Spoon River Anthology · Chapter
Voltaire Johnson explained
Voltaire Johnson confronts the town of Spoon River, accusing it of provoking his rebellious spirit through its cruelty and stupidity, only to then curse him for exposing its tyranny.
What happens
Voltaire Johnson confronts the town of Spoon River, accusing it of provoking his rebellious spirit through its cruelty and stupidity, only to then curse him for exposing its tyranny. He laments that he could have been as serene as Wordsworth if not for the town's oppression, and he mocks the town's cowardice for driving him to stand in a circle of truth and then complaining about the burns.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Corruption
Voltaire Johnson accuses Spoon River of hypocrisy: the town provokes him with cruelty and stupidity, then whines and curses when he exposes its tyranny.
Illusion vs. Reality
The poem contrasts the illusion of a serene life (like Wordsworth's) with the harsh reality of Spoon River's oppression and Voltaire's defiant truth-telling.
Characters to notice
- Voltaire Johnson
The speaker who accuses Spoon River of bruising, stifling, nailing, and starving him, and who stands defiantly in a magic circle of truth.
Key passages
“Why did you bruise me with your rough places If you did not want me to tell you about them?”
Why did you hurt me with your harshness if you didn't want me to speak out about it?
Voltaire questions the town's motive for mistreating him while expecting silence.
“And nail me with the nails of cruelty, If you did not want me to pluck the nails forth And fling them in your faces?”
And why did you crucify me with cruelty if you didn't want me to remove those nails and throw them back at you?
He accuses the town of expecting him to endure abuse without retaliation.
“I might have been as soul serene As William Wordsworth except for you!”
I could have been as peaceful and calm as the poet William Wordsworth if not for your influence.
Voltaire blames Spoon River for preventing him from achieving a tranquil state of mind.
“But what a coward you are, Spoon River, When you drove me to stand in a magic circle By the sword of Truth described! And then to whine and curse your burns, And curse my power who stood and laughed Amid ironical lightning!”
But you are such a coward, Spoon River, for forcing me into a position where I must defend the truth, and then complaining about the consequences and cursing my strength as I laughed amidst ironic lightning.
He mocks the town's cowardice for provoking his defiance and then resenting the fallout.