Darker Still is the Mind of its Maker
Joseph Brodsky's "On Grief and Reason" delves into the works of the beloved American poet Robert Frost, and the meaning Brodsky unravels from the poems "Come In" and "Home Burial" reveals the inner darkness of the poet who composed them. "Home Burial", Brodsky argues, relies on the "fuel" of grief and reason, elements which all poetry leans upon, yet he also argues that grief and reason make up poetry's "indelible ink," an in which Frost crafts masterpieces with in order to "reduce the level of [his own ink pot]." Brodsky supports his assertion of Frosts inner darkness by inviting the audience of the poem to step back from the consuming narrative. He poses "Imagine... the story line has been drawn from experience... what degree is he free from it?" Not only is Frost able to write about the material, but he is able to craft illustrious narratives and structures and with in those narratives. Brodsky describes him as "free... Dangerously so." Darkness emanates from each line of "Home Burial," and as Brodsky explains, "art doesn't imitate life, it infects it." Ultimately, Brodsky's argument boils down to this: all aspects of the the poem, the voice of the husband, the voice of the wife, and the voice of the narrator are derived from the same author, and inseparably their actions and deeper meaning they represent stem from him as well.
And yet it is ultimately ironic because Brodsky seems at first to dismiss the autobiographical. Maybe what he's after is the human not just the autobiographical.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Mac
The last point you make is what I found most interesting about this piece as well. Even though it is obvious that an author creates all parts of their work and all characters, the way Brodsky presents this idea allows readers to draw clear parallels between what Frost has written and his personal experiences.
ReplyDeleteAs you stated, Brodsky does as fantastic job of comparing the two poems, their literal and figurative meanings, and how they they reflect Frost's personal life. The conclusions that the reader can draw from this analysis are all encompassed in his analysis.
ReplyDeleteThe creative title was really interesting because like most people mine was boring! I agree that what Brodsky says about Frost making all his poems a form of himself and his feelings. I like that you view Brodsky's argument as a plain and simple emulation of Frost's deeper, darker feelings.
ReplyDeleteBefore commenting on the substance of what you said, I would like to note the remarkable control you have of language. The summarization, in text citation, and synthesis is artful combined. Your interpretation of Brodsky's argument has persuaded me to begin to buy his analysis. Understanding Frost is the cornerstone to the foundation of the poem is key in understanding how the voices combine. In placing Frost in the mix of voices, it forces the reader to get to the root of each character motivations.
ReplyDeleteExcellent and creative title--really drew me in. Your analysis of the essay is thorough and clear, which I enjoy. I agree with you when you said that the poems are similar and fit Frost's background, which is something that didn't click for me before.
ReplyDeleteI was drawn into this piece by your title and your content is also very intriguing. I think it’s interesting to see how Frosts works fit together and make them personal for him.
ReplyDeleteI love the use of a unique title, as others have stated it really pulls readers towards your post in a sea of others. It is also simply perfect-I have an idea of what to expect before reading the first word of your post, and am amazed at the copious amount of evidence used to back up the implied thesis the title presents while also keeping the paragraph smooth and easy to read.
ReplyDelete