Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In the succinct yet profoundly evocative poem "Nicharchus Upon Phidon His Doctor," Ezra Pound captures the essence of fatalism, irony, and the paradoxes that life presents. The poem hinges on the relationship between a patient, presumably Nicharchus, and his doctor, Phidon. While its brevity makes it seem almost dismissive, the poem concentrates a potent critique of medical practice and, more broadly, the unpredictability of life and death, within its lines.

The poem takes its shape around a narrative irony that lies in the very essence of the medical profession. Phidon, a doctor by trade, neither purges the speaker nor touches him, yet the speaker dies merely by recalling the name of Phidon's fever medicine. There's a chilling sense of detachment here, underlined by the passive absence of the doctor's treatments. The irony is hard to miss: Phidon, the healer, becomes the inadvertent agent of the patient's demise. In a way, Pound subtly critiques the medical profession and the potentially lethal consequences of misplaced faith or error.

However, the poem does more than offer a cynical view of medicine. In a more general sense, it encapsulates the very unpredictability and irony of life itself. Nicharchus dies not by the hands of a doctor but through the mere remembrance of a name, signifying that sometimes the mere thought or memory of something can have as significant an impact as a physical event. This can be seen as a reflection of the psychological aspects of wellness and disease, which were topics certainly discussed in Pound's intellectual circles, though perhaps not as thoroughly explored by medical science as they are today.

Historically, the practice of medicine in ancient times was fraught with risks, given the limited understanding of human anatomy, lack of surgical precision, and rudimentary medications. Pound's referencing of an antiquated medical setting may be understood as a commentary on how far humanity has come and yet how perilously close it remains to the edge of vulnerability and mortality. One could argue that the fragility of life depicted in the poem is a universal theme that transcends time.

Ezra Pound is also well-known for his Imagist style, where he aims to capture an image or emotion in the most precise and straightforward way. In this poem, the image of a person dying, not from treatment but from the mere remembrance of medicine, is a striking picture of irony and fatalism. It encapsulates complex themes into a stark, resonant image, as per the principles of Imagism.

In summary, Ezra Pound's "Nicharchus Upon Phidon His Doctor" serves as a poetic parable, a critique, and a meditation all at once. In its succinct form, it addresses the themes of irony, the limitations of human knowledge and intervention, and the inherent unpredictability of life and death. Its brevity only amplifies its message, making it a poignant reminder of the complexities and uncertainties that life invariably presents.

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