Poem Analysis - Burbank With A Baedeker

A Crumbling Venice: Introduction to Decay

T.S. Eliot's "Burbank With A Baedeker" paints a portrait of Venice steeped in decay, both physical and moral. The poem is fragmented and cynical, presenting a jaded view of romance, wealth, and cultural heritage. The tone shifts between detached observation and bitter commentary, creating a sense of disillusionment and the erosion of traditional values. The overall impression is one of a world where beauty and grandeur have become corrupted by greed and superficiality, leaving behind only ruins and shadows of the past.

Venice as a Symbol: Historical Weight and Modern Degeneration

The poem relies heavily on the historical context of Venice as a once-powerful and culturally significant city. Venice, renowned for its art, architecture, and maritime dominance, serves as a stark contrast to the modern scene depicted. The references to Canaletto, a famous Venetian painter, and the Rialto bridge, a prominent landmark, highlight the city's rich artistic and historical past. However, this glorious past is juxtaposed with images of decay, corruption, and the rise of materialistic values, reflecting a broader anxiety about the decline of Western civilization in the face of modernity and commercialism. The once-proud city is now haunted by "rats underneath the piles," a potent symbol of its underlying rot.

The Corrosive Nature of Wealth and Desire

One of the poem's central themes is the corrosive influence of wealth and unchecked desire. Princess Volupine, whose name itself suggests indulgence and sensuality, embodies this theme. Her encounter with Burbank, described as "he fell," implies a surrender to temptation or a disillusionment with romantic ideals. The mention of Bleistein, a "Chicago Semite Viennese," who seems to represent a rootless, international capitalist, further underscores the theme of materialistic excess and cultural displacement. The repeated image of money, "Money in furs," emphasizes the superficiality and moral emptiness associated with wealth in this decaying Venice.

Erosion of Values and the Myth of Hercules

The theme of the erosion of traditional values is developed through the fragmented narrative and the juxtaposition of classical and modern imagery. The reference to Hercules, a symbol of strength, virtue, and classical heroism, emphasizes the loss of these values. The line "Had left him, that had loved him well" suggests a sense of abandonment and the absence of moral guidance. Sir Ferdinand Klein, who "clipped the lion's wings," symbolizes the taming and destruction of natural power and nobility, perhaps representing the decline of traditional aristocratic values in the face of commercial interests. The "seven laws" that Burbank meditates on may represent the seven liberal arts or the Ten Commandments, symbolizing the breakdown of intellectual and moral order.

Illuminating Images: Candle End of Time

Several vivid images contribute to the poem's overall message of decay. The image of the "lustreless protrusive eye" staring from the "protozoic slime" suggests a primal, almost pre-human perspective, perhaps representing the base instincts and moral corruption that underlie the surface of Venetian society. The "smoky candle end of time" is a powerful symbol of the approaching end of an era, suggesting the decline of Western civilization and the fading of its cultural light. These images combine to create a sense of foreboding and a feeling of irreversible decline. Could the candle also represent the life force of Venice itself, slowly burning out?

A Final Reflection: The Ruins of Time

"Burbank With A Baedeker" is a poignant and unsettling exploration of cultural and moral decay. Through its fragmented narrative, cynical tone, and vivid imagery, the poem depicts a Venice consumed by materialism, corruption, and the loss of traditional values. The poem's significance lies in its ability to capture a sense of disillusionment with the modern world and a nostalgic longing for a more virtuous past. The ruins of Venice become a powerful symbol of the transience of human achievement and the enduring power of time to erode even the most magnificent creations.