Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Muriel Rukeyser's poem "Motive" delves into the complexities of human emotion, particularly loneliness, and its transformative potential. Through stark and evocative language, Rukeyser explores how loneliness drives individuals to both desperate and redemptive actions. The poem reflects on the journey from isolation and fear towards a deeper, more profound understanding of human connection and purpose.

The poem opens with a direct assertion: "The motive of all of it was loneliness." This sets the stage for the exploration of loneliness as a fundamental driving force behind human behavior. Rukeyser immediately connects this motive to "panic encounters and despair," suggesting that much of human activity, particularly those marked by urgency and distress, stems from a deep-seated fear of being alone.

"All the panic encounters and despair / Were bred in fear of the lost night, apart, / Outlined by pain, alone." These lines depict a vivid image of isolation, with the "lost night" symbolizing a profound sense of disconnection and darkness. The phrase "outlined by pain" emphasizes how this loneliness is not just an emotional state but one that is acutely felt and almost physically delineated by suffering.

The poem further elaborates on this theme: "Promiscuous / As mercy. Fear-led and led again to fear / At evening toward the cave where part fire, part / Pity lived in that voluptuousness / To end one and begin another loneliness." Here, Rukeyser draws a powerful analogy between mercy and promiscuity, both of which can be seen as responses to fear and loneliness. The "cave" serves as a metaphorical refuge where individuals seek warmth and compassion ("part fire, part / Pity"), but this search often leads to a cycle where one loneliness is replaced by another.

The poem's pivotal moment comes with the declaration, "This is the most intolerable motive: this / Must be given back to life again." Rukeyser recognizes the intolerable nature of loneliness as a motive and asserts the need to transform it. This transformation is described as a process of making the motive "superhuman, made human," suggesting a journey towards transcendence and a return to fundamental human connections.

"Out of pain / Turned to the personal, the pure release." These lines encapsulate the potential for pain and loneliness to be transformed into personal growth and liberation. By confronting and understanding loneliness, it can be turned into a source of pure release and deeper connection with life.

Rukeyser concludes the poem with references to significant cultural and historical figures: "The rings of Plato and Homer’s golden chain / Or Lenin with his cry of Dare We Win." These references suggest a broader context for the personal journey from loneliness to connection. Plato's philosophical ideals, Homer's epic storytelling, and Lenin's revolutionary spirit all symbolize different forms of striving for understanding, beauty, and justice. They represent the potential for human motives, even those born out of loneliness, to drive significant cultural and historical change.

In "Motive," Muriel Rukeyser presents a profound meditation on loneliness and its power to shape human behavior. Through her exploration, she emphasizes the importance of confronting and transforming this fundamental motive into something that connects us more deeply to ourselves and to each other. The poem ultimately offers a hopeful vision, where even the most painful aspects of the human experience can lead to profound personal and collective growth.

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