Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anthony Hecht's poem "Tarantula or the Dance of Death" is a haunting exploration of the Black Death, a period in European history marked by widespread plague and death. The poem vividly captures the terror and chaos of the time, weaving historical details with a chilling personification of the disease itself.

The poem begins with the speaker declaring their rise to prominence during the plague: "During the plague I came into my own." This line sets the tone for the poem, suggesting that the speaker is a personification of the plague or death itself. The mention of "smoke-pots in the house / Against infection" and the "blind head of bone" grinning abusively evokes the desperate and futile measures people took to protect themselves from the disease.

Hecht emphasizes the widespread nature of the plague with the line "Half Europe died," highlighting the scale of the devastation. The symptoms of the plague are described in stark detail: "a fever and dark spots / First on the hands, then on the face and neck," followed by the chilling observation that "even before the body, the mind rots." This progression from physical to mental deterioration underscores the horror of the disease.

The poem then delves into the most terrifying aspect of the plague: the uncontrollable dance of death. The "victim goes, in short, out of his head," and enters a trance-like state where "the legs begin / Their funeral jig, the arms and belly shake / Like souls in sin." This description vividly captures the macabre dance that gave the plague one of its many names, the "Dancing Plague." The imagery of convulsions and uncontrolled movements evokes a sense of possession, as if the victims are no longer in control of their bodies.

The poem continues to describe the tragic fates of those caught in these convulsions: "Some, caught in these convulsions, have been known / To fall from windows, fracturing the spine. / Others have drowned in streams." These lines highlight the violent and unpredictable nature of the plague, which not only killed but also led to accidental deaths due to the uncontrollable movements of its victims.

Hecht concludes with a grim reminder of the plague's relentless power. The "smooth head-stone, / The box of pine," which symbolize traditional burial practices, are deemed inappropriate for the plague's victims. The poem suggests that "flame / Is powerless against contagion," indicating the difficulty of containing the disease even through methods like burning infected bodies.

The final lines, "That was the black winter when I came / Into my own," reiterate the speaker's identity as the plague or death itself, reveling in the chaos and destruction it brought. Hecht's use of vivid imagery, historical references, and personification creates a powerful and unsettling portrayal of one of history's deadliest pandemics. The poem serves as a chilling reminder of the fragility of human life and the relentless nature of death.

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