“Miniver Cheevy” by Edwin Arlington Robinson: A Critical Analysis

“Miniver Cheevy” by Edwin Arlington Robinson, first appeared in 1910 in the collection The Town Down the River, often anthologized as a classic textbook example.

"Miniver Cheevy" by Edwin Arlington Robinson: A Critical Analysis
Introduction: “Miniver Cheevy” by Edwin Arlington Robinson

“Miniver Cheevy” by Edwin Arlington Robinson, first appeared in 1910 in the collection The Town Down the River, often anthologized as a classic textbook example of ironic modernist poetry, explores themes of escapism, disillusionment, and self-pity. Miniver, the titular character, is a dreamer who romanticizes the past, longing for the grandeur of bygone eras such as the days of knights and the splendor of Renaissance art. Yet, he is simultaneously paralyzed by his cynicism and unwillingness to engage with the present reality. Its enduring popularity stems from Robinson’s deft use of irony and the universality of its themes, which resonate with readers as a critique of idle nostalgia and the human tendency to avoid responsibility by blaming external circumstances. The poem’s accessible structure and poignant commentary on human frailty make it a staple in educational syllabi.

Text: “Miniver Cheevy” by Edwin Arlington Robinson

Miniver Cheevy, child of scorn,

   Grew lean while he assailed the seasons;

He wept that he was ever born,

   And he had reasons.

Miniver loved the days of old

   When swords were bright and steeds were prancing;

The vision of a warrior bold

   Would set him dancing.

Miniver sighed for what was not,

   And dreamed, and rested from his labors;

He dreamed of Thebes and Camelot,

   And Priam’s neighbors.

Miniver mourned the ripe renown

   That made so many a name so fragrant;

He mourned Romance, now on the town,

   And Art, a vagrant.

Miniver loved the Medici,

   Albeit he had never seen one;

He would have sinned incessantly

   Could he have been one.

Miniver cursed the commonplace

   And eyed a khaki suit with loathing;

He missed the mediæval grace

   Of iron clothing.

Miniver scorned the gold he sought,

   But sore annoyed was he without it;

Miniver thought, and thought, and thought,

   And thought about it.

Miniver Cheevy, born too late,

   Scratched his head and kept on thinking;

Miniver coughed, and called it fate,

   And kept on drinking.

