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PORTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR AS RAOUL, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

Lynn Emanuel's poem "Portrait of the Author as Raoul" is a compelling exploration of identity, embodiment, and the interplay between reality and narrative construction. Through the lens of a persona—Raoul—Emanuel delves into the complexities of self-perception and the ways in which identity can be fluid, constructed, and reimagined through the act of writing.

The poem opens with the speaker reflecting on the "house of the body" and the self as its "shadowy proprietor," immediately setting a tone of introspection and suggesting a disconnect or duality between the self and the body. This concept is expanded by the introduction of Raoul, a male persona through whom the speaker experiences and narrates events. The imagery of a "white face pokes a hole in a dark window" visualizes the idea of identity as something both revealed and obscured, a theme that runs throughout the poem.

The setting is tinged with a sense of isolation and detachment, accentuated by the rain that "stings the window and the nothing beyond." The description of the rain mirrors the emotional atmosphere—persistent, invasive, and somewhat melancholic. This mood is carried into the interaction between Raoul and the woman, where the directive "Take off your dress" is met with compliance and the subsequent description of the dress as a "sibilant whisper of a black silk frock." Emanuel's choice of the word "frock"—slightly antiquated and formal—adds a layer of distance or performative aspect to the unfolding scene, as if the events are part of a staged play rather than a moment of genuine intimacy.

The poem's climax presents two alternative endings, both involving the phrases "bring me to my knees" but with the roles reversed. In option (A), Raoul speaks to Lynn, highlighting his vulnerability or defeat. In option (B), the speaker, embodying Raoul, addresses themselves, reflecting a self-referential moment of capitulation or transformation. This dual structure challenges the reader to consider the fluidity of identity—how easily the self can be both subject and object, actor and acted upon, in the narratives we create about our lives.

"Portrait of the Author as Raoul" is a richly textured poem that uses the motif of narrative and dramatic role-play to explore deep questions about the self and its expressions. Emanuel's manipulation of voice and perspective invites readers to reflect on their own identities as constructs influenced by personal narratives and societal expectations. Through the character of Raoul, Emanuel not only questions the boundaries between genders and selves but also illustrates the powerful role of language in shaping our understanding of who we are. The poem becomes a space where identity is both performed and questioned, a narrative simultaneously written and lived.


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