Poem Analysis - Put Up My Lute

An Ode to Unheard Music: Introduction

Emily Dickinson's "Put Up My Lute!" is a poignant exploration of artistic frustration and the desire for recognition. The poem begins with a tone of resignation, a quiet defeat in the face of unresponsiveness. However, a subtle shift occurs as the speaker yearns for a song powerful enough to break through the apathy surrounding her. This yearning hints at a deeper struggle – the artist's inherent need to be heard and understood, even when confronted with indifference.

The Silent Audience: Theme of Unrequited Art

One of the central themes in this poem is the unfulfillment of artistic expression. The opening lines immediately establish this: "Put up my lute! What of my Music!" The speaker abandons her instrument, deeming her music worthless because "the sole ear I cared to charm" remains unmoved. The metaphor of "Granite" emphasizes the audience's cold, unyielding nature. This theme is further amplified by the line "Sobbing will suit as well as psalm!" suggesting that emotional outpouring, even in its rawest form, is equally ineffective in eliciting a response, highlighting the speaker's sense of futility.

Seeking Resonance: Theme of Artistic Yearning

Despite the initial resignation, the poem also reveals a deep yearning for artistic resonance. The speaker's reference to the "Memnon of the Desert" introduces this theme. Memnon, a colossal statue in ancient Egypt said to emit a musical sound at sunrise, becomes a symbol of art that possesses the power to awaken. The speaker desires to learn "the strain / That vanquished Him / When He surrendered to the Sunrise," implying a longing for a similarly potent and transformative artistic voice. The use of "vanquished" and "surrendered" suggests a complex interplay of power and vulnerability inherent in true artistic expression.

Awakening the Dormant: Theme of Impact

The theme of impact and its absence underscores the poem's core. The speaker does not simply want to create art; she wants to create art that resonates, that "awakens them!" This single line, with its powerful verb, speaks volumes about the artist's inherent desire to move, to influence, to connect with others. The use of "them" is deliberately vague. It could refer to a specific individual, a group, or even humanity as a whole. The ambiguity reinforces the universal nature of the artist's desire to transcend indifference and leave a lasting mark.

Granite and Memnon: Symbols of Silence and Sound

Two contrasting symbols dominate the poem: granite and Memnon. Granite represents the cold, unresponsive audience, a barrier against which the speaker's music is futile. It symbolizes the silence and apathy that crush the artist's spirit. Memnon, on the other hand, represents the ideal of art that possesses the power to awaken and transform. It is a symbol of resonance, of the possibility for art to break through indifference and create a profound impact. The juxtaposition of these two symbols highlights the tension between the speaker's current reality of unheard music and her aspiration for a more powerful and meaningful artistic expression.

Concluding Thoughts: The Artist's Enduring Hope

In conclusion, "Put Up My Lute!" is a poignant exploration of artistic frustration and the enduring hope for connection. The poem moves from a place of resignation to a yearning for a transformative artistic voice, embodied in the symbolic figure of Memnon. While the poem acknowledges the pain of unresponsiveness, it also suggests that the artist's desire to awaken, to move, and to leave a lasting impact remains a powerful driving force, even in the face of "Granite" apathy. The poem ultimately leaves the reader contemplating the power and the potential of art to transcend silence and resonate with the human spirit.