Annotations: “Miniver Cheevy” by Edwin Arlington Robinson
LineAnnotation
Miniver Cheevy, child of scorn,Introduces Miniver Cheevy as a scornful, discontented character.
Grew lean while he assailed the seasons;Highlights his struggle against the passage of time and his discontent with the present.
He wept that he was ever born,Conveys his existential despair and sense of misplaced birth.
And he had reasons.Suggests that he rationalizes his despair with perceived justifications.
Miniver loved the days of oldDepicts Miniver’s idealization of the past, focusing on its perceived glory.
When swords were bright and steeds were prancing;Romanticizes medieval chivalry and grandeur, which Miniver admires.
The vision of a warrior boldReveals his escapist fantasies of heroism and grandeur.
Would set him dancing.Reflects his longing for an idealized vision of the past.
Miniver sighed for what was not,Describes his dissatisfaction with reality and his yearning for the unattainable.
And dreamed, and rested from his labors;Shows his preference for daydreaming over taking action in his life.
He dreamed of Thebes and Camelot,References mythical and historical places, emphasizing his romantic nostalgia.
And Priam’s neighbors.Continues to showcase his longing for epic historical eras and grandeur.
Miniver mourned the ripe renownExpresses his regret for the loss of historical glory and legacy.
That made so many a name so fragrant;Laments the decline of artistic and romantic ideals in the modern era.
He mourned Romance, now on the town,Juxtaposes his romantic ideals with the degraded realities of the present.
And Art, a vagrant.Symbolizes the degradation of creativity and culture in modernity.
Miniver loved the Medici,Highlights his fascination with the Medici, emblematic of Renaissance grandeur.
Albeit he had never seen one;Ironically notes that he has no direct experience of what he idolizes.
He would have sinned incessantlyShows his flawed desire to emulate the Medici, even morally compromised.
Could he have been one.Reflects his willingness to forsake modern morality for historical grandeur.
Miniver cursed the commonplaceReveals his disdain for modernity and its utilitarianism.
And eyed a khaki suit with loathing;His loathing of practical clothing symbolizes his rejection of the mundane.
He missed the mediæval graceContrasts medieval aesthetics with modern utility, reflecting his misplaced nostalgia.
Of iron clothing.Symbolizes his idealization of the past’s impracticality.
Miniver scorned the gold he sought,His hypocritical disdain for wealth underscores his internal contradictions.
But sore annoyed was he without it;Reflects his frustration with both his lack of wealth and the pursuit of it.
Miniver thought, and thought, and thought,Illustrates his tendency for endless, unproductive rumination.
And thought about it.Emphasizes his inability to escape the cycle of yearning and thought.
Miniver Cheevy, born too late,Conveys his feeling of being an anachronism, born in the wrong time.
Scratched his head and kept on thinking;Shows his helpless resignation to his perceived fate.
Miniver coughed, and called it fate,Indicates his self-destructive coping mechanism—drinking.
And kept on drinking.Concludes with his cyclical despair, marked by resignation and escapism.
Literary And Poetic Devices: “Miniver Cheevy” by Edwin Arlington Robinson
DeviceExampleExplanation
Alliteration“Miniver mourned”Repetition of the ‘m’ sound emphasizes the character’s melancholy.
Allusion“He dreamed of Thebes and Camelot, And Priam’s neighbors”References historical and mythical places to emphasize Miniver’s escapism.
Antithesis“Miniver scorned the gold he sought”Contrasts his disdain for wealth with his frustration at lacking it.
Apostrophe“Miniver loved the Medici”Addresses an absent or imaginary entity (the Medici), underscoring his idealization.
Assonance“Miniver sighed for what was not”Repetition of the vowel sound ‘i’ creates a melancholic tone.
Caesura“And he had reasons.”A pause within a line to create emphasis on his rationalizations.
Characterization“Miniver coughed, and called it fate”Reveals his passive and self-destructive personality.
Contrast“He missed the mediæval grace Of iron clothing.”Contrasts romanticized medieval imagery with modern practicality.
Enjambment“Miniver sighed for what was not, And dreamed, and rested from his labors;”Carries a sentence across multiple lines, reflecting Miniver’s endless thoughts.
Hyperbole“He would have sinned incessantly”Exaggeration to emphasize his longing to emulate historical figures.
Imagery“When swords were bright and steeds were prancing”Vivid visual imagery evokes the grandeur Miniver romanticizes.
Irony“Miniver scorned the gold he sought”Highlights his hypocritical attitude towards wealth and success.
Juxtaposition“Romance, now on the town, And Art, a vagrant”Contrasts lofty ideals of Romance and Art with their perceived degradation.
Metaphor“Art, a vagrant”Compares Art to a homeless person, symbolizing its decline in Miniver’s eyes.
MoodEntire poemThe mood is reflective and melancholic, underscoring Miniver’s dissatisfaction.
Nostalgia“Miniver loved the days of old”Expresses his longing for a romanticized past.
Personification“Romance, now on the town”Gives human qualities to Romance, implying its corruption.
Repetition“Miniver thought, and thought, and thought”Repetition emphasizes his obsessive and unproductive reflections.
Symbolism“Khaki suit”Represents modernity and practicality, which Miniver rejects.
ThemeEntire poemExplores themes of escapism, disillusionment, and misplaced nostalgia.
Themes: “Miniver Cheevy” by Edwin Arlington Robinson
  • Escapism and Nostalgia: Miniver Cheevy embodies the theme of escapism, yearning for a glorified past while rejecting his present reality. The poem highlights his obsession with historical and mythical epochs, as seen in lines like, “He dreamed of Thebes and Camelot, / And Priam’s neighbors.” Miniver romanticizes these eras, imagining them as ideal times of grandeur and heroism. This escapism reflects his dissatisfaction with the mundane, modern world and his unwillingness to face its challenges, emphasizing his preference for fantasies over reality.
  • Disillusionment with Modernity: Miniver’s disdain for the contemporary world underscores the theme of disillusionment with modernity. He “cursed the commonplace” and “eyed a khaki suit with loathing,” expressing contempt for the practicality and utilitarianism of his era. His idealization of “medieval grace” and “iron clothing” contrasts with the modern attire, symbolizing his rejection of a world he perceives as lacking the romance and artistry of the past. This dissatisfaction reflects a broader critique of the tension between historical ideals and modern realities.
  • Irony and Self-Delusion: The theme of irony pervades the poem, particularly in Miniver’s self-delusion. While he scorns wealth, claiming he is “sore annoyed…without it,” he simultaneously despises the pursuit of gold, illustrating his internal contradictions. His lament, “Miniver coughed, and called it fate,” reflects his tendency to blame external forces for his own inaction, epitomizing the irony of a man who idealizes ambition and heroism but remains passively mired in self-pity and drinking.
  • The Futility of Romanticizing the Past: Miniver Cheevy illustrates the futility of living in an imagined past instead of engaging with the present. His love for “the days of old” and his mourning of “Romance, now on the town, / And Art, a vagrant” symbolize his futile attempt to find meaning in a past that no longer exists. This fixation leads to inertia and despair, as he fails to reconcile his romantic ideals with the realities of life, emphasizing the destructive nature of excessive nostalgia and inaction.
Literary Theories and “Miniver Cheevy” by Edwin Arlington Robinson
Literary TheoryExplanationReferences from the Poem
Psychoanalytic TheoryExamines Miniver’s psyche, focusing on his escapism, self-pity, and unresolved desires rooted in his subconscious.His longing for the past (“He dreamed of Thebes and Camelot”) suggests fixation on an idealized world as a coping mechanism. His drinking (“Miniver coughed, and called it fate, / And kept on drinking”) reflects a destructive way of handling his dissatisfaction.
New HistoricismExplores how Miniver’s rejection of modernity reflects broader cultural anxieties of the early 20th century.His disdain for modern “khaki suits” and praise for “iron clothing” highlight a nostalgic critique of industrial and modern advancements.
ExistentialismHighlights the tension between Miniver’s yearning for meaning and his failure to find purpose in his current reality.His lament, “He wept that he was ever born,” reflects existential despair, and his inaction emphasizes the existential theme of responsibility avoidance.
Critical Questions about “Miniver Cheevy” by Edwin Arlington Robinson

