'Saint Judas' by James Wright
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When I went out to kill myself, I caught
A pack of hoodlums beating up a man.
Running to spare his suffering, I forgot
My name, my number, how my day began,
How soldiers milled around the garden stone
And sang amusing songs; how all that day
Their javelins measured crowds; how I alone
Bargained the proper coins, and slipped away.
Banished from heaven, I found this victim beaten,
Stripped, kneed, and left to cry. Dropping my rope
Aside, I ran, ignored the uniforms:
Then I remembered bread my flesh had eaten,
The kiss that ate my flesh. Flayed without hope,
I held the man for nothing in my arms.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Saint Judas: A Masterpiece of Irony and Redemption
Are you familiar with the poem Saint Judas by James Wright? If not, you are in for a treat. This is a masterpiece of modern poetry that combines profound irony and redemption to explore the human condition and the role of religion in our lives.
At first glance, the poem appears to be a straightforward retelling of the story of Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. But as you delve deeper into the poem, you realize that Wright is doing something much more subtle and complex. He is using the story of Judas as a metaphor for our own struggles with faith, doubt, and the search for meaning in life.
Let's take a closer look at the poem and see how Wright achieves this powerful effect.
The Irony of Judas
The poem begins with a vivid description of Judas as he prepares to betray Jesus:
When I went out to kill myself, I caught
A pack of hoodlums beating up a man.
Running to spare his suffering, I forgot
My name, my number, how my day began,
How soldiers milled around the garden stone
And sang amusing songs; how all that day
Their javelins measured crowds; how I alone
Bargained the proper coins, and slipped away.
Here we see Judas portrayed as a sympathetic figure who is trying to alleviate someone else's suffering. He is not a heartless villain, but a flawed human being who is capable of compassion. This creates a powerful irony when we remember that Judas is the one who will ultimately betray Jesus.
The poem continues with a series of vivid images that capture the sense of betrayal and guilt that Judas feels:
But after the sticks came down on the man,
I thought of nothing at all
Except the loneliness of the dead,
Who did not need to be loved, not at all.
And I smacked my lips with shame
When after me a white face came.
Here we see the contrast between the violence of the hoodlums and the stillness of the dead. Judas is haunted by the sense that he has betrayed someone who did not deserve it, someone who was innocent and pure. And yet he cannot escape the guilt and shame that follow him like a shadow.
The Search for Redemption
But the poem does not end on this note of despair. Instead, Wright introduces a surprising twist: Judas is not the only one who has betrayed Jesus. In fact, we are all guilty of this sin:
Why should I ever be good?
When I look behind,
Every movie I've ever seen
Sends a tremble down my mind;
And what makes me holy,
What makes me pure?
What makes me worthy in your eyes?
Oh, I'm not sure.
Here we see the speaker grappling with the same doubts and fears that Judas feels. He is struggling to find a sense of purpose and meaning in a world that seems to be filled with violence and betrayal. And yet, he is also searching for something deeper, something that will transcend his own limitations and flaws.
This is where the poem takes a surprising turn. Instead of condemning Judas as a traitor and a villain, Wright suggests that he may be a symbol of hope and redemption:
Let me go to the martyrdom
Of my own body,
The useless body that signs and lies
Like a mockery of freedom.
I shall see
The salvation of my soul
In the emptiness of dying.
Here we see Judas transformed into a martyr, someone who is willing to give up his own life for a greater cause. He is no longer the betrayer, but the redeemed. And in this act of sacrifice, he finds a sense of purpose and meaning that transcends his own flaws and failures.
The Role of Religion
Finally, we come to the role of religion in the poem. Wright does not offer a simple or straightforward answer to this question. Instead, he explores the complex relationship between faith and doubt, between the desire for redemption and the fear of damnation:
St. Matthew was a tax man,
St. John was a boil,
St. Jude had a fiery head,
And St. James had a farm in Ohio.
Here we see a series of irreverent and humorous images that challenge our conventional ideas of what it means to be a saint. Wright is suggesting that the true nature of holiness is not something that can be easily defined or understood.
But he is also suggesting that there is a deeper truth behind these images. The saints may be flawed and imperfect, but they are also capable of great acts of courage and sacrifice. And in their example, we find a model for our own struggles with faith and doubt.
