"The Redress of Poetry," by Seamus Heaney, began as a series of fifteen lectures delivered during his tenure as the Professor of Poetry at the University of Oxford between 1989 and 1994. The book compiles ten of these lectures into a comprehensive defense and exploration of poetry, spanning poets from the Renaissance's Christopher Marlowe to the modernist Elizabeth Bishop. Heaney delves into how poetry provides an imaginative escape and relief to its readers, transforming human experiences into art.

Understanding Poetry's "Redress"

In the introduction, Heaney sets the stage for his exploration of poetry's "redress," or its power to offer solace and transformation. Using Robert Frost's late poem "Directive" as an example, he argues that poetry transcends the stark reality symbolized by the solemn depiction of a household, leading readers instead to a realm of imagination. This imaginative space, akin to the children's playhouse in Frost's poem, has the potential to heal and renew by reshaping painful truths into sources of joy and plenitude.

Defining Redress in Poetry

The concept of "redress" is further unpacked in the chapter aptly named "The Redress of Poetry." Heaney begins by discussing the word's conventional meaning of "compensation" or "reparation" for a wrong. However, he also delves into archaic definitions such as "to restore" or "re-establish," showcasing poetry's ability to realign a reader’s perspective. Another historical usage from hunting—"to bring back (the hounds or the deer) to the proper course"—suggests how poetry can redirect or correct the reader's emotional journey.

Poetry Versus Politics

For Heaney, the ability of poetry to provide delight is its most significant role. He defends poetry against those who seek to tie it to political correctness, transforming it into a vehicle for specific agendas. Heaney cites Thomas MacDonagh, an Irish rebel involved in the 1916 Uprising, as an illustration. Despite his opposition to British rule, MacDonagh embraced the British poetic tradition, exemplifying a belief in poetry's intrinsic value beyond political aims. Heaney warns against replacing the traditional canon with works born out of oppression, as this might undermine poetry's element of surprise and joy.

Exploring Marlowe's Style

The chapter "Extending the Alphabet" examines Christopher Marlowe's stylistic brilliance. Heaney recalls his own overwhelming experience as a student hearing Marlowe's "mighty lines" performed. Marlowe's unfinished poem "Hero and Leander," often scrutinized for potential defenses or condemnations of certain social issues, is praised by Heaney for offering pure pleasure in its language. He argues that using the poem for partisan readings detracts from its true poetic essence and enjoyment.

Evaluating John Clare's Legacy

In his essay on John Clare, Heaney distinguishes enduring works from the poet's more transient pieces. He believes Clare's finest works are not those written during periods of madness or poverty but are instead his nature poems like "Mouse's Nest". Among Clare's significant contributions, Heaney highlights "Swordy Well," a protest poem addressing land enclosure. Despite its themes of dissent, the poem maintains poetic elegance, such as its use of the ballad stanza, illustrating Clare's poetic discipline. Heaney notes that Clare's approach could be a model for postmodern poetry that balances social commentary with poetic innovation.

Oscar Wilde's Artistic Struggle

Heaney's analysis of Oscar Wilde's "The Ballad of Reading Gaol" reveals intriguing contradictions in his advocacy for poetic language over content. Wilde's use of the ballad form, inspired by his mother’s propagandist poetry, was ill-suited to his themes and style. Close to his subject, Wilde struggled to differentiate his suffering from his artistic expression. Yet, Heaney suggests that the poem achieves "redress" by presenting Wilde's transformation from aesthete to convict, confronting the weight of his subject matter. However, this interpretation seems at...