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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

THE FIGURE IN THE FACE, by                 Poet's Biography

In "The Figure in the Face," John Hollander personifies the experience of time through the metaphor of a clock, exploring the emotional oscillations that occur throughout a single day. The poem intricately maps the speaker's psychological landscape onto the movements of a clock's hands, creating a vivid portrayal of the interplay between time and human experience.

The poem begins with the speaker's assertion, "Six twenty-seven, and I'm at my best." This specific time marks a moment of clarity and optimism, suggesting the early part of the day when potential feels limitless. However, this optimism is short-lived as by "ten past ten," the speaker finds themselves "plunged into despair / Up to my waist." The rapid shift from confidence to despair underscores the fleeting nature of emotional stability and how quickly one can be overwhelmed by life's challenges. The imagery of despair "hiding all the rest / Of me" while the speaker's "helpless arms raised in the air" evokes a sense of drowning in overwhelming emotions, unable to fully engage with the world around them.

As the day progresses to "Quarter to three (or quarter after nine)," the speaker describes one arm being lowered "as if short of breath / Itself." This depiction suggests a moment of fatigue and resignation, where the physical manifestation of time mirrors the speaker's own sense of weariness. The reference to "four twenty" and becoming "the sign / Of clocks stopped at the hour of Lincoln's death" introduces a historical and somber note, linking personal despair to a collective memory of loss and tragedy.

The poem continues to explore the cyclical nature of time and emotion with the lines "One-armed at midnight and again at noon / (I see no difference)." Here, the speaker reflects on the repetitiveness and indistinguishability of certain moments, whether they occur at the zenith or the nadir of the day. The speaker's raised arm "pointing high / Toward no hawk, no star, no escaped balloon" emphasizes a sense of aimlessness and futility, as their gestures hold no significance beyond marking time's passage within "the clock's confining arc of sky." This imagery conveys the limitations imposed by time and the existential confinement it represents.

In the final couplet, Hollander encapsulates the poem's meditation on time and human aspiration: "With wisdom that no gesture can impeach / I know my grasp of things exceeds my reach." This acknowledgment of the disparity between understanding and capability highlights a profound truth about the human condition. The speaker possesses a wisdom born of experience, recognizing the limitations of their efforts and the gap between their aspirations and what they can tangibly achieve.

"The Figure In The Face" beautifully intertwines the mechanical and the emotional, using the clock as a metaphor for the cycles of hope and despair that define human experience. Hollander's precise language and evocative imagery capture the essence of temporal existence, reflecting the highs and lows that each day brings. Through this lens, the poem offers a poignant exploration of the inexorable passage of time and the enduring struggle to find meaning within its confines.


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