A Finished Man by Richard Wilbur
"A Finished Man" is a poem by Richard Wilbur that employs a structured form of five stanzas, each consisting of four lines in iambic pentameter rhymed in couplets, showcasing a gentle satirical tone reminiscent of Molière. The poem centers around an elderly, affluent man reflecting on his life during a dedication ceremony for a college gymnasium named in his honor. The title of the poem plays with the dual meanings of "finished," suggesting both the man's polished exterior, akin to a statue, and the finality of his life.
Throughout the poem, the old man grapples with his past, revealing moments of humiliation that continue to haunt him, such as being caught in lies or making social missteps. Despite his wealth and status, these memories undermine his self-esteem, indicating a deep-seated insecurity that persists into his twilight years. His desire for perfection, coupled with the acknowledgment of his life's endpoint, creates a poignant exploration of vanity and the complexities of aging. Wilbur's work invites readers to reflect on the interplay between external success and internal struggles, making it a meaningful commentary on human nature.
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A Finished Man by Richard Wilbur
Excerpted from an article in Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition
First published: 1985 (collected in New and Collected Poems, 1987)
Type of work: Poem
The Work
The poem has five stanzas of four iambic pentameter lines each in rhymed couplets, allowing the poem a style well suited for gentle satire, for which Wilbur’s familiarity with Molière suits him. In the poem, an old and wealthy man reminiscences during the dedication ceremony of a college gymnasium named after him. The poem’s title plays with the connotations of the word “finished.” The old man’s wealth and prestige have brought him to a highly polished “finish” like a statue. He can even feel “the warm sun sculpt his cheek.” His vanity shows in his hope that with time and money “he may be perfect yet.” Yet “finished” can also mean that old man’s life is over and done.
The poem’s first three stanzas relate some embarrassing past incident of the old man’s life, whether being “caught . . . in a lie” or being laughed at for an “appalling gaffe.” These incidents still rankle the old man and lessen his self-esteem. He is delighted to have outlived the people who have seen him in a bad light. Wilbur suggests, however, that the old man is insecure. In old age, youthful embarrassments still have a hold on him.
Bibliography
Bixler, Frances. Richard Wilbur: A Reference Guide. Boston: G. K. Hall, 1991.
Edgecombe, Rodney Stenning. A Reader’s Guide to the Poetry of Richard Wilbur. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1995.
Hougen, John B. Ecstasy Within Discipline: The Poetry of Richard Wilbur. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1994.
Michelson, Bruce. Wilbur’s Poetry: Music in a Scattering Time. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1991.
Reibetang, John. “What Love Sees: Poetry and Vision in Richard Wilbur.” Modern Poetry Studies 11 (1982): 60-85.
Salinger, Wendy, ed. Richard Wilbur’s Creation. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1983.
Stitt, Peter. The World’s Hieroglyphic Beauty: Five American Poets. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1985.