Sweeney Erect (Poem by Thomas Stearns Eliot)

Sweeney Erect

By Thomas Stearns Eliot

                        And the trees about me,

    Let them be dry and leafless; let the rocks

    Groan with continual surges; and behind me

    Make all a desolation. Look, look, wenches!

Paint me a cavernous waste shore

Cast in the unstilted Cyclades,

Paint me the bold anfractuous rocks

Faced by the snarled and yelping seas.

Display me Aeolus above

Reviewing the insurgent gales

Which tangle Ariadne's hair

And swell with haste the perjured sails.

Morning stirs the feet and hands

(Nausicaa and Polypheme),

Gesture of orang-outang

Rises from the sheets in steam.

This withered root of knots of hair

Slitted below and gashed with eyes,

This oval O cropped out with teeth:

The sickle motion from the thighs

Jackknifes upward at the knees

Then straightens out from heel to hip

Pushing the framework of the bed

And clawing at the pillow slip.

Sweeney addressed full length to shave

Broadbottomed, pink from nape to base,

Knows the female temperament

And wipes the suds around his face.

(The lengthened shadow of a man

Is history, said Emerson

Who had not seen the silhouette

Of Sweeney straddled in the sun).

Tests the razor on his leg

Waiting until the shriek subsides.

The epileptic on the bed

Curves backward, clutching at her sides.

The ladies of the corridor

Find themselves involved, disgraced,

Call witness to their principles

And deprecate the lack of taste

Observing that hysteria

Might easily be misunderstood;

Mrs. Turner intimates

It does the house no sort of good.

But Doris, towelled from the bath,

Enters padding on broad feet,

Bringing sal volatile

And a glass of brandy neat.

Poem Analysis:

T.S. Eliot, a modernist poet known for his complex and innovative works, offers readers a disconcerting journey into the psyche in "Sweeney Erect." This poem, part of Eliot's broader exploration of the fractured human experience, delves into the tumultuous inner world of Sweeney, a character with a distorted and disjointed perspective. Through vivid and fragmented imagery, Eliot presents a surreal tableau that challenges conventional notions of identity, desire, and sanity.

1. Dissonant Imagery and Setting: Eliot begins by calling on the reader to paint a vivid picture of a desolate shore in the Cyclades, with anfractuous rocks facing the tumultuous seas. The dissonance between the seemingly serene setting and the aggressive language used to describe it sets the tone for the unsettling narrative that follows. This disjunction is an early indication of the fractured nature of the poem's subject matter.
2. Mythical Allusions and Symbols: The poem incorporates references to Greek mythology, invoking Aeolus and Ariadne. These mythical elements serve as a backdrop for Sweeney's distorted reality. The insurgent gales and tangled hair symbolize internal chaos and emotional turbulence. Eliot's use of myth allows him to tap into archetypal themes, creating a universal resonance within the specific context of Sweeney's experience.
3. Physical and Mental Disarray: The poem then shifts to a vivid description of Sweeney's physical and mental state. The orang-outang gesture implies a primitive, animalistic quality, disrupting conventional notions of human dignity. The disjointed images of a withered root of hair, slitted eyes, and an oval mouth cropped out with teeth contribute to the disconcerting portrayal of Sweeney's psyche.
4. Sweeney's Actions: Eliot presents Sweeney engaging in mundane activities, such as shaving and testing a razor on his leg. These everyday actions are imbued with a sense of violence and discomfort, highlighting the disjunction between the ordinary and the aberrant. Sweeney's disregard for conventional norms and his insensitivity to the epileptic woman on the bed further contribute to the unsettling atmosphere.
5. Societal Response: The ladies of the corridor react with a mix of disgrace and moral judgment, emphasizing the societal discomfort with Sweeney's unconventional behavior. Mrs. Turner's concern about the impact on the house underscores the societal tendency to prioritize appearances over understanding and empathy.
6. Doris's Entrance: The poem concludes with Doris entering the scene, offering a glass of brandy to Sweeney. Doris's presence adds another layer to the exploration of human interaction and societal expectations. Her padding on broad feet contrasts with the delicate expectations of femininity, challenging traditional gender norms.

"Sweeney Erect" stands as a vivid and disquieting exploration of the fragmented human psyche. Through dissonant imagery, mythic allusions, and a fragmented narrative, T.S. Eliot presents a character whose inner world disrupts societal norms and challenges conventional understandings of identity and behavior. The poem invites readers to confront the discomfort of disordered minds and the disjunction between societal expectations and individual experiences. Eliot, in his characteristic modernist style, prompts readers to question and reconsider the complexities of the human condition.