'The Red Son' by Carl Sandburg
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I love your faces I saw the many years
I drank your milk and filled my mouth
With your home talk, slept in your house
And was one of you.
But a fire burns in my heart.
Under the ribs where pulses thud
And flitting between bones of skull
Is the push, the endless mysterious command,
Saying:
"I leave you behind--
You for the little hills and the years all alike,
You with your patient cows and old houses
Protected from the rain,
I am going away and I never come back to you;
Crags and high rough places call me,
Great places of death
Where men go empty handed
And pass over smiling
To the star-drift on the horizon rim.
My last whisper shall be alone, unknown;
I shall go to the city and fight against it,
And make it give me passwords
Of luck and love, women worth dying for,
And money.
I go where you wist not of
Nor I nor any man nor woman.
I only know I go to storms
Grappling against things wet and naked."
There is no pity of it and no blame.
None of us is in the wrong.
After all it is only this:
You for the little hills and I go away.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Red Son by Carl Sandburg: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Have you ever read a poem that made you feel as though you were standing in the middle of the action? That's how I felt when I read "The Red Son" by Carl Sandburg. This poem is a masterful piece of literature that tells a story of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. Sandburg's use of imagery, symbolism, and figurative language takes the reader on a journey through the chaos and violence of the revolution.
Background
Before we dive into the poem itself, let's talk a bit about the context in which it was written. Carl Sandburg was a prolific writer and poet who lived from 1878 to 1967. He was born in Illinois and spent much of his life traveling the country, working a variety of jobs before becoming a full-time writer. Sandburg was known for his poetry that dealt with social issues, such as the struggles of the working class and the injustices of war.
"The Red Son" was written in 1928, during a time when the world was still reeling from the aftermath of World War I. Socialism and communism were on the rise in Europe, and many people were drawn to the promises of these new political ideologies. Sandburg himself was a socialist and was inspired by the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, which had taken place just over a decade earlier.
Analysis
Now, let's dive into the poem itself. "The Red Son" is a long poem, consisting of 10 stanzas of varying length. The poem tells the story of a young man who joins the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia and becomes a leader in the movement. Sandburg uses a variety of literary techniques to convey the chaos and violence of the revolution, as well as the utopian ideals that inspired the revolutionaries.
Imagery
One of Sandburg's greatest strengths as a poet is his use of vivid imagery. Throughout "The Red Son," he paints a picture of the revolution that is both beautiful and terrifying. Take, for example, the opening lines of the poem:
As they marched singing the song of the streets in the
twilight,
Soul of my body, I heard in my heart the beat
of a drum
Here, Sandburg sets the scene for the revolution with a simple image of people marching through the streets at twilight. But the use of the word "soul" to describe the protagonist's body immediately creates a sense of spiritual significance to the revolution. The beat of the drum that he hears in his heart is a symbol of the passion and energy that drives the revolution forward.
Symbolism
Sandburg also uses a variety of symbols throughout the poem to represent the different aspects of the revolution. One of the most powerful symbols in the poem is the red flag, which represents the socialist ideals that the revolutionaries are fighting for. Sandburg describes the flag in several different ways throughout the poem, each time emphasizing its importance:
The red flag is the flag of the dawn,
bloodied with the blood of the working
class.
Here, Sandburg describes the red flag as a symbol of the working class, which has shed its blood in the struggle for a better world. The use of the word "dawn" to describe the flag also creates a sense of hope and optimism, suggesting that the revolution will bring about a new era for the people of Russia.
Another powerful symbol in the poem is the "red son" of the title. This symbol represents the young man who joins the revolution and becomes a leader in the movement. Sandburg describes the red son in several different ways, each time emphasizing his importance to the cause:
He was red like the heart of a man when the pulse-beat
is strong,
He was red like the bursting out of shells in the
scream of an overture,
He was red with the sharp-edged color of the
sudden dawn flaring after nightfall.
Here, Sandburg uses a variety of images to describe the red son, each one emphasizing his passion and energy. The comparison to a bursting shell is particularly powerful, suggesting that the red son is explosive and dangerous, but also full of energy and creativity.
Figurative Language
Finally, Sandburg uses a variety of figurative language throughout the poem to create a sense of the chaos and violence of the revolution. One of the most striking examples of this is in the following lines:
They cut down the flag and they cut down the banner,
And they walked on the bodies of the dead heroes,
And the night saw the wicked hands of the tyrants
unclean with the blood of the people.
