Poem Analysis - Roman Wall Blues

Introduction: A Soldier's Lament

W.H. Auden's "Roman Wall Blues" presents a bleak and intimate portrait of a Roman soldier stationed on Hadrian's Wall. The poem's tone is initially one of weary resignation, marked by complaints about the weather and the soldier's immediate discomfort. However, a thread of personal longing and frustration weaves through the soldier's grievances, leading to a final reflection tinged with quiet despair. The poem effectively captures the monotony and isolation of military life, contrasting it with the simple desires for love, comfort, and purpose.

Echoes of Empire: Historical Context

While the poem avoids specific historical details, the setting on Hadrian's Wall, built by the Romans in present-day England, provides a crucial backdrop. The wall symbolized the edge of the Roman Empire, a place of constant vigilance against "barbarian" threats. This sense of being on the periphery, far from the heart of Roman civilization, undoubtedly contributed to the soldier's feelings of isolation and disconnection, which are central to the poem's impact.

The Weight of Loneliness: Theme of Isolation

Isolation is a dominant theme throughout "Roman Wall Blues." The soldier is geographically isolated, separated from his love and familiar surroundings. This is evident in the lines "My girl's in Tungria; I sleep alone" and "Over the heather the wet wind blows." The harsh environment, described with imagery like "wet wind," "rain," and "mist," further emphasizes his solitude. Even among fellow soldiers, there is a sense of detachment, as shown by his dislike of Aulus and his disapproval of Piso's religious beliefs. The soldier is essentially alone with his discomfort and unfulfilled desires. The pervasive sense of loneliness is highlighted by his concluding vision of doing "nothing but look at the sky", emphasizing a complete separation from other people and a deep sense of introspection.

Fleeting Pleasures and Enduring Discontent: Theme of Desire

The soldier's desires are simple yet unattainable: love, comfort, and financial security. He yearns for his girl, expressing jealousy and frustration with Aulus. His physical discomfort – "lice in my tunic and a cold in my nose" – highlights his longing for basic comfort. The line "I want my girl and I want my pay" succinctly encapsulates these basic needs. However, his act of dicing away the ring she gave him suggests a self-destructive tendency and an inability to hold onto the fleeting pleasures available to him. This inability to secure his desires further contributes to his overall sense of discontent.

Beyond the Horizon: Theme of Existential Weariness

The poem hints at a deeper, existential weariness. The line "I'm a Wall soldier, I don't know why" suggests a lack of purpose and a questioning of his role in the grand scheme of the Roman Empire. Even the prospect of becoming a veteran offers no real solace; instead, he envisions himself passively "look[ing] at the sky." This final image is one of quiet despair, suggesting a withdrawal from life and a resignation to a meaningless existence. He is not looking at the sky to find freedom or hope, rather to escape from the reality of his life. This motif underlines the underlying theme of the poem, which is not just physical discomfort, but an existential emptiness.

Symbols of Disenchantment: Decoding Key Images

The most prominent symbol is the Roman Wall itself. It represents not only physical confinement but also the limits of the Roman Empire and the boundaries of the soldier's world. The weather, with its "wet wind," "rain," and "mist," is a recurring image that symbolizes the harshness and unpleasantness of the soldier's life. The sky in the final line is ambiguous. On the one hand, it can represent freedom and escape, but on the other hand, it signifies emptiness and a lack of purpose. Considering the poem's overall tone, it is likely that the sky represents the latter: a vast, indifferent void that mirrors the soldier's own sense of meaninglessness.

Final Reflections: A Timeless Lament

"Roman Wall Blues" transcends its historical setting to offer a timeless lament about the human condition. Through vivid imagery, a simple yet poignant tone, and a focus on basic human desires, the poem captures the feelings of isolation, frustration, and existential weariness that can affect anyone, regardless of time or place. The poem's enduring significance lies in its ability to evoke empathy for the individual caught in circumstances beyond their control, yearning for simple pleasures and struggling to find meaning in a seemingly indifferent world. The soldier's blues become a universal song of discontent and longing.