Archibald MacLeish Criticism
The literary contributions of Archibald MacLeish (1892-1982) offer a profound exploration of the philosophical and political complexities of the 20th century. As a poet, dramatist, critic, and statesman, MacLeish's works bridge personal experience with the sweeping ideological shifts of his time. His diverse poetic style, from blank verse to sonnets, merges American speech rhythms into a unique voice, exemplified by "Ars Poetica" and the epic Conquistador. In the latter, MacLeish recounts the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, drawing comparisons to Dante's Divine Comedy, as noted by Michael Cavanagh.
Beyond his literary prowess, MacLeish was a politically active figure, holding roles such as Assistant U.S. Secretary of State and Librarian of Congress during World War II. His 1930s and 1940s works reflect a commitment to social issues with a didactic tone, notably in the verse play J. B., an imaginative retelling of the Book of Job, and other political writings emphasizing individual responsibility amidst historical determinism, explored by David Barber. His later years featured a focus on poetry and essays, culminating in The Wild Old Wicked Man and Other Poems.
Critics, including Dorothy Van Ghent, frequently discuss MacLeish's influences, particularly from T. S. Eliot and Ezra Pound, initially viewing his work as derivative. However, reevaluation highlights his contributions to modernism and metaphysical themes. Conquistador and J. B. provoke critical engagement, with the former praised for its epic scale and the latter for its humanist interpretation of religious themes, explored by Randall Jarrell and Janis P. Stout.
MacLeish received three Pulitzer Prizes, cementing his impact on American letters. His play Nobodaddy employs the Eden myth to explore modern existential themes but faces criticism from R. P. Blackmur for incomplete character development. Conversely, John Wain appreciates "Herakles" for its innovative rhythm and metaphorical depth. MacLeish's poetic evolution, from early influences to a distinctive voice in works like Conquistador, is explored by Hayden Carruth, while James K. Robinson highlights his lasting focus on American ideals in The Great American Fourth of July Parade.
MacLeish's prose, analyzed by Peter Brunette and Tom Johnson, reflects a commitment to humanistic themes, blending personal reflections with formal essays in "Riders on the Earth," underscoring his role as a critical voice in 20th-century literature.
Contents
- Principal Works
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MacLeish, Archibald (Vol. 14)
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A Modern Poet in Eden
(summary)
In the following essay, R. P. Blackmur critiques Archibald MacLeish's play Nobodaddy, highlighting its use of the Eden myth to explore modern themes of self-consciousness in an indifferent universe, but contends that the play falls short due to an incomplete exploration of its subject matter and insufficient character integration, particularly with Eve.
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Mr. MacLeish's New Play
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In the following essay, John Wain critiques Archibald MacLeish's penchant for tackling grand themes, finding his reinterpretations of works like the Book of Job to lack originality, though he acknowledges MacLeish's "Herakles" as a more successful endeavor, praising its central metaphor and rhythmic innovation while still finding the writing less compelling.
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Homage to A. MacLeish
(summary)
In the following essay, Hayden Carruth examines the evolution of Archibald MacLeish's poetic style, noting his initial influence by T.S. Eliot, his development of a unique voice with works like Conquistador, and the limitations of his politically motivated poems, ultimately praising his return to personal lyrics for their artistic merit.
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Sassenachs, Palefaces, and a Redskin: Graves, Auden, MacLeish, Hollander, Wagoner, and Others
(summary)
In the following essay, James K. Robinson examines Archibald MacLeish's The Great American Fourth of July Parade, highlighting the poet's enduring focus on America and its ideals, as well as his use of poetic drama to critique the nation's political realities.
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Brief Notices: 'Riders on the Earth: Essays and Recollections'
(summary)
In the following essay, Peter Brunette highlights Archibald MacLeish's "Riders on the Earth: Essays and Recollections" as a profound exploration of humanistic themes, particularly focusing on the reintegration of humanity, while acknowledging minor blemishes in an otherwise deeply caring narrative.
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Sturdy Sense and Vital Humanism
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In the following essay, Tom Johnson explores Archibald MacLeish's prose collection, Riders on the Earth, highlighting its blend of personal reflections and formal essays on humanism, and argues that MacLeish's enduring optimism, informed by his diverse experiences and associations, offers hope amidst the cultural despair of the late sixties.
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A Modern Poet in Eden
(summary)
- MacLeish, Archibald (Vol. 3)
- MacLeish, Archibald (Vol. 8)
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MacLeish, Archibald
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Review of New Found Land
(summary)
In the following review of New Found Land, Zabel concentrates on MacLeish's poetic style—which he finds to be strongly influenced by other poets, especially T. S. Eliot—and foresees the possible “dissolution of a fine poetic talent.”
