen in the past"—shifts the tone, introducing the theme of blood feuds and vengeance. This “dark and monstrous thing,” as described, is part of his sense of duty, a morally complicated justification for the violence that marked his life. In the context of the family’s dinner table, his past seems alien, a violent history that stands in stark contrast to the everyday life and rituals of the family. The poem suggests that this "duty" of bloodshed is a legacy, one that compels him to continue killing, a tradition of vengeance that defines his life.

The final lines of the poem—“At the last / His enemies found him by a forest spring, / Which, as he died, lay bright beneath his head, / A silver shield that slowly turned to red”—bring the narrative to a haunting and tragic conclusion. The image of the dying man by the forest spring, with the "silver shield" turning "red," symbolizes both the end of his life and the continuation of the violence he participated in. The silver shield turning red is an ironic and tragic image, as silver traditionally represents purity, honor, and protection, yet it is stained by the bloodshed that marks the man’s death. This powerful image underscores the inevitability of violence and the consequences of the blood feud, which continues to affect those involved even as they die.

“Blood Feud” is a meditation on the cycles of violence, inheritance, and the way in which one’s history and actions affect future generations. Through the figure of the mysterious relative, Wylie explores the deep, unshakeable ties between individuals and their violent pasts. The contrast between the relative's polite demeanor and his violent actions highlights the complexity of human nature, suggesting that even the most genteel or innocent-seeming individuals may be carrying the burden of familial or historical bloodshed. Ultimately, the poem presents the idea that blood feuds are not easily escaped; they are haunting, monstrous legacies that continue to affect individuals, regardless of how far removed they may seem from them.

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