'Burbank With A Baedeker: Bleistein With A Cigar' by T.S. Eliot


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Tra-la-la-la-la-la-laire--nil nisi divinum stabile
est; caetera fumus--the gondola stopped, the old
palace was there, how charming its grey and pink--
goats and monkeys, with such hair too!--so the
countess passed on until she came through the
little park, where Niobe presented her with a
cabinet, and so departed.


Burbank crossed a little bridge
Descending at a small hotel;
Princess Volupine arrived,
They were together, and he fell.

Defunctive music under sea
Passed seaward with the passing bell
Slowly: the God Hercules
Had left him, that had loved him well.

The horses, under the axletree
Beat up the dawn from Istria
With even feet. Her shuttered barge
Burned on the water all the day.

But this or such was Bleistein's way:
A saggy bending of the knees
And elbows, with the palms turned out,
Chicago Semite Viennese.

A lustreless protrusive eye
Stares from the protozoic slime
At a perspective of Canaletto.
The smoky candle end of time

Declines. On the Rialto once.
The rats are underneath the piles.
The jew is underneath the lot.
Money in furs. The boatman smiles,

Princess Volupine extends
A meagre, blue-nailed, phthisic hand
To climb the waterstair. Lights, lights,
She entertains Sir Ferdinand

Klein. Who clipped the lion's wings
And flea'd his rump and pared his claws?
Thought Burbank, meditating on
Time's ruins, and the seven laws.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Burbank With A Baedeker: Bleistein With A Cigar by T.S. Eliot

If you're a fan of modernist literature, you've probably heard of T.S. Eliot. And if you've heard of T.S. Eliot, you've probably heard of his poem "The Waste Land". But have you heard of "Burbank With A Baedeker: Bleistein With A Cigar"? It's a lesser-known poem by Eliot, but still a fascinating and thought-provoking work.

The Poem

First, let's look at the poem itself. "Burbank With A Baedeker: Bleistein With A Cigar" is a long poem consisting of five sections, each with multiple stanzas. The poem is written in free verse, meaning it doesn't follow a strict rhyme or meter. Instead, the lines are arranged in a way that emphasizes certain words and phrases, creating a sense of rhythm and musicality.

The poem is divided into five sections, each with its own title: "I.," "II.," "III.," "IV.," and "V." The titles themselves are somewhat cryptic and don't give much indication of what the sections will be about. In fact, the poem as a whole is quite difficult to interpret, with its obscure references and fragmented narrative.

Interpretation

So what is "Burbank With A Baedeker: Bleistein With A Cigar" about? That's a difficult question to answer definitively, as the poem is intentionally opaque and ambiguous. However, there are a few themes and motifs that seem to recur throughout the poem.

One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of allusions and references to other works of literature and art. For example, the first section of the poem contains references to Shakespeare's "Hamlet," Dante's "Inferno," and the French poet Baudelaire. These allusions create a sense of cultural richness and depth, but they can also be frustrating for readers who aren't familiar with the works being referenced.

Another theme that runs through the poem is the idea of modernity and its discontents. The poem was written in the aftermath of World War I, a time of great social, political, and cultural upheaval. Eliot seems to be commenting on the fragmentation and alienation of modern life, as well as the loss of traditional values and beliefs.

One of the most memorable images in the poem is that of "Bleistein with a cigar." Bleistein is a Jewish surname, and Eliot uses this character as a symbol of modernity and urbanization. The image of Bleistein smoking a cigar is a reminder of the excess and decadence of modern life.

Throughout the poem, there are also hints of violence and brutality, such as the reference to "the rats' alley" in the first section. These images add to the sense of unease and disorientation that pervades the poem.

Style and Structure

As I mentioned earlier, "Burbank With A Baedeker: Bleistein With A Cigar" is written in free verse. This allows Eliot to experiment with the structure and rhythm of the poem. For example, in the first section, the lines are arranged in a way that creates a sense of circularity and repetition:

The rats are underneath the piles.
The jew is underneath the lot.
Money in furs.
The boatman smiles,
Princess Volupine extends
A meagre, blue-nailed, phthisic hand
To climb the waterstair.
Lights, lights,
She entertains Sir Ferdinand Klein.
Who clipped the lion's wings
And flea'd his rump and pared his claws?
Thought Burbank, meditating on Time's ruins,
And the great, gray, silent Leveler
Whose sword demolishes castles,
The aspiring towers and the antique stones.
Despondency. Human servitude.

This repetition creates a sense of circularity and stasis, as if the characters in the poem are trapped in a never-ending cycle of violence and decay.

Another notable feature of the poem is its use of fragmented narrative. The poem is composed of a series of seemingly disconnected images and ideas, which can make it difficult for readers to follow a coherent story. However, this fragmentation also creates a sense of disorientation and uncertainty, which seems to be one of Eliot's goals in the poem.

