Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Earthly Beauty," Jane Hirshfield delves into the complexities of human civilization, morality, and the chilling potential for cruelty that lies within us all. The poem initially directs our attention to an ancient torture device-a metal bull heated over a fire-to scrutinize the nature of beauty and horror. In recounting the visceral sounds produced as a person was burned alive inside the bull, Hirshfield questions the very tenets of our 'civilized' society and the values that guide us.

The historical context of the torture device is left deliberately vague; we are not told which emperor ordered it or in which country it was utilized. This lack of specificity acts as an equalizer, suggesting that such acts of brutality are not confined to any one culture or time period. The ambiguity underscores the universal human capacity for creating systems of pain and cruelty: "the thing itself was built by slaves." By this, Hirshfield implicates not just rulers but also the many hands that build and maintain systems of oppression, whether willingly or under duress.

However, it is the notion of "unearthly music" that adds a disturbing layer to the narrative. Despite the horror of the situation, there is a perverse aesthetic experience involved-a cruel beauty-that transcends the earthly realm, echoing the ancient Greek notion of the sublime. This prompts readers to grapple with the complexity of beauty as a concept, untangling it from moral implications to realize that beauty can exist even in the heart of suffering and malice.

Upon hearing the story, the collective "We-the civilized" disowns such acts, affirming that it is "Not us. Not ours." Yet, Hirshfield's final lines refuse to let us off the hook easily. Her personal inquiry, "But why does my heart look back at me, / reproachful? Why does the bull?" suggests a universal guilt or complicity. Here, the "heart" and "the bull" become symbols of our internal moral compass and external acts of cruelty, respectively, both of which seem to accuse us.

The poem doesn't follow a formal meter or rhyme scheme, instead adopting a free-verse style that lends it a conversational tone. This choice makes the poem's moral questioning seem all the more immediate and intimate, as if these questions have spontaneously arisen in the poet's mind and demand immediate pondering.

By ending on a query, Hirshfield leaves the poem hauntingly open-ended. She challenges us to confront our own moral ambiguities and unexamined complacencies. Through this, "Earthly Beauty" becomes a profound critique of human society, urging us to consider how our ideals of beauty and civilization can sometimes blind us to the ugliness that resides within the very structures we uphold. The poem serves as a call to greater moral vigilance, asking us to engage critically with the uncomfortable realities we'd rather not face, for in that engagement might lie the path to a truly civilized society.

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