Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Zara" by William Motherwell offers a tragic narrative steeped in romantic notions, taking us to Old Grenada where a Spanish youth and Selim's daughter, Zara, find their love entangled with the fate of cultures and families at war. The poem becomes a visceral representation of the collision between love and duty, individual emotion and societal norms. The intensity of personal emotions is mirrored in the natural scenery-moonlight, water, and morning dew-creating a compelling tableau where human drama and the natural world intertwine.

The poem opens with a serene image of moonlight, embodying purity and peace, mirrored in "the soft smile of Selim's daughter." From the outset, moonlight serves as a poetic device symbolizing both the transient beauty and impending doom of the relationship. As the youth invites the moonlight to "sleep upon the wave" and then in "the mountain cave," we see the moonlight as not just a benign observer, but an entity that holds within it the promise and peril of love, reflecting the couple's fragile tranquility.

The phrase "Unweeting of the morrow's slaughter" ominously foreshadows the violent future that awaits the lovers, underlining the transient nature of their happiness. It is a reminder of how personal lives can be crushed under the wheels of larger societal forces, represented here by "harnessed knight and fierce soldada," the agents of a militaristic culture.

As dawn breaks, the scene shifts dramatically. The tranquility of the moonlit night is shattered by "the Moorish horn and tambour" ringing out, a stark reminder of the impending collision of love and duty. Selim and his army sally forth, and the stage is set for the tragedy. The setting of Alpuxara's height becomes almost a theatrical stage where the private drama is cruelly and publicly concluded.

When Selim encounters the sleeping lovers, the tension peaks. For a moment, the "stern old Moor" hesitates, a "scant tear" gathering in his eye as he hears his daughter mutter a blessing for him. However, the "hand that grasped the crooked blade" eventually carries out the act. This pivotal moment encapsulates the tragedy of divided loyalties, where cultural and familial expectations overcome personal emotions, leading to irreversible catastrophe.

The poem concludes with the lasting impact of the tragedy, turning the spot into a place of pilgrimage. It's as if the ground itself has absorbed the love and sorrow, becoming a sacred place for others to visit and remember the tragic love story. This lends an air of universality to the story of Zara and her lover, elevating their personal tragedy to the status of legend, reminding us of the countless loves lost due to societal constraints and family expectations.

Ultimately, "Zara" stands as a poignant exploration of the human cost of societal norms and familial expectations. It serves as a mirror to reflect on how individual lives are often trapped in the web of larger forces, and it does so with a level of emotional and environmental detail that makes the tragedy deeply felt. The moon, which smiled on the lovers, remains a silent witness to their end, its light no longer a symbol of hope, but a pale illumination of human folly and loss.

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