What Is the Connotation in Musee Des Beaux Arts

Musée des Beaux Arts | Themes

Due west.H. Auden'south "Musée des Beaux Arts" has one overarching theme that manifests in 3 separate dimensions. This overarching theme is how tragedy must as a thing of form take place simultaneously with everyday life. Agreement that, it is a given that both people and the universe as a whole tin can proceed normally while an private suffers.

Suffering Is Natural and Homo

One of the key moments in the poem is when the speaker comments on suffering'south "man position." The speaker lauds the "old Masters" for their perception and portrayal of suffering in their art. Throughout the verse form, suffering and tragedy are envisioned in a number of situations. When suffering and other important events—such equally "the miraculous nascence" of Jesus—announced, they are juxtaposed with ordinary events. Although Jesus Christ will soon be born, children, unimpressed, skate on an icy pond.

In the showtime stanza, the poem references the crucifixion of Jesus equally "the dreadful martyrdom." Withal, fifty-fifty this momentous outcome is taken in its stride, with the speaker remarking that it must "run its form." Indeed, the finish of martyrdom is described as beingness "in a corner, some untidy spot." There, "the dogs proceed with their doggy life," and a "horse / Scratches its innocent behind on a tree." The poem does not minimize suffering every bit much as contextualize it. Suffering is terrible, but it is also a natural role of living and beingness human being.

The painting the speaker here refers to in shorthand every bit "Brueghel's Icarus" is actually called Landscape with the Autumn of Icarus. This title is pregnant in its presentation of data. That "mural" comes first emphasizes the importance of the landscape, the natural scene. If it were reversed ("The Fall of Icarus with Landscape"), the landscape would be simply a background. Instead, the fall of Icarus is simply one event within a natural scene full of events. Auden chose to write almost this painting because of how it represents a spectacular decease as i natural element amongst many.

The Universe Is Indifferent

If the poem presents suffering as a natural office of life, it also takes pains to explain that the universe doesn't intendance. What happens to i person in a given moment may accept lilliputian or no upshot on that person's surroundings. While the "dreadful martyrdom" runs its grade in an "untidy corner," nearby dogs pay information technology no mind. The line that says the dogs "go on with their doggy life" is key because it shows how human suffering makes piddling affect upon nature.

A central example of this is the moment of Icarus splashing into the ocean. The speaker remarks that the sun "shone / As it had to on the white legs disappearing into the green / Sea." The words "as it had to" demonstrate an almost tired sense of obligation on the part of the natural world. The dominicus shines on Icarus's legs and the body of water not out of interest or sympathy, merely out of duty. It is too worth noting that this is the same sun that caused the wax in Icarus's wings to cook. After having condemned him to drowning, the sun passively watches his fall without any sense of guilt.

Another moment that demonstrates the universe'south indifference can be found at the beginning of stanza ii. Here the speaker remarks that "everything turns abroad / Quite leisurely from the disaster." The "everything" that turns away does not turn away out of shock or horror. Information technology turns away "quite leisurely" because it is not the least chip interested. That Icarus drowns makes no impression on the natural world; soon his white legs will vanish into the water.

People Are Self-Interested

"Musée des Beaux Arts" doesn't concern just an indifferent universe; information technology also explores how people are self-interested. This is not to say all people are selfish, merely that they get with their own lives and keep to their own business. Early in the poem the speaker remarks how suffering happens "while someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along." The nature of life, equally the verse form demonstrates, is that tragedy is a abiding, then people go on with their lives. The offset stanza references the birth of Jesus Christ ("the miraculous birth") in contrast with the attitudes of nearby children. The children are said to "not particularly want [the birth] to happen" and are skating on a frozen swimming, a carefree action.

In the 2nd stanza, two images illustrate the poem's point about man self-involvement. The first is the ploughman, who takes footling involvement in the fall of Icarus into the ocean. The speaker notes information technology is possible the ploughman "heard the splash, the forsaken cry." However, he did non consider information technology "an important failure." While acknowledging the tragedy, the phrase "not an important failure" shows that the ploughman has his ain priorities. The work of plowing a field is more important to him than the death of a stranger. Another prototype illustrating this theme is the "expensive delicate ship" that could mayhap save Icarus simply has "somewhere to get to" and "canvas[s] calmly on." The speaker describes how the send's coiffure "must have seen / Something amazing" notwithstanding does not feel compelled to plow around and help. For the ship's crew, Icarus'south decease is a spectacle, not a crusade for diverting from course.

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