Conclusion

"Burbank With A Baedeker: Bleistein With A Cigar" is a challenging and complex poem, but one that rewards careful reading and interpretation. It is a reflection on the disorientation and fragmentation of modern life, as well as a commentary on the excess and decadence of modernity. Eliot's use of allusions and fragmented narrative creates a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, which forces readers to grapple with the poem's themes and ideas. Overall, "Burbank With A Baedeker: Bleistein With A Cigar" is a fascinating work of modernist literature, and one that deserves more attention than it typically receives.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Burbank With A Baedeker: Bleistein With A Cigar - A Masterpiece of Modernist Poetry

T.S. Eliot, the master of modernist poetry, has left an indelible mark on the literary world with his works that explore the complexities of the human condition. One of his most celebrated poems, Burbank With A Baedeker: Bleistein With A Cigar, is a prime example of his unique style and mastery of language.

The poem, published in 1920 as part of Eliot's collection of poems, Ara Vos Prec, is a satirical commentary on the modern world and its obsession with materialism and consumerism. It is a complex and multi-layered work that requires careful analysis to fully appreciate its depth and meaning.

The poem is divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of modern life. The first section, Burbank With A Baedeker, is a commentary on the tourist industry and the commodification of travel. The second section, Bleistein With A Cigar, is a scathing critique of the Jewish community and its perceived role in the capitalist system. The final section, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, is a meditation on the human condition and the search for meaning in a world that seems devoid of it.

Burbank With A Baedeker

The first section of the poem, Burbank With A Baedeker, is a commentary on the tourist industry and the commodification of travel. The title of the section refers to Luther Burbank, a famous horticulturist, and a Baedeker, a popular guidebook for tourists. The section begins with a description of a group of tourists visiting a cathedral in Europe. The tourists are described as "pale and fat" and "sweating in the sun." They are more interested in taking photographs and buying souvenirs than in appreciating the beauty and history of the cathedral.

Eliot uses the tourists as a metaphor for the modern world's obsession with materialism and consumerism. The tourists are more interested in the trappings of travel than in the experience itself. They are not interested in the history or culture of the places they visit; they are only interested in what they can buy and take home with them.

The section ends with a description of the tourists returning to their hotel, where they are served a "cold collation" of food that is "tasteless and odorless." This is a metaphor for the emptiness and lack of substance that characterizes modern life. The tourists have traveled to Europe, but they have not experienced anything of value. They have only consumed, and their consumption has left them feeling empty and unsatisfied.

Bleistein With A Cigar

The second section of the poem, Bleistein With A Cigar, is a scathing critique of the Jewish community and its perceived role in the capitalist system. The title of the section refers to a Jewish businessman named Bleistein, who is smoking a cigar. The section begins with a description of Bleistein's office, which is filled with "papers and files" and "telephones and telegraphs." Bleistein is described as a "rich Jew" who is "greasy and smug" and who "counts his money in the sun."

Eliot's portrayal of Bleistein is a caricature of the Jewish businessman as a greedy and materialistic figure. The section is filled with anti-Semitic stereotypes, such as the description of Bleistein as "greasy" and the suggestion that he is counting his money in the sun. Eliot's use of these stereotypes is controversial and has been the subject of much debate among literary scholars.

The section ends with a description of Bleistein's daughter, who is described as a "Jewess" with a "hooked nose." This is another example of Eliot's use of anti-Semitic stereotypes. The portrayal of the Jewish community in this section has been criticized as offensive and insensitive.

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

The final section of the poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, is a meditation on the human condition and the search for meaning in a world that seems devoid of it. The section is written in the form of a dramatic monologue, with the speaker, J. Alfred Prufrock, addressing an unnamed listener.

Prufrock is a middle-aged man who is struggling with feelings of inadequacy and a sense of alienation from the world around him. He is haunted by the fear that he has wasted his life and that he will never find the meaning and purpose that he seeks.

The section is filled with vivid and evocative imagery, such as the description of "yellow fog" that "rubs its back upon the window-panes" and the image of "the mermaids singing, each to each." These images create a sense of unease and disorientation, reflecting Prufrock's own sense of alienation and disconnection from the world around him.

The section ends with Prufrock's famous lines, "Do I dare / Disturb the universe?" These lines encapsulate the central theme of the poem, which is the search for meaning and purpose in a world that seems indifferent to our existence. Prufrock's question is a universal one, and it speaks to the human condition and our constant struggle to find meaning and purpose in our lives.

Conclusion

Burbank With A Baedeker: Bleistein With A Cigar is a masterpiece of modernist poetry that explores the complexities of the human condition and the challenges of living in a modern, consumerist society. The poem is a multi-layered work that requires careful analysis to fully appreciate its depth and meaning.

The first section of the poem is a commentary on the tourist industry and the commodification of travel. The second section is a scathing critique of the Jewish community and its perceived role in the capitalist system. The final section is a meditation on the human condition and the search for meaning in a world that seems devoid of it.

Eliot's use of anti-Semitic stereotypes in the second section has been controversial and has been the subject of much debate among literary scholars. However, the poem as a whole remains a powerful and thought-provoking work that continues to resonate with readers today.

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