Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anthony Hecht's poem "Mathematics Considered as a Vice" is a richly layered critique of abstract intellectualism that disconnects from the tangible, lived experience. The poem draws on religious and historical imagery to underscore its points, contrasting the elevated but sterile world of mathematical abstraction with the messy, vibrant reality of life.

Hecht begins by invoking the man who sculpted the ass that Jesus rode, a creature immortalized among the saints on Chartres Cathedral. This ass, a humble and seemingly foolish animal, is elevated to a position of reverence, even given a harp-like instrument to symbolize its unearthly burden. The ass's astonishment at its own elevation highlights the irony and folly of human pride and intellectual arrogance.

The poet then critiques those who, like the ass, strive to describe the world through abstract signs and symbols, detached from the earthy, sensory experiences that make life rich and meaningful. The "dunged and pagan grass," the "mother-of-pearled / Home of the bachelor-clam," and other vivid images represent the concrete realities that abstract thought often overlooks or simplifies.

Hecht's portrayal of the ass smiling upon all humanity serves as a reminder of our shared folly. The ass's simper, in response to witnessing the miraculous gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense brought to the stable, underscores the absurdity of intellectual pretensions when confronted with the divine and the miraculous.

The poet argues that abstract thought fails to capture the purity of heaven or the impurity of earthly existence. It cannot reveal the complexities of the natural world, such as the crocodile ringed with St. Francis' birds, or the intimate connection between Siamese twins. These images symbolize the intricate, intertwined nature of life that abstract reasoning often fails to address.

Despite its abstract style, Hecht points out, the natural world continues in its beauty and complexity. Pickerel dawdle in their summer pools, mules bray hosannas, and the ass, representative of human foolishness, will learn to sing. This final image suggests a redemption or reconciliation, where even the lowliest creature can find grace and voice, transcending the limitations of abstract intellectualism.

In "Mathematics Considered as a Vice," Hecht masterfully combines humor, irony, and deep philosophical insight. He challenges the notion that abstract reasoning alone can fully comprehend or describe the world, advocating instead for an appreciation of the rich, sensory experiences that make life meaningful. The poem is a celebration of the tangible and the real, a call to reconnect with the world in all its messy, vibrant glory.

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