Flammonde by Edwin Arlington Robinson
"Flammonde" is a poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson that first appeared in the magazine The Outlook before being included in his collection "The Man Against the Sky" in 1916. The narrative centers around a mysterious figure named Flammonde, a con-artist who arrives in the fictional Tilbury Town with an aura of nobility, suggesting a noble past that includes being "banished from better days." Despite his dubious background, Flammonde manages to charm the townsfolk, who provide him with financial support, viewing him as a kind of royalty or a tragic prince. Interestingly, his presence brings about unexpected positive changes in the community, including assisting a troubled boy in his education and reconciling longstanding feuds between residents. Flammonde's influence challenges the perceptions of morality, as he fosters growth and goodwill in others while remaining enshrouded in personal mystery. His departure leaves the townspeople pondering the complexities of identity, the interplay of truth and deception, and the often hidden depths of the human experience. The name "Flammonde," translating to "flame of humanity," encapsulates the dual nature of his character and the broader themes of success and failure, revealing the intricate layers of human existence.
On this Page
Flammonde by Edwin Arlington Robinson
Excerpted from an article in Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition
First published: 1915 (collected in Collected Poems, 1937)
Type of work: Poem
The Work
“Flammonde,” which first appeared in the magazine The Outlook and later in The Man Against the Sky (1916), depicts a con-artist loner with a secret background who one day suddenly appeared in Tilbury Town and then just as suddenly disappeared. Aged fifty and bearing a French name, Flammonde encouraged people to compare him to royalty. He represented himself as “the Prince of Castaways” as if some European event well before World War I had “banished him from better days.” Although most likely his background was actually disreputable (tarnished), he nonetheless succeeded in conning people. A surprising number of sympathetic townsfolk aided him financially. “What he needed for his fee/ To live, he borrowed graciously.” These so-called loans would never be repaid.
A fraud, one normally thinks, would have a negative impact on people. Oddly, Flammonde had a positive influence. He revised the community’s image of a woman with a “scarlet” reputation. He also productively tutored a boy whom others thought was uneducable. He ended a long-standing feud between two townsfolk, among other notable good effects in Tilbury Town. In short, Flammonde was able to help people prosper, although paradoxically he was never able to help himself succeed in life. After he vanished from town, he left people wondering about who he really was and what inner secrets were hidden behind the protective “shield” of his charming personality. Flammonde (whose name translates into “flame of humanity”) represents the unpredictable successes and failures, as well as the unexplainable gap between surface impressions and inner self, that generally dominate human experience.
Bibliography
Anderson, Wallace L. Edwin Arlington Robinson: A Critical Introduction. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1968.
Bloom, Harold, ed. Edwin Arlington Robinson. New York: Chelsea House, 1988.
Coxe, Louis. Edwin Arlington Robinson: The Life of Poetry. New York: Pegasus, 1969.
Franchere, Hoyt C. Edwin Arlington Robinson. New York: Twayne, 1968.
Joyner, Nancy Carol. Edwin Arlington Robinson: A Reference Guide. Boston: G. K. Hall, 1978.
Murphy, Francis, ed. Edwin Arlington Robinson: A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1970.
Smith, Chard Powers. Where the Light Falls: A Portrait of Edwin Arlington Robinson. New York: Macmillan, 1965.