Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Exile" by Richard Aldington is a powerful and emotive poem that delves into themes of cultural and moral conflict, the tension between different values and ways of life, and the sense of alienation that can arise from such differences. The poem contrasts the ideals and characteristics attributed to the speaker's group with those perceived in others, emphasizing a deep disdain for the latter. Aldington, known for his sharp imagery and emotional depth, often explored themes of conflict and disillusionment, which are evident in this poem.

The poem opens with a sense of outrage and despair, asking rhetorically how to express "This horror, this rage, this despair" and how to confront "baseness" and "disgust." The use of vivid and visceral language sets a tone of intense emotion and moral indignation.

The speaker describes those they oppose as "Alien, brutish," and "Base seed of Earth's ravished womb," using strong, derogatory terms to emphasize their perceived inferiority and moral corruption. This language creates a stark dichotomy between 'us' and 'them,' underscoring a profound sense of cultural and moral divide.

The speaker then poses a rhetorical question about yielding their own ideals and virtues, symbolized by images of purity and nobility such as "the flash of the helm / And the foam-grey eyes and the hair / Braided with gold, / Steel mail on a firm breast." These images conjure up ideals of heroism, purity, and strength, which the speaker holds dear.

In contrast, the 'other' is described with contempt as a "boastful woman, a whore," with a vice that is "stupid, most foul." This harsh portrayal serves to further vilify those whom the speaker opposes, painting them as morally degenerate and repulsive.

The poem then shifts to a celebration of the speaker's own goddess, depicted as "Chaste, proud, and austere," and contrasted with the other's deity, described derogatorily. The speaker's goddess is likened to nature in its purest form — "Firm-fleshed as the treeless hills / With her rigid breasts and hard thighs, / Cold and perfect and fresh." This imagery idealizes their values and way of life as natural, pure, and uncorrupted.

The final stanzas of the poem depict a longing for a return to a purer, more sacred environment, away from the perceived corruption and profanity of the 'other.' The speaker yearns for a connection with nature and the divine, seeking solace in the "earth-shaking sea," "unfurrowed by a hull," and the "sacred earth" itself. The closing lines envisage a distant, almost mythical place where their ideals and goddess reign supreme.

In summary, "Exile" by Richard Aldington is a deeply expressive poem that explores themes of cultural and moral conflict, alienation, and the longing for a return to purer, more noble ideals. Through stark contrasts and vivid imagery, Aldington conveys a sense of moral outrage and a yearning for a connection with something transcendent and uncorrupted by the perceived vices of others. The poem reflects the complexities of cultural identity and the deep emotional responses that can arise from perceived threats to one's values and way of life.

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