Sonnet II by James Agee: The poem and Analysis

Also Read

  (toc) #title= (Table of Content)

The poem

Our doom is in our being. We began

In hunger eager more than ache of hell:

And in that hunger became each a man

Ravened with hunger death alone may spell:

And in that hunger live, as lived the dead,

Who sought, as now we seek, in the same ways,

Nobly, and hatefully, what angel's-bread

Might ever stand us out those short few days.

So is the race in this wild hour confounded:

And though you rectify the big distress,

And kill all outward wrong where wrong abounded,

Your hunger cannot make this hunger less

Which breeds all wrath and right, and shall not die

In earth, and finds some hope upon the sky. 

Analysis 

James Agee's "Sonnet II" is a profound exploration of the human condition, focusing on the theme of existential hunger and its impact on humanity. The poem suggests that this hunger is fundamental to human nature and shapes the course of individual lives and the collective fate of the human race.

The poem opens with the assertion that "Our doom is in our being," implying that the essence of humanity is defined by an insatiable hunger that goes beyond physical need. This hunger is described as more intense than the "ache of hell," suggesting a deep-seated longing or desire that transcends earthly suffering.

Agee portrays this hunger as a defining characteristic of humanity, shaping individuals into beings "Ravened with hunger death alone may spell." This hunger is not just for sustenance, but for meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. It is a hunger that drives people to seek out noble pursuits, as well as to commit hateful acts in pursuit of their desires.

The poem suggests that this hunger is universal and timeless, affecting both the living and the dead. It is a hunger that cannot be satisfied by material comforts or external remedies. Even if outward wrongs are corrected, the fundamental hunger remains, "breeding all wrath and right" and defying death itself.

Despite the seemingly bleak outlook presented in the poem, there is a hint of hope in the final lines. The speaker acknowledges that this hunger "shall not die / In earth, and finds some hope upon the sky," suggesting that there may be a higher purpose or meaning that transcends the limitations of earthly existence.

Overall, "Sonnet II" is a profound and thought-provoking poem that delves into the depths of human longing and the quest for meaning in a world marked by hunger and desire.