Taking its cue from Homer’s epic Iliad, the analysis of The Shield of Achilles conjures an image of a meditative poem which seeks to draw a comment on how brutal and violent the world is. The poem begins with an unknown woman looking over the shoulder of another man whose identity is also unknown and is only revealed to the readers in the last stanza of the woman. However, any reader who is familiar with Homer’s work will be able to identify the characters from the very onset of the poem; the woman character is goddess Thetis, the mother of the Greek hero Achilles.
About the Poet
- Auden’s plays in the 1930s were performed by the Group Theatre, in productions that he supervised to varying degrees.
- Auden began writing poems at thirteen, mostly in the styles of 19th-century romantic poets, especially Wordsworth.
Theme of The Shield of Achilles
The theme of The Shield of Achilles gives us a glimpse of the great mythology which involves the classic Trojan War. The lines of the poem itself are dipped in the mood of the Greek classic; Legos vs. Pathoswho are the two main characters who dissent each other views and one’s triumph over the other paints a picture of humanity and its everlasting plight. Achilles happens to be the most celebrated Greek warrior who was an important member of the Trojan War. Achilles mother Thetis, takes a look at the shield of his son that hangs from his shoulder and stands as an emblem of valor and courage which reflects the aspects of Greek civilization and was made especially for Achilles by the blacksmith of Gods; Haphaestous, the blacksmith of the Gods. The poignancy of the poem is revealed though the lines where the Mother looks out;
For vines and olive trees,
Marble well-governed cities
And ships upon untamed seas,
But there on the shining metal His hands had put instead
An artificial wilderness
And a sky like lead.
On the other hand, Hephaestus, the blacksmith is projected as an epitome of pragmatism. In the classical tale, he had been depicted as a “thin-lipped armorer” who “hobbled”. Thetis, the mother is a beautiful nymph in the classic tale now seeks “vines and olive trees, marble well-governed cities and ships upon untamed seas”, symbols of peace and prosperity. Amidst all this, it is Hephaestus who gives her “an artificial wilderness and a sky like lead congregated [by] an unintelligible multitude, a million eyes, a million boots in line, without expression, waiting for a sign” which rings the knell that heralds a furious war.
W.H Auden’s work is also a sharp contrast between a Mothers vision and what is embossed on her sons shield by the blacksmith.’ (She looks for “vines and olive trees,” “cities,” “ships,” “ritual pieties,” “athletes,” “Men and women in a dance,” etc.). Here, Auden attempts to reverse the narration order of Homer; where he describes the war (“a million boots in line, / without expression, waiting for a sign.”). Then, when he mentions, “a voice without a face” in order to portray the very idea that the cause for the war is justified. There is also a sharp resemblance to Christ’s death as conveyed through the lines; “As three pale figures were led forth and bound/To three posts driven upright in the ground.”
They “died as men before their bodies died.”
Auden continues his wordplay to depict and pen picture a harsh reality where the tormentors are themselves tormented (“A ragged urchin, aimless and alone, Loitered about that vacancy; a bird Flew up to safety from his well-aimed stone/That girls are raped, that two boys knife a third, Were axioms to him, who’d never heard Of any world where promises were kept, Or one could weep because another wept.) “To please her son, the strong/Iron-hearted man-slaying Achilles/Who would not live long”-is perhaps the zenith of all emotions that tears away the magnitude of war that bodes ill and off for one and all.
Dear Readers- If this summary/analysis has helped you, kindly take a little effort to like or +1 this post or both. Make sure you like Beamingnotes Facebook page and subscribe to our newsletter so that we can keep in touch. We’ll keep you informed about stuff that are really interesting, worth knowing and is important to you.
Some online learning platforms provide certifications, while others are designed to simply grow your skills in your personal and professional life. Including Masterclass and Coursera, here are our recommendations for the best online learning platforms you can sign up for today.
The 7 Best Online Learning Platforms of 2022
- Best Overall: Coursera
- Best for Niche Topics: Udemy
- Best for Creative Fields: Skillshare
- Best for Celebrity Lessons: MasterClass
- Best for STEM: EdX
- Best for Career Building: Udacity
- Best for Data Learning: Pluralsight