Alienation in Merwin's Poetry

Abstract

William Stately Merwin's poetry exposes the grim futile human existential struggle which heralds nothing except suffering, anxiety, despair and feeling of absurdity. The speakers heroically accept and continue their struggle throughout his life in order to maintain the glory of his survival but at the same time they embroil in the turmoil of violence, absurdity and the scarcity of life. Merwin's poetry also reflects the grim picture of human life during and after the war when people were victimized by restriction, suppression, domination, exploitation and over competition. Because of which characters demonstrate the sweet passion and strong desire for survival and self identity even within the pang and plight of life. Despite the characters' struggle for freedom and happiness they suffer from scarcity, absurdity and nothingness which showers pain and suffering that ultimately lead them into the realm of fragmentation, displacement and alienation.