Poem Analysis - Spleen 2

Introduction: A Descent into Despair

Charles Baudelaire's "Spleen 2" (also known as "Spleen" or "The Sphinx" in different translations) is a dark and introspective exploration of mental and emotional decay. The poem, steeped in a sense of profound ennui and disillusionment, paints a vivid picture of a mind overwhelmed by the weight of memories and plagued by a pervasive sense of hopelessness. Its tone is overwhelmingly melancholic, shifting between self-loathing, resignation, and a bleak acceptance of existential despair. The poem’s journey is from a past teeming with memory and experience to a future devoid of hope or change.

The Crushing Weight of the Past

One of the central themes of "Spleen 2" is the burden of memory. The opening line, "I have more memories than if I'd lived a thousand years," establishes this immediately. This isn’t a celebration of experience, but a lament. The poem uses the image of a "heavy chest of drawers" crammed with "balance-sheets, Processes, love-letters, verses, ballads, / And heavy locks of hair enveloped in receipts" to represent the cluttered and overwhelming nature of the speaker's mind. These artifacts of the past are not sources of joy or reflection, but rather fuel for the speaker’s “gloomy brain”. The comparison to a "pyramid, a vast burial vault" emphasizes the funereal quality of memory; the speaker sees them as corpses, not treasures.

The All-Consuming Nature of Ennui

Ennui, or boredom, is another dominant theme, presented not as mere tedium but as a destructive force. It's described as "the fruit of dismal apathy," growing to "as large as immortality." This suggests that boredom, left unchecked, can consume the entire being, stretching out endlessly and becoming a defining characteristic of existence. The imagery of "heavy flakes of snowy years" emphasizes the oppressive, unrelenting nature of time and the crushing weight it brings. The poem suggests that ennui is not merely a feeling but an existential condition that stifles life and potential, turning it to stone.

From Living Being to Stone

The theme of decay and the loss of vitality is powerfully expressed in the latter half of the poem. The speaker declares, "Henceforth you are no more, O living matter! / Than a block of granite surrounded by vague terrors." This transition from "living matter" to "a block of granite" symbolizes the petrification of the soul, the loss of feeling, and the reduction of the individual to a mere object. The image of the "old sphinx ignored by a heedless world" is particularly poignant, representing isolation, alienation, and the feeling of being forgotten by time and humanity. The Sphinx, traditionally a symbol of wisdom and enigma, is here rendered powerless and alone.

Recurring Images: Cemeteries, Boudoirs, and the Sphinx

The poem uses potent symbolism to convey its message. The cemetery represents the speaker's mind, filled with the "corpses" of memories and experiences, constantly harassed by the "long worms" of remorse. The boudoir, with its "withered roses" and "old-fashioned dresses," evokes a sense of faded beauty, lost love, and the decay of time. This space is not one of romance, but of decay and stagnation. The Sphinx, as mentioned earlier, serves as a powerful symbol of isolation and the passage of time. Its "savage nature" singing "only in the rays of a setting sun" suggests a glimmer of beauty or truth that can only be glimpsed at the end of existence.

Conclusion: The Petrified Soul

"Spleen 2" is a chilling portrayal of existential despair and the crushing weight of the past. Through vivid imagery and powerful symbolism, Baudelaire explores themes of memory, ennui, and the decay of the soul. The poem's journey is one of descent, from a mind cluttered with memories to a petrified state of isolation and hopelessness. Ultimately, the poem serves as a stark reminder of the destructive potential of unchecked melancholy and the importance of finding meaning and connection in a world that can often feel indifferent and overwhelming. The poem asks: is the speaker’s state a universal human condition, or a uniquely individual affliction?