Kayla's Blog

 

Upon my first read of On the Beach at Night, my immediate thought was that the poem was too straightforward, certainly too clear to be analyzed in an essay specifically about working through difficult poetry: detailing a father and daughter on a beach, gazing out at the clouds and stars, it seemed to constitute some vague theme of love and grief. All in all, this is exactly what drew me to the poem- I knew ahead of time I gravitated towards the atmosphere Walt Whitman creates, emphasizing the beauty of nature as it relates to human relationships. So, knowing I absolutely wanted to analyze the writing of one of my favorite poets, I went back again, and again, searching for some vast complexity that constituted ‘difficulty’. That difficulty I absolutely found in the extensive references, overwhelmingly vivid visuals, and confusing rhetorical questions, leading up to a mystical theme I had yet to uncover. 

A majority of my confusion originated in the second stanza. As I hovered my pencil over each line, ready to circle anything of note, I couldn’t help but become overwhelmed by all the references, the far-off images I had never before considered. Whitman paints a detailed picture of the stars hovering in the distance, specifically the “the lord-star Jupiter” (8), followed closely by “the delicate sisters the Pleiades” (10). At first, I decided to pass by these terms I wasn’t familiar with and hope Whitman was just referencing the

name of the stars, but they came up again, and again in the poem. This repetition suggested a motif of sorts- something I definitely needed to understand. Upon researching, I found that Jupiter and

Pleiades are both Roman Gods; Jupiter being similar to Zeus, the God of lightning and overall ruler, symbolizing power. The later, Pleiades represented a group of sisters, said to symbolize dealing with sorrow. I was a bit perplexed by the combination of these varying elements, power and coping, but by knowing them, I was able to move onto other elements of this now less-overwhelming stanza. 

 

Whitman describes the “burial clouds” (5) and “clear belt of ether” (7), and I wondered how all of these elements could possibly fit in one sky. So, I employed the same strategy of breaking down each element. Though I couldn’t find an exact definition for burial clouds, understanding the context of grief within this poem, I could picture them as darkclouds, likely carrying a symbol of loss. A quick search of ether revealed a simple explanation- that of a clear sky. So, breaking down the stanza into each element, I was able to work through the initial intimidation I felt at all of the seemingly-obscure references. Further, I began to paint a picture in my mind of the scene: the dark clouds spreading into the clear sky, beginning to block out the bright stars of Jupiter and Pleiades.

 

The next element of the poem that created a challenge was when Whitman began to pose rhetorical questions in the second to last stanza. Prior to that, the poem focused on developing the rich symbol of the night sky, how just as the dark clouds will pass and Jupiter and Pleiades “shall shine again” (22), so too will the daughter’s grief. Howeve

r, this trajectory abruptly shifts when Whitman poses “Then dearest child mournest thou only for Jupiter? Considerest thou alone the burial of the stars?” (23-24). I was instantly puzzled by these questions, because I truly did not understand what they meant- what is “the burial of the stars”? Why would the child mourn Jupiter? To answer these questions, I decided to slow down my reading, and apply the context I had gained from the rest of the text. For instance, knowing that burial clouds were dark clouds that blocked out the stars, I could infer that that is exactly what “the burial of the stars” meant, it was simply phrased differently. Now that I understood this part of the equation, I rephrased the question the speaker was asking: is the clouding over of Jupiter enough to block out the night sky? Applying knowledge I had recently gained, that Jupiter symbolizes power and ruling, I finally deciphered this question on a metaphorical level- is the loss of power enough to cloud over one’s whole spirit? Or will the Pleiades, representing coping, be enough to get by?

 

Understanding these questions, I was ready to approach my final hurdle: the last stanza. I hadn’t before noticed that this part was actually a response to the questions in the prior stanza, detailing the ways in which one can cope with sorrow when the light of Jupiter is blocked out. On my initial read, I highlighted the phrases “something there is more immortal even than the stars…shall endure longer even than lustrous Jupiter, longer than sun or any revolving satellite, or the radiant sisters the Pleiades” (28-32). This contrasted greatly from the rest of the poem, as it suggested that there was something more powerful than the all-mighty stars. I at first assumed it was referencing some vague theme of love, however, now I knew that it had to answer the rhetorical question posed before; how one should live with sorrow when they feel powerless. 

 

Using my newly gained context, I came to a more accurate, detailed analysis. Throughout the poem, the ramblings about Jupiter and Pleiades were interrupted by the speaker comforting his daughter with “weep not, child, weep not,

my darling, with these kisses let me remove your tears” (14-16). Further, the opening scene details the father and daughter on the beach, which I realized was the last straw that would lead to my understanding. As the father comforts his daughter, it becomes clear that this idea, of something greater than the stars, is the comfort in guidance: whether that be family, our beliefs, or religion (in reference to the father). These avenues for comfort answer the question of how we can deal with ‘the burial of stars’, i.e. being consumed by grief, when Jupiter (our power and control) cannot shine through. 

 

From working through this poem, I learned the importance of understanding each element from the start, as the poem will likely build on those ideas or symbols to create the overall meaning. Thus, by taking the time to research and understand the metaphors of each element, I became less overwhelmed by all of the references, and was able to apply this context to decipher rhetorical questions and thematic elements later on in the poem. I initially chose this poem based on the picturesque title, knowing I would be swept off to a whole new atmosphere; the coastline at night. However, I left with something greater: an understanding of how one can deal with grief, as well as a certain sense of satisfaction, knowing I worked though this poem deliberately, uncovering its meaning and Whitman’s purpose. All in all, I know in the future I’ll still partake in reading poetry simply for enjoyment, but every once in a while, I might pick up a pencil and take the time to truly decipher the poem’s message, every phrase and every word.