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Archibald MacLeish
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In the following essay, Monroe evaluates MacLeish as a poet of the age with a sensitivity to human suffering, but wonders whether he has the necessary forcefulness to interpret the modern world.
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Review of Poems, 1924-1933
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In the following review, Zabel traces MacLeish's development as a poet through the early 1930s and the publication of Poems, 1924-1933.
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Archibald MacLeish: A Modern Metaphysical
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In the following review of Poems, 1924-1933, Jones comments on the symbolic poem The Pot of Earth and MacLeish's more social works, such as Conquistador, Frescoes for Mr. Rockefeller's City, and the verse play Panic.
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The Poetry of Archibald MacLeish
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In the following essay, Van Ghent presents a thematic overview of MacLeish's writing up to 1938, considering its concentration on metaphysical issues and human fate.
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The Poetry of Archibald MacLeish
(summary)
In the following essay, Mizener emphasizes the continuity of MacLeish's poetic work over time, despite shifts in the poet's emotional and philosophical responses to experience.
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MacLeish and the Modern Temper
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In the following essay, Kohler describes MacLeish as a “spokesman of the modern age” whose social poetry reaffirms the American ideal of human freedom.
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Archibald MacLeish and the Aspect of Eternity
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In the following essay, Waggoner explores the role of scientific thought in MacLeish's poetic representation of infinity and eternity.
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Review of The Fall of the City
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In the following essay, Jarrell critiques MacLeish's political/allegorical radio play The Fall of the City, finding it riddled with inconsistencies and calling it a “melodramatic oversimplification.”
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MacLeish and Democratic Pastoral
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In the following review of Collected Poems, 1917-1952, Whittemore highlights the pastoral element in MacLeish's poetry.
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J. B., the Critics, and Me
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In the following essay, Christensen considers critical reaction to MacLeish's verse play J. B. and defends the work from its detractors.
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MacLeish and the Fortunate Fall
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In the following essay, Sickels tracks MacLeish's use of the Christian theme of the Fortunate Fall in his poetry, especially in Songs for Eve and the verse play J. B.
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MacLeish's ‘Ars Poetica’
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In the following essay, Sullivan explicates MacLeish's paradoxical poem “Ars Poetica,” viewing it as “a rarity among poems on the art of poetry.”
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Archibald MacLeish
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Smith offers an in-depth survey of MacLeish's poetry from his earliest verse to 1968's The Wild Old Wicked Man, focusing principally on subject and theme.
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Review of New and Collected Poems, 1917-1976
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In the following review of New and Collected Poems, 1917-1976, Carruth lauds MacLeish's overall work as a poet while devoting particular attention to his epic Conquistador.
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Review of New and Collected Poems, 1917-1976
(summary)
In the following excerpted review of New and Collected Poems, 1917-1976, Siegel forms a list of MacLeish's most enduring works of poetry.
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The Problems of Modern Epic: MacLeish's Conquistador
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In the following essay, Cavanagh analyzes MacLeish's effort to compose a Modernist epic poem in Conquistador.
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A Look at Selected New Lyric Poems by Archibald MacLeish
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In the following essay, originally delivered as a speech in 1982, Walters praises MacLeish's mastery of the impassioned and human lyric.
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MacLeish and the Nature of Woman
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In the following essay, originally presented as a lecture in 1982, Ellis discusses MacLeish's poetic rendering of the nature of women as closer to the “truly true” than the nature of man.
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MacLeish Revisited
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In the following essay, Pritchard illuminates the qualities of MacLeish's character that inform his poetry.
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‘Intimate Immensity’: On the Poetics of Space in MacLeish's Einstein
(summary)
In the following essay, Lane analyzes the spatial imagery and dialectic pattern of MacLeish's long poem Einstein.
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MacLeish at Work: Versions of ‘Bleheris’
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In the following essay, Lane investigates MacLeish's revisions of the tale of the Grail knight Bleheris in his The Hamlet of A. MacLeish.
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Re-Visions of Job: J. B. and ‘A Masque of Reason’
(summary)
In the following essay, Stout compares MacLeish's verse play J. B. and Robert Frost's dramatic poem “A Masque of Reason” as modern re-compositions of the biblical Book of Job.
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In Search of an ‘Image of Mankind’: The Public Poetry and Prose of Archibald MacLeish
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In the following essay, Barber probes the strong social and public component of MacLeish's poetry, charting its development particularly over the period from 1930 to 1945.
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Archibald MacLeish: Art for Action
(summary)
In the following essay, Blum recounts MacLeish's literary and political career, stressing the poet's liberalism and belief in democracy.
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Review of New Found Land
(summary)
- Further Reading