Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

The poem "Ballad of Nat Turner" by Robert Earl Hayden dives deep into the psyche of Nat Turner, an African American slave who led a violent revolt against white slaveholders in Virginia in 1831. While many may know Nat Turner for the bloodshed he instigated, Hayden brings forth an intimate portrayal of a man in spiritual crisis, communing with forces beyond human comprehension. Through his epic journey in the poem, Turner grapples with the immense ethical and spiritual dilemmas that eventually guide his actions.

The poem starts with Nat Turner's flight from "wicked juba" into the darkness of the night, perhaps symbolizing his escape from the constricting environment of slavery that restricted his spirit. The night, normally an image of something ominous or mysterious, serves as a refuge for Nat Turner to reconnect with his spiritual roots. He prays for divine intervention, "speak to me now or let me die," implying the desperation of his quest.

The trees "where Ibo warriors hung shadowless" are vivid images that bring forth the bitter history of slave trading, which sourced many of its victims from the Ibo tribe in Africa. Turner asks if their presence, "alive with the anger deep in my own heart," is the sign he has been seeking. His search for validation is both haunting and sad, a testament to the loneliness of his spiritual mission.

As Turner continues to navigate the night, he's thrust into a visionary experience, a battle among celestial beings. This angelic warfare is not just the clash of swords and wings, but a metaphysical confrontation that freezes time and reality ("the wheel in a turning wheel which is time in eternity had ceased its whirling"). The battle might represent the ethical and spiritual debates consuming Turner's soul-whether to initiate a revolt that would kill innocent lives for a greater cause.

When Turner beholds the faces of the conqueror angels, he discovers they resemble his own, prompting both joy and terror. This revelation seems to resolve his spiritual crisis. It could signify that Turner has found divine justification for his impending violent rebellion, now seeing it as a holy war of sorts. The poem ends with Turner returning "to the blazing fields, to the humbleness," but with a transformative clarity.

Hayden takes us through the labyrinthine journey of Nat Turner's spiritual struggle, making it a human story that transcends the specifics of time and place. The tension between the "harshener" and the "honorer" sides of God, the relentless search for a sign, and the dramatic celestial combat-all contribute to the multidimensional complexity of a man about to alter the course of history.

Overall, the poem adds layers to the character of Nat Turner, allowing readers to contemplate the human, ethical, and spiritual complexities that go into making a revolutionary. While not absolving him of the violence he caused, it offers a nuanced understanding of the intense inner battle that raged within him before he took up arms.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...