Burbank with a Baedeker:
Bleistein with a Cigar
By Thomas Stearns Eliot
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.
Poem Analysis:
T.S. Eliot's "Burbank with a Baedeker: Bleistein with a Cigar" is a complex and enigmatic poem that presents a scene rich with symbolism, vivid imagery, and a sense of decay, reflecting the broader modernist themes of fragmentation, disillusionment, and the disintegration of cultural and personal identity.
- Fragmentation and Disintegration: The poem portrays a fragmented, almost disjointed scene, where the central figures, Burbank and Bleistein, are portrayed in disconnected and disparate images. This fragmentation reflects the disintegrated and fragmented state of the modern world.
- Societal Critique: The poem offers a critical commentary on society, where characters such as Bleistein are depicted through derogatory stereotypes, reflecting societal prejudices and fragmentation.
- Symbolism and Decay: The portrayal of decay and dissolution is a central theme in the poem. It features decaying and declining images, such as the "defunctive music under the sea" and the declining "smoky candle end of time," reflecting a world in disrepair and decline.
- Cultural References: Eliot includes references to cultural and historical elements, such as Istria, Rialto, and Canaletto, symbolizing the depth and complexity of the cultural fabric, but also possibly hinting at its decline and decay.
- Disillusionment and Loss: The poem delves into themes of disillusionment and loss. Burbank's contemplation of time's ruins and the "seven laws" might reflect a sense of disillusionment with established principles or the laws that govern the world.
- Character Portrayal: Characters like Princess Volupine and Sir Ferdinand Klein are depicted in a somewhat grotesque manner, emphasizing their decay or lack of substance. Bleistein, in particular, is portrayed in a derogatory and offensive way, highlighting societal prejudices and stereotypes.
- Ambiguity and Symbolism: The poem is characterized by its ambiguity and open-ended nature. It invites interpretation and analysis, challenging the reader to extract meaning from a series of disjointed and often cryptic images.
In conclusion, "Burbank with a Baedeker: Bleistein with a Cigar" is a complex and challenging poem that addresses themes of fragmentation, disillusionment, cultural decay, and the disintegration of identity in the modern world. Through its fragmented scenes, symbolic references, and ambiguous imagery, the poem provokes thought and contemplation about the disordered and disconnected aspects of contemporary society and the human condition.