Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Crowded Trolley Car" by Elinor Wylie, the poem captures the discomfort and anonymity of public transportation, using vivid and striking imagery to convey a sense of tension, dehumanization, and social alienation. Through descriptions of people physically and emotionally entangled in the cramped space of the trolley car, Wylie explores themes of human interaction, vulnerability, and inner strength.

The poem begins with an observation of the rain: “The rain's cold grains are silver-gray / Sharp as golden sands.” The comparison of rain to "sharp golden sands" immediately introduces a discomforting image, as the normally gentle rain is likened to something harsh and abrasive. The sharpness of the rain sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which reflects the tension and discomfort of being in a crowded and chaotic space. The rain, a natural element, mirrors the emotional landscape of the trolley car, where human beings are also sharp and uncomfortable, existing in close proximity but separated by invisible barriers.

The bell clanging and the people swaying are described with a sense of physical instability. “A bell is clanging, people sway / Hanging by their hands.” The noise of the bell and the swaying of the passengers convey the sense of movement, both literal and metaphorical. The passengers are not just physically swaying, but are also emotionally unsettled, their lives momentarily disrupted in this shared yet impersonal space.

The next lines, “Supple hands, or gnarled and stiff, / Snatch and catch and grope,” depict the passengers' hands—symbols of both vulnerability and agency—as they navigate the crowded car. The description of hands as "supple" and "gnarled and stiff" contrasts the various ages and conditions of the passengers, highlighting their differences and the transient, uncomfortable nature of their interaction. Hands that "snatch and catch and grope" suggest a frantic, instinctive struggle to maintain balance or claim space in the limited environment of the trolley car.

The following description of a passenger’s face—“That face is yellow-pale, as if / The fellow swung from rope”—introduces an unsettling image. The face appears as though it has experienced great suffering, likened to someone who has just been hanged or has undergone some form of torment. This evokes a sense of emotional or existential distress, suggesting that the daily grind of city life—symbolized by the crowded trolley—is a form of suffering or entrapment for many of its passengers.

In the next lines, “Dull like pebbles, sharp like knives, / Glances strike and glare,” the gaze of the passengers is described with conflicting imagery—dull and sharp, both mundane and dangerous. The glances exchanged between the riders are impersonal yet piercing, and the comparison to "Bluebeard's wives / Dangle by the hair" deepens the sense of violence and fear. The reference to Bluebeard—a notorious figure from folklore known for killing his wives—adds a layer of sinister implication to the interactions. The image of women dangling by their hair alludes to a power dynamic where vulnerability and violence coexist in the crowded space.

The next lines—“Orchard of the strangest fruits / Hanging from the skies; / Brothers, yet insensate brutes / Who fear each others' eyes”—introduce a surreal and alienating image. The "orchard of the strangest fruits" could symbolize the bizarre or unexpected nature of human interaction, where the passengers, though fellow human beings ("brothers"), are reduced to "insensate brutes" who are fearful and distrustful of one another. The metaphor of the orchard is disorienting, suggesting that the trolley car, like a strange and unwelcoming garden, is filled with individuals who are disconnected, alienated, and even afraid of one another.

In the final lines, “One man stands as free men stand, / As if his soul might be / Brave, unbroken; see his hand / Nailed to an oaken tree,” the poem introduces a more hopeful yet tragic image. The man stands "as free men stand," suggesting a sense of dignity or defiance in the face of the collective discomfort of the trolley. However, the image of his "hand / Nailed to an oaken tree" evokes a powerful Christian metaphor, alluding to the suffering of Christ on the cross. The juxtaposition of freedom with crucifixion suggests a paradox—the man may appear free, but his physical and emotional state is still tied to the weight of the world, perhaps symbolized by the trolley ride itself.

“Crowded Trolley Car” captures the suffocating and isolating nature of modern urban life, where human beings are physically close to one another but emotionally distant. Wylie’s use of vivid, often uncomfortable imagery brings to life the emotional and psychological turmoil of being a part of this anonymous, crowded space. The poem delves into the ways in which individuals navigate the chaos of life, with moments of personal strength or hope amidst the overwhelming dehumanization of their surroundings. The crowded trolley is both a literal and metaphorical representation of a world that can be harsh, impersonal, and full of tension, where every glance exchanged is filled with both fear and longing.

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