Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Don Juan in Hell" by Charles Baudelaire presents an audacious journey into the afterlife, focusing on the legendary womanizer Don Juan as he navigates the rivers of Hell. Through the poem, Baudelaire explores themes of remorse, retribution, and human defiance, all while employing vivid imagery and classical allusions.

The poem starts with Don Juan arriving to "pay his fees" to Charon, the mythological ferryman of the Underworld. This transactional language immediately sets the tone; entering Hell is a mere formality, another cost to bear. But Charon is not the only presence there. A beggar, compared to the proud-eyed Antisthenes-a figure associated with Cynic philosophy-reaches for the oar, introducing a questioning, philosophical aspect to this infernal scene. One is led to ponder what moral judgments, if any, are passed on the souls entering Hell.

The second stanza introduces the "shapes of women," mournful and sacrificial, trailing behind Don Juan. This presents a commentary on the collateral damage of Don Juan's philandering life. The women are "ebon," shadowy figures, and their "moan" suggests their endless sorrow. The imagery evokes not just their torment, but also their residual attachment to Don Juan, as if they were "cattle herded for a sacrifice."

As we progress, Sganarelle and Don Luis appear-characters traditionally associated with Don Juan tales. Sganarelle grins "for his wage," perhaps an ironic twist on his servitude in life, while Don Luis, as a disappointed father figure, "points" at his "impious son." The roles they played in Don Juan's life now have eternal repercussions, suggesting that our deeds and relationships on Earth define our conditions in the afterlife.

Elvira, the wronged woman in Don Juan's life, also makes an appearance. She is "hollow-eyed" and "chaste," still lingering on the betrayal. The poignant question arises: "Was it one last bright smile she thought to claim?" The reader is made to consider whether Elvira seeks closure, validation, or even revenge. The uncertain "thought" indicates that, even in Hell, hopes and longings persist.

The climax comes with the "great stone man" steering the boat. This figure evokes the Commendatore, a stone statue who, in some versions of the Don Juan myth, brings about Don Juan's downfall. Despite the foreboding setting and company, Don Juan stands "calm," "leaning on his sword," and chooses not to look back. This is his final act of defiance-a refusal to acknowledge the judgment or the torment that surrounds him.

"Don Juan in Hell" masterfully blends mythological references with psychological insights, presenting a layered vision of Hell. Baudelaire doesn't offer a moralistic tale, but instead creates a complex tableau where sinners and wronged souls coexist, and where judgments are cast but also questioned. The poem is a portrait of eternal complexities, refraining from easy condemnations while laying bare the nuances of human behavior, even in the darkest of realms.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...