·         What does “Miniver Cheevy” reveal about the dangers of excessive nostalgia?

  • The poem presents nostalgia as both a comforting escape and a destructive force that prevents Miniver from engaging with his present reality. He romanticizes eras like Thebes and Camelot, longing for times when “swords were bright and steeds were prancing.” This fixation on an idealized past prevents him from finding meaning or purpose in his current life. Instead of addressing his dissatisfaction constructively, Miniver retreats into dreams, which are ultimately unfulfilling. Robinson uses Miniver’s obsessive nostalgia to warn of the dangers of dwelling on an unattainable past, showing how it can lead to stagnation, disillusionment, and despair.

·         How does Robinson use irony to develop Miniver Cheevy’s character?

  • Irony is a key tool Robinson uses to depict Miniver’s contradictions and self-delusion. Miniver claims to disdain wealth, “scorn[ing] the gold he sought,” yet he is deeply annoyed by his lack of it, revealing his internal hypocrisy. Similarly, while he idolizes the Medici and imagines he would sin incessantly in their position, he avoids any real action in his own life. This irony highlights the emptiness of his romantic ideals and underscores the discrepancy between his dreams and his passive, unproductive reality. Through this, Robinson critiques Miniver’s inability to reconcile his aspirations with his circumstances, making him a figure of both humor and pity.

·         In what ways does Miniver Cheevy reflect broader societal tensions of Robinson’s time?

  • Miniver’s disdain for modernity reflects a cultural critique of early 20th-century industrial and societal shifts. His loathing of “khaki suits” and admiration for “iron clothing” symbolize a rejection of the practicality and efficiency valued in his era. This rejection aligns with a broader societal struggle between progress and tradition, as many people of Robinson’s time grappled with the rapid industrialization and urbanization that marked the early 1900s. Miniver’s longing for “medieval grace” highlights a romantic idealism that contrasts sharply with the realities of a modern, mechanized world. In this way, Robinson uses Miniver’s character to comment on the resistance to change and the consequences of clinging to the past.

·         How does “Miniver Cheevy” explore the theme of self-pity and personal responsibility?

