September 1, 1939 by WH Auden
1. I sit in one of the dives
On Fifty-second Street
Uncertain and afraid
As the clever hopes expire
Of a low dishonest decade:
Waves of anger and fear
Circulate over the bright
And darkened lands of the earth,
Obsessing our private lives;
The unmentionable odour of death
Offends the September night.
Reference:
This stanza is taken from the poem “September 1, 1939” written by WH Auden.
Context:
September 1, 1939" by W.H. Auden is set against the backdrop of World War II's outbreak,
triggered by Germany's invasion of Poland. The poem reflects on the societal ills and
disillusionment of the 1930s, critiquing state authority and emphasizing individual
responsibility, love, and justice. Written from a dive bar in New York City, the poem offers a
neutral yet observant perspective on global chaos, incorporating historical allusions and vivid
imagery to convey its themes.
Explanation:
The text gives us a glimpse of Auden chilling in a dive bar on Fifty-second Street, feeling a
bit uneasy and anxious about everything going on around them. It captures that vibe of
uncertainty, where hopes for a better future seem to be fading away, especially during this
rough decade that feels pretty dishonest and low. There’s this overwhelming sense of anger
and fear swirling around, affecting not just the world at large but also creeping into people’s
everyday lives. It’s like these heavy emotions are everywhere, making it hard to escape them.
And on top of that, there’s this unsettling smell of death in the air, which really adds to the
grim atmosphere of the September night. Overall, it’s a pretty bleak reflection on how the
environment and the times can weigh heavily on individuals.
2. Accurate scholarship can
Unearth the whole offence
From Luther until now
That has driven a culture mad,
Find what occurred at Linz,
What huge imago made
A psychopathic god:
I and the public know
What all schoolchildren learn,
Those to whom evil is done
Do evil in return.
The text is all about how looking closely at history—like from Luther's time all the way to
today—can really help us understand why our culture feels so off-balance. It suggests that
there’s a lot we can learn from the past, especially when we consider the big events and
figures that have shaped our world. One key idea is that when people go through terrible
experiences or face injustice, it often leads them to respond with negativity or even violence
themselves. This creates a cycle where suffering begets more suffering. It’s like a chain
reaction—those who have been wronged might end up doing wrong to others. So, the
takeaway here is that understanding these patterns in history isn't just about facts and dates;
it’s about seeing how they impact human behaviour and society as a whole. It’s a reminder
that the past isn't just behind us; it influences how we act today.
3. Exiled Thucydides knew
All that a speech can say
About Democracy,
And what dictators do,
The elderly rubbish they talk
To an apathetic grave;
Analysed all in his book,
The enlightenment driven away,
The habit-forming pain,
Mismanagement and grief:
We must suffer them all again.
The text dives into the thoughts of Thucydides, who had a solid grasp on what speeches can
reveal about democracy and the way dictators act. He really understood the political
landscape and wasn’t afraid to call out the empty words that older generations often throw
around, especially when they’re talking to a crowd that just doesn’t care anymore. He also
reflects on how we've lost that spark of enlightenment, which is a real bummer. It’s like
we’ve traded it in for a cycle of pain, mismanagement, and grief that seems to repeat itself
over and over. The message is pretty clear: we’re likely going to have to face these same
struggles again. It’s a reminder that history has a way of coming back around, and we might
not be able to escape the issues that have plagued us before.
4. Into this neutral air
Where blind skyscrapers use
Their full height to proclaim
The strength of Collective Man,
Each language pours its vein
Competitive excuse:
But who can live for long
In a euphoric dream;
Out of the mirror they stare,
Imperialism's face
And the international wrong.
The poem describes a world where people are proud of their achievements (skyscrapers
symbolizing human progress). However, EXPLANATION: this pride is misplaced, as it's
based on ignorance (blind skyscrapers). will set in, and people will see the truth about issues
like imperialism Different cultures and languages try to justify themselves, but these
justifications are empty and competitive. The poem then warns that this state of false
happiness (euphoric dream) can't last. Eventually, reality (one group dominating others) and
international wrongs (global injustices). When this happens, they'll be forced to confront the
harsh realities they've been ignoring.
5. Faces along the bar
Cling to their average day:
The lights must never go out,
The music must always play,
All the conventions conspire
To make this fort assume
The furniture of home;
Lest we should see where we are,
Lost in a haunted wood,
Children afraid of the night
Who have never been happy or good.
The text depicts people at a bar, holding onto their everyday routines. It emphasizes the need
for the lights to stay on and the music to keep playing, as societal norms create a comforting
atmosphere. This distraction prevents them from recognizing their true situation, feeling lost
in a dark, haunted place, much like children who have never known happiness or goodness.
6. The windiest militant trash
Important Persons shout
Is not so crude as our wish:
What mad Nijinsky wrote
About Diaghilev
Is true of the normal heart;
For the error bred in the bone
Of each woman and each man
Craves what it cannot have,
Not universal love
But to be loved alone.
The text is saying that all the loud, dramatic stuff that important people say isn’t as deep as
what we really want. It references Nijinsky’s thoughts on Diaghilev to show that this idea
applies to everyone. Each person has this flaw that makes them crave what they can’t have.
Instead of looking for love from everyone, what we really want is to be loved in our own
special way.
7. From the conservative dark
Into the ethical life
The dense commuters come,
Repeating their morning vow;
“I will be true to the wife,
I’ll concentrate more on my work,”
And helpless governors wake
To resume their compulsory game:
Who can release them now,
Who can reach the deaf,
Who can speak for the dumb?
The text shows commuters moving from their conservative routines into a more ethical
mindset, repeating their morning promises to stay loyal and work harder. At the same time,
the leaders who have little power wake up to keep playing their expected roles. It raises the
question of who can really help these people, reach those who just don’t care, and speak up
for those who can’t find their voice.
8. All I have is a voice
To undo the folded lie,
The romantic lie in the brain
Of the sensual man-in-the-street
And the lie of Authority
Whose buildings grope the sky:
There is no such thing as the State
And no one exists alone;
Hunger allows no choice
To the citizen or the police;
We must love one another or die.
The text is all about how the speaker only has their voice to challenge the lies people
believe—like the romantic fantasies of the average person and the false ideas pushed by those
in power, represented by big buildings. It points out that the State is just a made-up concept
and that no one really exists in isolation. Hunger doesn’t give anyone a choice, whether
you’re a regular citizen or part of the police. In the end, it’s clear: we’ve got to love each
other or we’re in big trouble.
9. Defenceless under the night
Our world in stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:
May I, composed like them
Of Eros and of dust,
Beleaguered by the same
Negation and despair,
Show an affirming flame.
The text talks about how our world feels pretty defenceless and out of it under the night sky.
But there are these little ironic points of light that pop up wherever good people share their
messages. The speaker hopes to be like those lights, made of love and dust, dealing with the
same feelings of hopelessness and despair, and wants to shine with a positive vibe.
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