In Medias Res
By William Stafford
On Main one night when they sounded the chimes
my father was ahead in shadows, my son
behind coming into the streetlight, on each side
a brother and a sister; and overhead
the chimes went arching for the perfect sound.
There was a one-stride god on Main that night,
all walkers in a cloud.I saw pictures, windows taking shoppers
where the city went, a great shield hammering out,
my wife loving the stations on that shield
and following into the shades calling back.
I had not thought to know the hero quite so well.
“Aeneas!” I cried. “just men, defender!”
And our town burned and burned.
Unveiling “In Medias Res”: A Journey into Modern Life’s Core
Welcome, fellow explorers of language and meaning, to a fascinating journey into William Stafford’s poem, “In Medias Res.” This remarkable piece of literature invites us to look closely at the rhythms of everyday life, revealing profound insights hidden within a seemingly simple street scene. Prepare to unravel the layers of imagery, symbolism, and allusion that make this poem a timeless reflection on connection, consumerism, and the search for meaning in a bustling world. Our exploration will provide a comprehensive In Medias Res summary, a detailed In Medias Res analysis, and an examination of the powerful literary devices in In Medias Res and poetic devices in In Medias Res that Stafford so skillfully employs.
Understanding “In Medias Res”: A Concise Summary
The title of William Stafford’s poem, “In Medias Res,” is a Latin phrase meaning “into the middle of things,” and it perfectly encapsulates the poem’s approach. The poem immediately immerses the reader in a specific, vivid moment: a family’s nighttime walk down Main Street. The scene is illuminated by streetlights and accompanied by the melodic, yet perhaps unsettling, sound of chimes. The speaker observes his family—his father leading, his son following, and siblings at their sides—perceiving this ordinary procession as a significant, almost ritualistic, pattern of modern existence.
The central idea of “In Medias Res” revolves around the speaker’s growing awareness of the overwhelming nature of contemporary life, particularly the allure of consumer culture. As the speaker witnesses the city’s windows “taking shoppers,” he feels a profound sense of unease. This leads him to instinctively call out to Aeneas, the legendary Trojan hero from Virgil’s Aeneid, seeking a figure of strength and protection. However, the response he receives—”just men, defender!”—suggests a limitation to traditional heroism in the face of modern challenges. The poem concludes with the stark, memorable image of a town that “burned and burned,” a powerful metaphor for an inescapable cycle of consumption, anxiety, and perhaps a loss of deeper societal values. This poem offers a poignant commentary on the human condition amidst the relentless pace of urban life.
A Deep Dive into the Analysis of “In Medias Res”
The Immediate Immersion: What “In Medias Res” Means
The very title, “In Medias Res,” is a literary device in itself, signaling the poem’s narrative technique. Instead of a gradual introduction, Stafford plunges the reader directly into the action, mirroring the abruptness and ceaseless motion of modern life. This immediate engagement forces readers to piece together the context, much like navigating a busy street scene. The poem begins:
On Main one night when they sounded the chimes
my father was ahead in shadows, my son
behind coming into the streetlight, on each side
a brother and a sister; and overhead
the chimes went arching for the perfect sound.
This opening immediately establishes a sense of place, time, and familial relationships, drawing the reader into the unfolding narrative without preamble.
Figurative Language and Vivid Imagery
Stafford masterfully employs figurative language and rich imagery to create a sensory and thought-provoking experience. The poem is replete with striking metaphors and sensory details that bring the scene to life and imbue it with deeper meaning.
- Metaphor: The line “There was a one-stride god on Main that night” is a powerful metaphor. It transforms the ordinary act of walking into something almost divine or ritualistic, suggesting a collective, almost unconscious, movement of humanity. The subsequent phrase, “all walkers in a cloud,” further enhances this dreamlike or otherworldly quality, implying a loss of individual identity within the collective mass of people, perhaps obscured by the urban haze or the overwhelming nature of the experience.
- Extended Metaphor: In the second stanza, the city itself is depicted through an extended metaphor: “a great shield hammering out.” This image evokes both immense power and a relentless, almost mechanical, force of creation and consumption. The “stations on that shield” represent the enticing displays of consumer goods in shop windows, drawing people in. The speaker’s observation of his wife, “my wife loving the stations on that shield / and following into the shades calling back,” vividly illustrates the magnetic pull of consumerism and its ability to draw individuals into a cycle of desire and acquisition, perhaps even leading them away from deeper connections.
- Sensory Details: Stafford appeals to multiple senses. The “sounded the chimes” and “chimes went arching for the perfect sound” engage our sense of hearing, creating an auditory backdrop that can be interpreted as both beautiful and insistent. Visual imagery is abundant with “shadows,” “streetlight,” “pictures, windows,” and the stark image of the town that “burned and burned,” painting a vivid picture of the urban environment.