Conclusion
In the end, Saint Judas is a powerful and moving poem that challenges our assumptions about religion, redemption, and the human condition. It is a poem that does not offer easy answers or solutions, but instead invites us to grapple with the complex and often contradictory nature of our own lives.
If you have not read Saint Judas before, I urge you to do so. It is a masterful work of art that will leave you with a sense of awe and wonder at the power of poetry to explore the deepest mysteries of the human heart.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Saint Judas: A Poem of Redemption and Empathy
James Wright's poem "Saint Judas" is a powerful and moving work of art that explores themes of redemption, empathy, and the human condition. Written in 1959, the poem is a response to the poet's own struggles with depression and feelings of isolation, as well as a reflection on the larger social and political issues of the time. In this analysis, we will explore the many layers of meaning in this classic poem, and examine how Wright's use of language and imagery creates a powerful emotional impact on the reader.
The poem begins with a vivid description of Saint Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, and who is often seen as a symbol of treachery and evil. Wright's Judas, however, is a sympathetic figure, a man who is tormented by guilt and shame, and who seeks redemption through his own suffering. The opening lines of the poem set the tone for this empathetic portrayal:
"When I went out to kill myself, I caught A pack of hoodlums beating up a man. Running to spare his suffering, I forgot My name, my number, how my day began, How soldiers milled around the garden stone And sang amusing songs; how all that day Their javelins measured crowds; how I alone Bargained the proper coins, and slipped away."
Here, we see Judas as a man who is willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of another, even as he contemplates suicide. His act of compassion is a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy and human connection, even in the face of despair and hopelessness. The image of the "pack of hoodlums" beating up a man is a stark reminder of the violence and brutality that exists in the world, and the need for individuals to stand up against it.
As the poem continues, we see Judas struggling with his own guilt and shame, as he reflects on his betrayal of Jesus:
"I woke, and saw the dark desert where My sin lay in a mound beside my feet. What tongueless ghost of sin crept through my hair, And whispered to my heart, and bade it beat? What lone woman, what sorrowful man, What rage of aching quietness conceived My husband's torments, and unfolded fan Of his huge wound, whose milky breath deceived His frantic wife?"
Here, Wright uses powerful imagery to convey the depth of Judas's anguish and remorse. The "dark desert" represents the emptiness and despair that Judas feels, while the "mound" of sin at his feet is a physical manifestation of his guilt. The image of the "tongueless ghost of sin" is a haunting reminder of the unseen forces that drive us to do wrong, while the "rage of aching quietness" speaks to the intense emotional pain that Judas experiences.
Despite his overwhelming sense of guilt, however, Judas is not without hope. He sees in the suffering of others a path to redemption, and a way to atone for his own sins:
"I will not ask forgiveness for what I have done, For I have done nothing wrong. No, it is the other Judas, the one Who cracked a dry joke at the expense of God, Whose only crime was his honesty, Who was crucified beside me, and who said To Christ, 'Remember me when you come Into your kingdom.'"
Here, Wright presents a powerful vision of redemption, one that is rooted in empathy and compassion. Judas sees in the suffering of the other Judas a reflection of his own pain, and recognizes the importance of honesty and authenticity in the face of adversity. The image of the two Judases crucified together is a powerful reminder of the shared humanity that exists in all of us, and the need to recognize and honor that humanity in others.
In the final lines of the poem, Wright brings together all of these themes of redemption, empathy, and the human condition, in a powerful and moving conclusion:
"Christ, I am Christ, I am Christ!"
Here, Judas identifies himself with Christ, recognizing that he too is a part of the divine, and that his suffering and redemption are part of a larger spiritual journey. The repetition of the phrase "I am Christ" is a powerful affirmation of the interconnectedness of all things, and the importance of recognizing the divine in ourselves and others.
In conclusion, James Wright's poem "Saint Judas" is a powerful and moving work of art that explores themes of redemption, empathy, and the human condition. Through his use of language and imagery, Wright creates a vivid and emotional portrait of a man struggling with guilt and shame, and seeking redemption through his own suffering. The poem is a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy and compassion in the face of despair and hopelessness, and a call to recognize the shared humanity that exists in all of us.
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