  • Miniver’s character is defined by his refusal to take responsibility for his dissatisfaction, instead indulging in self-pity and escapism. He blames external forces, like fate, for his unhappiness, as reflected in the line, “Miniver coughed, and called it fate.” Rather than making any effort to change his situation or confront his discontent, he turns to drinking as a form of resignation, further trapping himself in a cycle of inaction. Robinson critiques this mindset, showing how Miniver’s unwillingness to take control of his life leads to his continued stagnation and despair. The poem ultimately serves as a commentary on the destructive effects of self-pity and the necessity of personal accountability for one’s happiness and progress.
Literary Works Similar to “Miniver Cheevy” by Edwin Arlington Robinson
  1. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot
    Similarity: Like “Miniver Cheevy,” this poem explores themes of alienation, disillusionment, and a protagonist paralyzed by his inability to act in a modern, unsatisfying world.
  2. “Richard Cory” by Edwin Arlington Robinson
    Similarity: Written by the same poet, this poem shares a focus on discontent and irony, contrasting outward appearances with inner despair, much like Miniver’s unfulfilled dreams.
  3. “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
    Similarity: Both poems examine the transience of grandeur and the futility of clinging to past glory, with a reflective tone on human ambition and its impermanence.
  4. “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell
    Similarity: Although different in intent, this poem shares with “Miniver Cheevy” a meditation on the passage of time and the urgency (or lack thereof) to act in the present.
  5. “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot
    Similarity: This modernist masterpiece parallels “Miniver Cheevy” in its depiction of cultural disillusionment and longing for a lost sense of order and grandeur in a fragmented modern world.
Representative Quotations of “Miniver Cheevy” by Edwin Arlington Robinson
QuotationContextTheoretical Perspective
“Miniver Cheevy, child of scorn,”Introduces Miniver as a scornful and discontented character, setting the tone for his despair.Psychoanalytic Theory: Highlights his alienation and internal conflict.
“He wept that he was ever born,”Reflects Miniver’s existential despair and dissatisfaction with his place in the world.Existentialism: Demonstrates his struggle with finding purpose in life.
“Miniver loved the days of old”Reveals his idealization of the past, where he believes life held greater meaning and grandeur.New Historicism: Shows his rejection of modernity and longing for the past.
“The vision of a warrior bold / Would set him dancing.”Highlights Miniver’s romanticized perception of historical heroism and chivalry.Romanticism: Emphasizes his escapism into an idealized version of history.
“Miniver sighed for what was not, / And dreamed, and rested from his labors;”Shows his dissatisfaction with reality and tendency to avoid effort by retreating into dreams.Psychoanalytic Theory: Explores his defense mechanism of escapism.
“He mourned Romance, now on the town, / And Art, a vagrant.”Suggests his belief that modern culture has degraded noble ideals like romance and art.Cultural Criticism: Critiques the perceived decline of traditional values.
“He would have sinned incessantly / Could he have been one.”Displays Miniver’s flawed moral longing to emulate the powerful Medici family of the Renaissance.Moral Philosophy: Highlights the ethical contradictions in his idealization of the past.
“Miniver cursed the commonplace / And eyed a khaki suit with loathing;”Demonstrates his disdain for modern practicality and utilitarianism.New Historicism: Contrasts his romantic ideals with the realities of modern life.
“Miniver scorned the gold he sought, / But sore annoyed was he without it;”Highlights his hypocritical relationship with wealth and material desires.Marxist Theory: Explores the conflict between his disdain for capitalism and his dependence on it.
“Miniver coughed, and called it fate, / And kept on drinking.”Concludes with Miniver’s resignation and self-destructive coping mechanisms.Existentialism: Examines his acceptance of despair and rejection of agency.
Suggested Readings: “Miniver Cheevy” by Edwin Arlington Robinson
  1. PRITCHARD, WILLIAM H. “Edwin Arlington Robinson: The Prince of Heartachers.” The American Scholar, vol. 48, no. 1, 1979, pp. 89–100. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41210487. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
  2. Loranger, Carol S. “The Outcast Poetics of Paul Laurence Dunbar and Edwin Arlington Robinson.” Studies in American Naturalism, vol. 10, no. 2, 2015, pp. 133–49. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26300722. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
  3. Maas, David F. “THE DELETERIOUS EFFECTS OF NEGATIVE TIME-BINDING.” ETC: A Review of General Semantics, vol. 62, no. 2, 2005, pp. 172–80. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/42580169. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
  4. Sullivan, Winifred H. “The Double-Edged Irony of EA Robinson’s” Miniver Cheevy”.” Colby Quarterly 22.3 (1986): 6.

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