“Helen” by H.D. (Hilda Doolittle): A Critical Analysis

All Greece hates   

the still eyes in the white face,   

the lustre as of olives   

where she stands,   

and the white hands.   

All Greece reviles   

the wan face when she smiles,   

hating it deeper still   

when it grows wan and white,   

remembering past enchantments   

and past ills.   

Greece sees unmoved,   

God’s daughter, born of love,   

the beauty of cool feet   

and slenderest knees,   

could love indeed the maid,   

only if she were laid,   

white ash amid funereal cypresses.

1. Cultural Scapegoating

The theme of cultural scapegoating is central to “Helen,” as the poem depicts Helen as the target of collective hatred by “All Greece.” The repetition of phrases like “All Greece hates” and “All Greece reviles” emphasizes her position as the focal point of blame for the Trojan War. Her pale and lifeless beauty becomes a vessel for societal anger, transforming her from an individual into a symbol of all the suffering that Greece endured. This reflects how societies often direct their grievances and resentments onto individuals, particularly women, as scapegoats for larger historical or cultural traumas.

2. Beauty and Destruction

The paradoxical relationship between beauty and destruction is a recurring theme in the poem. Helen’s physical perfection, described through phrases like “the beauty of cool feet and slenderest knees,” is inseparable from the devastation she is believed to have caused. Her beauty, born of divine love, is simultaneously revered and despised, highlighting the destructive potential of aesthetic allure. This duality reflects the societal tendency to idolize beauty while condemning the power it wields, positioning Helen as both a divine creation and a destructive force.

3. Death as Redemption

The poem suggests that only in death can Helen find redemption and love from Greece. The concluding lines, “could love indeed the maid, only if she were laid, white ash amid funereal cypresses,” underscore the societal desire for her erasure. Her death is envisioned as a purifying act that would absolve her of the blame placed upon her. This theme illustrates how women are often subjected to extreme forms of judgment, with their worth or forgiveness contingent upon their suffering or elimination.

4. The Burden of Myth

Helen is portrayed not just as a historical figure but as a mythological construct, carrying the weight of divine origins and cultural expectations. The line “God’s daughter, born of love” underscores her status as a figure shaped by forces beyond her control. Despite her divinity, Helen is powerless against the hatred directed at her by mortal society. This theme reflects the broader burden of mythological and cultural narratives imposed upon individuals, particularly women, who are often reduced to symbols rather than seen as autonomous beings.

1. How does the poem critique societal attitudes toward women, particularly those idealized for their beauty?

Helen critiques societal attitudes by portraying Helen as a symbol of collective hatred despite her divine beauty. The poem emphasizes that her physical allure, described as “the beauty of cool feet and slenderest knees,” is both admired and despised. Society’s conflicting emotions toward her—”All Greece hates” yet remembers “past enchantments”—highlight the burden placed on women who are idolized for their beauty but condemned for its consequences. This duality reflects broader societal tendencies to both revere and vilify women for traits beyond their control.

2. What role does death play in Helen’s narrative, and why is it seen as her only means of redemption?

Death is portrayed as Helen’s sole path to acceptance in the poem. The lines “could love indeed the maid, only if she were laid, white ash amid funereal cypresses” suggest that her beauty, intertwined with blame, can only be reconciled through erasure. This reflects a cultural tendency to demand women’s suffering or demise as a condition for forgiveness. Helen’s death is seen as a symbolic cleansing, where her physical presence—associated with historical grievances—must be extinguished to restore societal harmony.

3. How does the poem use imagery to convey Helen’s alienation?

The imagery in “Helen” underscores Helen’s isolation and alienation. Her pallor—”the still eyes in the white face” and “wan face”—evokes lifelessness and detachment, emphasizing her separation from the society that despises her. The stark whiteness of her face, hands, and eventual “white ash” symbolizes both purity and the erasure of her individuality. This visual portrayal aligns with the poem’s theme of scapegoating, as Helen becomes an almost ghostly figure stripped of agency.

4. What is the significance of Helen’s divine origins in the poem?

Helen’s divine origins are mentioned in the line “God’s daughter, born of love,” yet her divinity offers no protection from mortal hatred. This highlights the disconnect between her mythical status and her human suffering. The poem critiques how divine or idealized figures are often dehumanized, serving as vessels for societal projections rather than being recognized as complex individuals. Helen’s divine origin paradoxically amplifies her alienation, as her mythic role overshadows her humanity.