The Power of Allusion: Aeneas and the Heroic Ideal
The allusion to Aeneas, the legendary Trojan hero from Virgil’s Aeneid, is a cornerstone of the poem’s thematic depth. Aeneas represents courage, resilience, and the arduous task of founding a new civilization after the destruction of Troy. The speaker’s desperate cry, “Aeneas!’ I cried. ‘just men, defender!'” reveals a profound longing for a similar sense of purpose, guidance, or protection in the face of modern challenges. However, the implied response, or perhaps the speaker’s own realization, that Aeneas is “just men, defender!” subverts the traditional heroic narrative. It suggests that even the most celebrated heroes, figures of immense strength and destiny, can only offer limited protection or solutions in the complex, often overwhelming, landscape of contemporary society. This critique questions the relevance of ancient heroism in addressing modern anxieties and consumer-driven realities.
Symbolism and Recurring Motifs
Several potent symbols and recurring motifs permeate “In Medias Res,” adding layers of meaning to the poem:
- The Chimes: The “chimes” can be interpreted as representing the relentless, perhaps even hypnotic, rhythm of modern life, the superficial pleasures it offers, or the constant background noise of urban existence. Their “arching for the perfect sound” might symbolize a futile search for harmony or an ideal that remains just out of reach.
- Shadows and Shades: The recurring presence of “shadows” and “shades” evokes a sense of mystery, impermanence, and the hidden costs or darker aspects of consumerism and urban anonymity. The father is “ahead in shadows,” and the wife follows “into the shades,” suggesting a movement towards the unknown or a loss of clarity.
- The Burning Town: The poem’s concluding image, “And our town burned and burned,” is a powerful and unsettling symbol. This is not necessarily a literal fire, but a metaphorical one, representing destruction, anxiety, and the feeling that something fundamental is amiss with the direction of society. It suggests a continuous, consuming process, perhaps of values, traditions, or the human spirit itself, being eroded by the forces at play on Main Street.
Poetic Structure and Flow: Free Verse and Enjambment
“In Medias Res” is written in free verse, a deliberate choice that allows Stafford to prioritize natural speech rhythms and create a conversational, immediate tone. This lack of a strict rhyme scheme or metrical pattern mirrors the chaotic and fragmented nature of modern life, where experiences often unfold without predictable structure. The poem’s two stanzas serve as loosely connected segments, reflecting the disjointed yet continuous experience of walking through a city.
Stafford also skillfully uses enjambment, the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause, to create a sense of momentum and uninterrupted flow. Consider these lines:
I saw pictures, windows taking shoppers
where the city went, a great shield hammering out,
my wife loving the stations on that shield
and following into the shades calling back.
This technique effectively mirrors the continuous, relentless movement of people through the city and the seamless, almost overwhelming, flow of consumer culture. It draws the reader into the scene, amplifying the poem’s sense of urgency and the feeling of being swept along.
Diction and Tone: Crafting the Poem’s Voice
Stafford employs simple, accessible diction throughout “In Medias Res,” avoiding overly ornate language or technical jargon. This choice contributes significantly to the poem’s conversational and relatable tone, making its profound observations accessible to a wide audience. Words like “Main,” “night,” “father,” “son,” “streetlights,” and “windows” are everyday terms that ground the poem in a recognizable reality.
Beneath this surface simplicity, however, lies a complex and nuanced exploration of modern anxieties. The tone is predominantly melancholic and reflective, hinting at a sense of disillusionment and loss. The speaker’s cry to Aeneas and the concluding image of the “town burned and burned” convey a deep-seated concern and a feeling of powerlessness in the face of societal trends. The tone shifts from observational to one of growing apprehension, inviting readers to share in the speaker’s contemplative unease.
The Enduring Resonance of “In Medias Res”
William Stafford’s “In Medias Res” is a deceptively simple poem that rewards careful reading and thoughtful consideration. Through its vivid imagery, poignant allusions, and masterful use of poetic devices, it offers a powerful commentary on the complexities of modern life. The poem’s exploration of familial connection, the seductive power of consumer culture, and the enduring human search for meaning remains remarkably relevant and resonant today. By skillfully weaving together these elements, Stafford has crafted a work that is both aesthetically pleasing and intellectually stimulating, inviting us all to pause and reflect on the currents that carry us through our own “Main Streets.” This profound piece of literature continues to spark important conversations about our place in a rapidly evolving world, making it an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the subtle yet powerful forces shaping contemporary existence.