Poem Analysis - Gare Du Midi

Arrival of Foreboding

W.H. Auden's "Gare Du Midi" is a short, unsettling poem that evokes a sense of impending doom. The poem's tone is initially observational, describing a typical scene at a train station, but it quickly shifts to one of unease and foreboding. The arrival of a seemingly ordinary traveler triggers a feeling that something terrible is about to unfold. This ominous atmosphere permeates the poem, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of anxiety.

Echoes of a Troubled Era

While the poem offers no specific historical context within the text itself, it's difficult to ignore that Auden wrote during a period of intense political and social upheaval in Europe, leading up to World War II. The looming threat of fascism and the general atmosphere of anxiety and uncertainty likely influenced Auden's worldview and may have found expression in the poem. The "terrible future" mentioned could be interpreted as a reflection of the growing concerns about the potential for widespread conflict and suffering.

The Theme of Impending Doom

One of the central themes of "Gare Du Midi" is that of impending doom. The poem's language creates a palpable sense of unease. The "nondescript express" and the "crowds round the ticket barrier" set a scene of everyday normalcy, but the description of the traveler disrupts this. The phrase "something about the mouth distracts the stray look with alarm and pity" suggests an unsettling presence. This unsettling presence, coupled with the declaration that the city's "terrible future may have just arrived," reinforces the theme of approaching catastrophe. The image of "snow falling" can also be interpreted as a symbol of death and coldness, further amplifying this theme.

The Symbolism of the Traveler

The traveler in "Gare Du Midi" serves as a potent symbol. He is not greeted with fanfare or celebration, unlike someone of importance. Instead, his presence elicits "alarm and pity," suggesting he carries with him something undesirable. The "little case" he clutches could be interpreted as a metaphor for the burden or plague he brings to the city. The fact that he walks "briskly to infect a city" implies a deliberate act, hinting at the spread of something malevolent, like a disease or a dangerous ideology. Is the traveler a harbinger of destruction, or a representation of the destructive potential that already existed within the city itself?

Final Portents

"Gare Du Midi" is a chilling poem that explores the theme of impending doom through vivid imagery and unsettling symbolism. The poem's strength lies in its ability to create a palpable sense of unease without explicitly stating the nature of the threat. The seemingly ordinary arrival of a traveler triggers a cascade of anxieties, leaving the reader with a lingering feeling that something terrible is about to unfold. Auden masterfully uses language and imagery to transform a simple scene into a powerful allegory of fear and the potential for disaster, a concern pertinent to his time that still resonates today. The poem serves as a reminder that even in the most mundane settings, the seeds of destruction can be sown.