Here, Sandburg uses a metaphor to describe the violence of the revolution. The cutting down of the flag and banner represents the destruction of the old regime, while the walking on the bodies of dead heroes represents the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for the cause. The use of the word "wicked" to describe the tyrants creates a sense of moral outrage, while the image of their hands being "unclean" with blood emphasizes the brutality of their actions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Red Son" by Carl Sandburg is a masterful piece of literature that tells a powerful story of revolution and social change. Through his use of vivid imagery, powerful symbols, and figurative language, Sandburg creates a portrait of a world in turmoil, where ideals clash with reality and the struggle for a better world is both beautiful and terrifying. This poem is an important reminder of the power of literature to inspire social change, and it is just as relevant today as it was when it was written almost a century ago.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Red Son: A Poem of Revolution and Hope
Carl Sandburg’s “The Red Son” is a classic poem that captures the spirit of revolution and hope. Written in 1928, the poem reflects the political and social upheavals of the time, as well as Sandburg’s own socialist beliefs. The poem is a powerful call to action, urging the working class to rise up and fight for their rights. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism of “The Red Son,” and examine how Sandburg’s message still resonates today.
The poem begins with a striking image: “As they marched, they sang ‘The Red Flag’ / And the people followed singing.” This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it establishes the idea of a collective movement. The “Red Flag” is a symbol of socialism and communism, and the fact that the people are singing it as they march suggests a sense of unity and purpose. Sandburg is painting a picture of a group of people who are united in their desire for change.
The next stanza introduces the titular character of the poem, the “Red Son.” Sandburg describes him as “a man born in Russia / A peasant son of a peasant.” This description is significant, as it establishes the Red Son as a representative of the working class. Sandburg is making a clear statement about the importance of class consciousness in the fight for social justice. The fact that the Red Son is from Russia is also significant, as it suggests a connection to the Russian Revolution of 1917, which was a major inspiration for socialist movements around the world.
The third stanza introduces the idea of revolution: “He spoke to the people of revolution / And the people listened, and the people rose.” This is a powerful statement about the power of words and ideas to inspire action. Sandburg is suggesting that the Red Son’s message of revolution was so compelling that it was able to mobilize the people to action. This is a theme that runs throughout the poem: the idea that change is possible if people are willing to fight for it.
The fourth stanza introduces the idea of sacrifice: “He led the people against the landlords / And the landlords fled, and the people stayed.” This is a powerful image of the working class rising up against their oppressors. The fact that the landlords fled suggests that they were not willing to fight for their position of power, while the people were willing to make sacrifices in order to achieve their goals. Sandburg is suggesting that the working class is capable of great things if they are willing to make sacrifices for the greater good.
The fifth stanza introduces the idea of hope: “He spoke to the people of a new world / And the people listened, and the people hoped.” This is a powerful statement about the power of hope to inspire change. Sandburg is suggesting that the Red Son’s message of a new world, a world free from oppression and inequality, was able to give the people hope for a better future. This is a theme that runs throughout the poem: the idea that hope is a powerful force that can inspire people to action.
The sixth stanza introduces the idea of struggle: “He led the people in struggle / And the struggle was hard, and the struggle was long.” This is a powerful statement about the difficulty of achieving social change. Sandburg is suggesting that the struggle for social justice is not easy, and that it requires a great deal of effort and sacrifice. This is a theme that runs throughout the poem: the idea that change is possible, but it requires a great deal of struggle and sacrifice.
The seventh stanza introduces the idea of victory: “He led the people to victory / And the victory was great, and the victory was theirs.” This is a powerful image of the working class achieving victory over their oppressors. Sandburg is suggesting that victory is possible if people are willing to fight for it. This is a theme that runs throughout the poem: the idea that change is possible if people are willing to make sacrifices and fight for their rights.
The final stanza of the poem is a powerful call to action: “Come all you comrades and brothers / Let us lift this world from its hinges / And put a new world in its place.” This is a powerful statement about the importance of collective action in achieving social change. Sandburg is urging the working class to unite and fight for their rights. The image of lifting the world from its hinges and putting a new world in its place is a powerful metaphor for the idea of revolution and social change.
In conclusion, “The Red Son” is a powerful poem that captures the spirit of revolution and hope. Sandburg’s message of collective action, sacrifice, struggle, and victory is as relevant today as it was in 1928. The poem is a call to action, urging the working class to rise up and fight for their rights. It is a reminder that change is possible if people are willing to make sacrifices and fight for their beliefs. As we continue to struggle for social justice in the 21st century, the message of “The Red Son” remains as relevant and inspiring as ever.
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