Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Mysticism and Democracy (1)," Geoffrey Hill delves into themes of struggle, survival, and the interplay between spiritual and political realms. The poem juxtaposes imagery of righteousness and ravaged landscapes, creating a complex tapestry that reflects both individual and collective experiences.

"Open me the gates of righteousness: / That I may go into them ..." Hill begins with a plea for entry into a space of moral integrity, suggesting a quest for purity or divine approval. This opening sets the stage for the exploration of a landscape that has been hard-won but not fully reclaimed.

"You see the terrain he has won back from but not won; / the ravaged moon is a mere cranium, a mandarin crown, / compared to these craters." The terrain, though reclaimed, remains scarred and incomplete. The imagery of the ravaged moon as a cranium or a mandarin crown underscores the devastation and the hollow victory. It suggests that even celestial bodies and symbols of power pale in comparison to the destruction witnessed.

"He is indeed a survivor and of the intolerable elect." The subject of the poem is characterized as a survivor, one among a chosen few who have endured great suffering. The phrase "intolerable elect" implies a burdened chosen group, hinting at both privilege and pain.

"Enforce for jollity's sake a solemn retaking / of the earth that has been his, many times over, by deed." There is a call for a celebratory but earnest reclamation of what rightfully belongs to the survivor. This suggests a cyclical struggle to regain control and authority, marked by repeated efforts and deeds.

"Project through lanterns of hot oil the festive advance— / it is at once a retreat / to that furthest point where lines of vanishing converge." The imagery of projecting light through lanterns hints at both illumination and spectacle. The festive advance is paradoxically also a retreat, indicating a complex movement towards a distant, elusive goal.

"The obscurities through which you have armed his way, night marches, down-draughts of coal smoke, / many-chambered fog lit from within, / become to hurled applause: the Veil of the Nations, the Final Transformation-Scene-and-Curtain, Apocalypse-Hippodrome!" Hill concludes with powerful, theatrical imagery. The "obscurities" and challenges faced are transformed into a grand performance, culminating in an apocalyptic vision. The "Veil of the Nations" and the "Final Transformation-Scene-and-Curtain" suggest a climactic revelation or judgment, while "Apocalypse-Hippodrome" merges notions of the end times with a place of public spectacle.

Hill's poem intricately weaves themes of mysticism, survival, and democratic struggle, presenting a rich, multi-layered narrative that challenges the reader to consider the interplay between personal and political redemption. The vivid, often stark imagery serves to highlight the enduring human spirit amidst the ravages of time and conflict.

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