Poem Analysis - Babylon Revisited

Initial Impression and Tone

The poem Babylon Revisited by Amiri Baraka presents a stark and vivid depiction of a malevolent figure, described in graphic and often disturbing language. The tone is aggressive and accusatory, with a strong sense of anger and resentment. The mood shifts from a description of a grotesque figure to a personal attack on this figure, culminating in a curse or invocation of harm. The poem's raw and unfiltered language underscores its intense emotional charge.

Historical and Social Context

Amiri Baraka, originally known as LeRoi Jones, was a prominent African American writer and activist. His work often reflects the social and political struggles of the 1960s and 1970s, including issues of racial injustice and cultural identity. The poem's references to Europe and Euro-American legend suggest a critique of Western colonialism and its impact on African Americans. The mention of Bob Thompson, a real-life black painter, adds a personal and historical dimension to the poem, linking it to the broader context of artistic and cultural resistance.

Themes of Corruption and Exploitation

The poem explores the theme of corruption and exploitation, particularly the exploitation of African Americans by Western society. The figure described in the poem is a symbol of this corruption, a gaunt thing with no organs, creeping along the streets of Europe. This imagery suggests a parasitic entity that feeds off others, leaving them depleted and destroyed. The phrase with no organs emphasizes the figure's lack of humanity and moral integrity, making it a fitting representation of exploitative systems.

Themes of Memory and Identity

The theme of memory and identity is also prominent. The figure's head is described as a vast pus-chamber of memories, suggesting a distorted and painful recollection of the past. The reference to an unknown nigger whose name will be known but whose substance will not ever highlights the erasure of individual identity and the reduction of people to stereotypes or symbols. This theme is further emphasized in the description of Bob Thompson, who is reduced to a pitiful imitation of himself, full of American holes and a monkey on his back.

Themes of Violence and Retribution

The poem also delves into the theme of violence and retribution. The speaker's curse on the figure and her sisters is a call for violent retribution, with the use of lye, cocola, and alaga syrup as symbols of burning and destruction. The final lines, where the speaker invokes the burning of flesh and the peeling of eyes, underscore the intensity of this desire for retribution. This theme is tied to the broader context of resistance and rebellion against oppressive forces.

Recurring Symbols and Imagery

The poem is rich with vivid and disturbing imagery. The figure's feathered bat stomach-gown and sores on her insides create a sense of grotesque and unsettling beauty. The reference to a vast pus-chamber of memories is particularly striking, suggesting a deep and painful history of exploitation and trauma. The use of the term bitch and the curse on the figure and her sisters further emphasize the poem's aggressive and accusatory tone. The imagery of burning and destruction in the final lines is a powerful symbol of the speaker's desire for retribution and justice.

Conclusion

Babylon Revisited is a powerful and provocative poem that uses vivid and disturbing imagery to explore themes of corruption, memory, and retribution. The figure described in the poem serves as a symbol of exploitative systems and the erasure of individual identity. The poem's aggressive tone and call for violent retribution reflect the broader context of resistance and rebellion against oppressive forces. Through its use of vivid imagery and symbolic language, the poem offers a stark and unflinching critique of the impact of Western colonialism on African Americans.