Shine,+Perishing+Republic

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Modernism is mainly about individualism and it questions absolute truths. These characteristics can been seen in the poem //Shine Perishing Republic// by Robinson Jeffers. In this poem Jeffers basically questions life. Modernists, like Robinson Jeffers, seem to question everything and are very unsure of themselves.

In the poem, //Shine, Perishing Republic,// the reader is left with the feeling that the poet is disillusioned with the American dream. He uses words like 'vulgarity', 'decay', 'perishing' and 'corruption'. He seems to lack hope and is questioning human existence. “In this poem, Jeffers employs the concept of nationhood to analyze the value of human endeavor in terms of the earth’s lifetime and its systems. When he writes that he is “sadly smiling,” the poet might be sarcastic, cynical, or even prophetic. Although the statement that the Republic is perishing may seem ominous and pessimistic, it is really a simple declaration of the predictable” (Robisch).

The theme of this poem is obvious by the title, //Shine, Perishing Republic//. Jeffer's poem is simply about the United States and how it is “perishing”. “Jeffers wastes no time in revealing the target of his anthem: the “perishing republic” from the title is America. While a republic is a nation that is supposed to be ruled equally by all of its people, Jeffers sees the United States instead settling “in the mould of its vulgarity, heavily thickening to empire.” “ (“Shine). The fact that he questions the United States and if it will succeed or fail, makes this poem a great example of Modernism. Jeffers is questioning life and his country and proposes reality in his poetry.

This poem was written in 1925 and, at that time, America had suffered through a world war and the people were underpaid and unions had not been formed to help the common worker. Morals and values, such as God and country, were being tested. Some anti-war protesters say that Jeffers was angered by corporate greed that followed the war and the 'roaring 20's' and he seemed to be scolding the greedy for the mess they had created in this country. The world wars and roaring 20's affected his works. These were major times in the history of the United States. His feelings for “Shine Perishing Republic” were most likely discovered during these times in history.

Themes, styles, and character vary in Jeffers' poetry. His poetry has “ themes of incest, violence, and madness against the wild backdrop of churning sea, endless sky, copious forests, and isolated homesteaders” (“Robinson). Violence and madness can be seen in the poem “Shine Perishing Republic”. At example of this is in the second stanza of the poem - “While this America settles in the mould of its vulgarity, heavily thickening to empire” (Shine). Besides violent poems, Jeffers also wrote about other themes. “Jeffers' work was based on elements reflecting the influence of Calvinism, Freud, Jung, anthropology and mythology, violence and nature, and the cyclicism of Nietzsche, Spengler, and historiographers of declining civilizations” (“Robinson).

//Shine, Perishing Republic// also differs from the works of other authors such as Hilda Doolittle and E.B. White. E.B. White's //The Second Tree From the Corner// is about a patient and a psychiatrist and how the man realizes he must see past imperfections. //At Baia// is a love poem, this poem basically just shows the love Hilda Doolittle has for her lover. //Shine, Perishing Republic// is not similar in theme to either of these poems. //At Baia// and //Shine, Perishing Republic// are similar in style because they are both poems. //The Second Tree From the Corner// differs because it is a short story.

Overall, //Shine, Perishing Republic// is a poem that shows the characteristics of Modernism literature. The world war and the roaring 20's gave Robinson Jeffers inspiration for his poem and many of his other works. This poem differs from other poems by Jeffers and poems from other authors such as Hilda Doolittle and E.B. White.

Robisch, Sean. "Shine, Perishing Republic (Criticism): Information from Answers.com." //Answers.com: Wiki Q&A Combined with Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Encyclopedias//. Web. 02 May 2010. < [] >

"Shine, Perishing Republic (Poem Summary): Information from Answers.com." //Answers.com: Wiki Q&A Combined with Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Encyclopedias//. Web. 03 May 2010. < [] >.

"Robinson Jeffers: Poetry, Nature, and Solitude - Articles - House of Solitude - Hermitary." //Hermitary: the Hermit, Hermits, Eremitism, Solitude, Silence, Anchorites, Recluses, Simplicity//. Web. 02 May 2010. < [] >.

Shine, Perishing Republic, by Robinson Jeffers." //Antiwar.com//. Web. 02 May 2010. [].