The Treatment of Death in the Poems of Stevie Smith and Karl Shapiro
The Treatment of Death in the Poems of Stevie Smith and Karl Shapiro
Death in poetry is often a reflection of the poet’s own perceptions, and both Stevie Smith and Karl Shapiro handle the subject with unique perspectives. In Stevie Smith’s poems like “Not Waving But Drowning”, death is portrayed with a combination of humor, sadness, and irony. The narrator in this poem dies without anyone noticing his plight, emphasizing the disconnection and misunderstanding between people. In contrast, Karl Shapiro’s “Death of a Soldier” is a more somber and reflective look at death, focusing on the tragedy and the futility of war. Shapiro’s approach emphasizes the loss of life in a context where it is seen as a sacrifice, whereas Smith’s portrayal reflects a more existential contemplation of death as a solitary, unnoticed event.
In Smith’s work, death is more of a quiet, inevitable process that is often met with indifference or misunderstanding. This indifference is captured poignantly in the way Smith’s characters are not always aware of their own struggles or mortality. By using humor and a tone of resignation, she turns death into something that, while inevitable, remains somewhat detached from its emotional and tragic potential.
On the other hand, Shapiro’s treatment of death is far more grounded in the horrors of war and the emotional weight of the loss. His portrayal of soldiers’ deaths captures not just the loss of life but the loss of potential, dreams, and humanity. His poems carry the emotional burden of the individuals who must reconcile their own existence with the grim realities of war.
Comparison: Both poets treat death in ways that resonate with the themes of their respective times—Smith with her post-war disillusionment and Shapiro with his direct engagement with war. Their different approaches to death offer powerful insights into how poets can use this theme to critique not only the act itself but also how society responds to it.
