Poetry · Chapter
An Anarchist explained
The chapter presents a poetic critique of an anarchist who has betrayed his artistic calling and divine purpose.
What happens
The chapter presents a poetic critique of an anarchist who has betrayed his artistic calling and divine purpose. Once a master of the harp and a source of divine harmony, he now produces only discordant, raucous sounds as he stubbornly persists in advocating wrong. The angels and even Israfel, the celestial musician, look upon his fallen state with sorrow and compassion, covering their ears to the noise.
Themes in this chapter
Art and Criticism
The anarchist is condemned for betraying his art, producing only jingles and discord instead of divine harmony.
Hypocrisy and Corruption
The anarchist is false to his art and divine command, advocating wrong while pretending to be a true artist.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“False to his art and to the high command God laid upon him, Demagogo’s hand Beats all in vain the harp he thrilled before: It yields a jingle and it yields no more.”
The anarchist has betrayed both his artistic talent and his divine purpose, now producing only meaningless noise instead of beautiful music.
Introduces the central theme of artistic betrayal.
“The more the wayward, disobedient song Errs from the right to advocate the wrong, More diligently still the singer strums, To drown the horrid sound, with all his thumbs.”
The more the song deviates from truth to promote falsehood, the harder the singer plays, trying to cover up the awful noise.
Highlights the stubborn persistence in error.
“And Israfel, 'whose heart-strings are a lute,' Though now compassion makes their music mute, Among the weeping company appears, Pearls in his eyes and cotton in his ears.”
Even the angel Israfel, whose very being is musical, is moved to tears and plugs his ears in pity at the anarchist's performance.
Emphasizes the depth of the artistic failure through celestial reaction.