“Fletcher McGee” by Edgar Lee Masters: A Critical Analysis

She took my strength by minutes,

She took my life by hours,

She drained me like a fevered moon

That saps the spinning world.

The days went by like shadows,

The minutes wheeled like stars.

She took the pity from my heart,

And made it into smiles.

She was a hunk of sculptor’s clay,

My secret thoughts were fingers:

They flew behind her pensive brow

And lined it deep with pain.

They set the lips, and sagged the cheeks,

And drooped the eyes with sorrow.

My soul had entered in the clay,

Fighting like seven devils.

It was not mine, it was not hers;

She held it, but its struggles

Modeled a face she hated,

And a face I feared to see.

I beat the windows, shook the bolts.

I hid me in a corner–

And then she died and haunted me,

And hunted me for life.

·         Manipulation and Control: A prominent theme in “Fletcher McGee” is the idea of manipulation and control within relationships. The speaker describes how he has influenced and shaped the woman, symbolized by the metaphor of sculptor’s clay: “She was a hunk of sculptor’s clay, / My secret thoughts were fingers.” Here, he envisions himself molding her emotions and expressions, as if she is passive material in his hands. His thoughts “flew behind her pensive brow” and “lined it deep with pain,” indicating how his internal struggles left a visible mark on her. This theme suggests that he exercised a psychological control over her, but the results were not what he intended, leaving both of them emotionally scarred.

·         Destruction and Loss: The poem also reflects a theme of destruction and loss, both of identity and vitality. The speaker feels as though his life force has been drained by the woman, conveyed through metaphors of time and energy: “She took my strength by minutes, / She took my life by hours.” This slow erosion of his energy symbolizes the draining nature of their relationship, culminating in the metaphor of the “fevered moon / That saps the spinning world,” which suggests a parasitic force taking away his vitality. His soul is said to have “entered in the clay,” a powerful image of how his inner self was lost in his attempts to control and shape her.

·         Emotional Conflict and Torment: Emotional conflict is central to the speaker’s experience, as he feels trapped between love, fear, and resentment. He describes his soul as “fighting like seven devils,” indicating an internal battle, a sense of being trapped within both his own emotions and the woman’s influence. His fear and pain manifest in the repeated idea that neither his soul nor her face belongs to them anymore: “It was not mine, it was not hers.” The relationship becomes a site of torment, with the speaker’s inner life consumed by this unresolved tension. Even after her death, the speaker is haunted and hunted by her, indicating a continuing emotional turmoil that extends beyond life itself.

·         Death and Haunting: Death, both literal and metaphorical, plays a key role in the poem, especially in how it affects the speaker’s psyche. The woman’s death does not free him from her influence; instead, she haunts him: “And then she died and haunted me, / And hunted me for life.” This haunting is not just the presence of a ghost, but the lingering emotional and psychological impact she has on his life. Her death does not signify an end, but a continuation of the speaker’s torment, implying that emotional scars from their relationship are permanent. This theme suggests that death does not bring resolution, but instead deepens the speaker’s sense of loss and entrapment.

·         What is the significance of the speaker’s obsession with the lover?

• The speaker’s obsession with the lover is central to the poem, revealing a destructive cycle of codependency and control. His intense emotional attachment becomes a source of both pain and pleasure, ultimately leading to his downfall. The speaker’s obsession is evident in his constant thoughts about her, his fear of losing her, and his willingness to sacrifice his own identity for her.

·         How does the speaker’s relationship with the lover contribute to his sense of self?

• The speaker’s relationship with the lover is deeply intertwined with his sense of self. He becomes so consumed by her that his own identity becomes blurred, leading to a loss of autonomy and a feeling of emptiness. The lover’s influence is so pervasive that the speaker’s thoughts and actions are dictated by her, resulting in a distorted and unhealthy self-perception.

·         What is the role of time in the poem?

• Time plays a significant role in “Fletcher McGee,” serving as a metaphor for the speaker’s deteriorating condition. As the speaker’s relationship with the lover progresses, time seems to accelerate, reflecting his growing desperation and the rapid decline of his vitality. The passage of time also emphasizes the inevitability of loss and the fleeting nature of human existence.

·         How does the poem’s setting contribute to its overall theme?

• While the setting of “Fletcher McGee” is not explicitly stated, the poem’s atmosphere of isolation and despair suggests a bleak and unforgiving environment. The speaker’s internal world, characterized by obsession, fear, and loss, mirrors the external world’s harshness and indifference. This setting reinforces the poem’s overarching theme of the human condition, highlighting the struggles and limitations of individuals in a world that often feels overwhelming and indifferent.