Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Brilliant Victory of Saarebruck" by Arthur Rimbaud utilizes irony and satire to disassemble the mythologized glory of war and the political leaders who preside over it. Rimbaud places the Emperor, presumably Napoleon III, at the center, describing him in "apotheosis," as if he were a deity. This depiction is immediately undercut by the soldiers' casual, even irreverent, reactions to his presence.

The Emperor is described as "blue-yellow," which might be an ironic take on his regal attire or perhaps an allusion to his ambivalent moral nature. The colors themselves, devoid of their original heraldic meanings, become parody. He's seen "Gallops off, ramrod straight, on his fine gee-gee," an image that's almost childlike in its simplicity, undermining the serious, god-like figure that the Emperor is traditionally supposed to be.

The soldiers, on the other hand, are far removed from the glorified ideals of military valor. They are "taking a nap," waking only out of courtesy to the leader who has potentially sent them to their deaths. One soldier even adjusts his tunic, more concerned with his appearance than the "big name" leader in front of him. Another, feeling a rise of emotion, perhaps induced more by fear than loyalty, shouts, "Vive L'Empereur!" only to find his neighbor silent, perhaps skeptical or indifferent. In an act of further irreverence, a shako, part of a soldier's uniform, "rises, like a black sun," darkening rather than illuminating the atmosphere, a reversal that reeks of bitter irony.

Perhaps the most damning critique comes in the form of the last soldier described, "a simpleton in red and blue," who gets up and literally exposes his posterior, asking, "On what?" The question is left hanging, but it brings the entire scene into sharp focus. "On what" are these displays of heroism based? "On what" are these lives risked? "On what" is the glory of this "brilliant victory" founded? In two words, Rimbaud has managed to distill the disillusionment and existential dread that underpin human conflict and its glorification.

This poem is deeply entrenched in the socio-political milieu of Rimbaud's time, particularly the Franco-Prussian war, and the nationalistic fervor that often blinded people to the horrors of battle. However, its themes are timeless, dissecting the absurd theater of war, where soldiers are less heroes than pawns, and leaders are less gods than illusionists.

Overall, "Brilliant Victory of Saarebruck" employs satire and irony to dismantle the glorified images of war and authority. Rimbaud interrogates the farce of heroism, challenging us to reconsider the narratives we build around war and leadership. It's a powerful indictment that lingers long after its terse lines have been read, asking us to ponder the baseless foundations on which the edifices of war and heroism are often built.

*NOTE: The Battle of Saarbrücken took place on August 2, 1870, and was one of the earliest battles in the Franco-Prussian War. The Franco-Prussian War was a significant European conflict that led to the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership and significantly shifted the balance of power on the continent. The war was marked by a series of rapid German victories, resulting in the capture of Emperor Napoleon III and the eventual downfall of the Second French Empire.

POEM TEXT:

At centre, the Emperor, blue-yellow, in apotheosis,
Gallops off, ramrod straight, on his fine gee-gee,
Very happy - since everything he sees is rosy,
Fierce as Zeus, and as gentle as a Daddy is:
The brave Infantrymen taking a nap, in vain,
Under the gilded drums and scarlet cannon,
Rise politely. One puts his tunic back on,
And, turns to the Chief, stunned by the big name!
On the right, another, leaning on his rifle butt,
Feeling the hair rise at the back of his neck,
Shouts: 'Vive L'Empereur!!" - his neighbour's mute…
A shako rises, like a black sun…- In the midst
The last, a simpleton in red and blue, lying on his gut
Gets up, and, - showing his arse - asks: "On what?"

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