Spain 1937 by W. H. Auden
"Spain 1937" is a poem by W. H. Auden that reflects on the complexities of the Spanish Civil War through a mix of personal experience and broader historical commentary. Auden, who traveled to Spain as a supporter of the Loyalist cause and served as a stretcher-bearer, conveys a sense of disillusionment after witnessing the brutalities of civil conflict. The poem juxtaposes Spain's rich historical legacy, including its explorations and advancements, against the backdrop of contemporary strife. Auden captures the plight of the impoverished citizens who cling to revolutionary ideals amidst despair, as the nation becomes a battleground for competing ideologies.
The poem moves beyond a simplistic portrayal of good versus evil, suggesting that the war signifies deeper, more pervasive horrors that extend beyond Spain itself. Through personification, Auden depicts "life" as a companion to humanity's aspirations, acknowledging the romantic illusions that inspire people to flock to the conflict. The stark contrast between the normalcy of peacetime activities and the violence of war underscores the tragic transformation of youthful idealism into destruction. Overall, "Spain 1937" serves as a poignant exploration of the human condition during a time of upheaval, reflecting on themes of hope, disillusionment, and the moral dilemmas faced in the pursuit of change.
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Spain 1937 by W. H. Auden
Excerpted from an article in Magill’s Survey of World Literature, Revised Edition
First published: 1937
Type of work: Poem
The Work
Spain 1937 tells a story that is partly autobiographical. As a sympathizer with the socially progressive forces of the Spanish Loyalists, Auden had gone to Spain to participate in the war as a stretcher-bearer. Once there, he witnessed the viciousness of civil conflict, not only between the opposing armies but also among the Loyalists themselves. He returned to England embittered with politics, especially the European variety, and would soon leave to establish residence in the United States.
Yet the tone of Spain 1937 is generally elegiac—sad and wistful. In the poem’s first six stanzas, Auden recalls the often-glorious history of this peninsular country, surveying its ocean-borne exploration of the world, its expansion of global trade, and its building of cathedrals. In the more recent past, he notes the more obvious “advances” in Hispanic civilization, the engineering of machines and the building of railroads. At the same time, he does not ignore Spain’s darker past, such as the “trial of heretics” during the Inquisition. The distant past of discovery and religious feud and more recent signs of progress are erased, however, by the coming conflict: “But today the struggle” overtakes Spain. In stanzas 9 through 11, Auden suggests the causes of war, or at least the condition of the country as war begins. He pictures Spain’s impoverished citizens in their “fireless lodgings” as they read the evening news and realize that they have nothing left to lose. Emboldened by the promises of Marxism, the poor invest their hope in the action of history and the forces of change. In response, the forces of reaction, the “military empires,” “descend” on the fledgling progressive nation.
Yet Auden avoids portraying the Spanish Civil War as a simple struggle of good against evil. He foretells that this particular conflict will symbolize a greater horror to come. In stanzas 12 through 14, “life” answers the combatants, saying that it is their servant and it will shape itself to fill their desires, whatever these may be. Auden personifies the common life of the Spanish nation—and by implication the nations of the world—as a “bar-companion,” willing to go along with anything. According to the personified life, the peoples of Europe propose the building of the “just city” in Spain, a free and equal commonwealth. Life, however, knows that the proposal is based on illusion, a kind of “suicide pact” born of romanticism. Nevertheless, it accepts the people’s decision.
Driven by this romantic vision, people from all over flock to the civil war. In Spain itself, they “migrate” to the struggle like birds; in Europe, they rush to war on express trains; others farther away “float” over the oceans. All are drawn to Spain like moths to the flame, which Auden imagines as a giant “arid square” rather “crudely” slapped onto Europe. As people arrive to give their lives to the cause, to the ideology of Loyalist or Rebel, their bodies become the guarantees of their beliefs. Their emotions are now all channeled into warfare, and even their “moments of tenderness blossom/ As the ambulance and the sandbag.”
Mirroring the poem’s opening stanzas, the last seven stanzas also survey time—in this case, however, the future. Auden imagines the harmless, even slightly silly activities of humankind during peacetime: dog-breeding, bicycle races, or walks by the lake. This sort of “fun” is in desperate contrast to the present, where idealistic young people “explode like bombs” and pleasures are limited to badly rolled cigarettes and quick sex. The result is a debacle of which even the animals are ashamed: They look away from human evil. Meanwhile, the history that the poor hoped would redeem them may or may not turn in their favor. In any case, although history may lament those defeated in the war, it does not have God’s power to pardon the evil that people do.
Bibliography
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