“Musee des Beaux Arts” by W.H. Auden: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Musee des Beaux Arts” by W. H. Auden

“Musee des Beaux Arts” by W. H. Auden, published in 1940 in the collection “Another Time,” is a meditation on suffering and indifference, exploring the idea that human suffering often occurs unnoticed and unacknowledged while life goes on. Auden uses the imagery of classical paintings to illustrate this concept, such as the fall of Icarus, which is depicted as a minor event in the grand scheme of things. The poem’s tone is contemplative and reflective, with a hint of melancholy and irony.

Text: “Musee des Beaux Arts” by W. H. Auden

About suffering they were never wrong,
The old Masters: how well they understood
Its human position: how it takes place
While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along;
How, when the aged are reverently, passionately waiting
For the miraculous birth, there always must be
Children who did not specially want it to happen, skating
On a pond at the edge of the wood:
They never forgot
That even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course
Anyhow in a corner, some untidy spot
Where the dogs go on with their doggy life and the torturer’s horse
Scratches its innocent behind on a tree.

In Breughel’s Icarus, for instance: how everything turns away
Quite leisurely from the disaster; the ploughman may
Have heard the splash, the forsaken cry,
But for him it was not an important failure; the sun shone
As it had to on the white legs disappearing into the green
Water, and the expensive delicate ship that must have seen
Something amazing, a boy falling out of the sky,
Had somewhere to get to and sailed calmly on

Annotations: “Musee des Beaux Arts” by W. H. Auden

Line	Annotation
About suffering they were never wrong,	The “old Masters” refers to classical artists who accurately depicted human suffering in their art.
The old Masters: how well they understood	Emphasizes the depth of understanding these artists had about human nature and suffering.
Its human position: how it takes place	Suggests suffering occurs amid everyday activities, often unnoticed.
While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along;	Illustrates the normalcy of life continuing for others while suffering happens.
How, when the aged are reverently, passionately waiting	Shows the intense emotions and expectations of the elderly, possibly for miraculous events.
For the miraculous birth, there always must be	Could allude to a biblical scene, juxtaposing significant events with mundane ones.
Children who did not specially want it to happen, skating	Introduces children, indifferent to the awaited miracle, engaged in their own pleasures.
On a pond at the edge of the wood:	Locates the children’s activity in a serene, natural setting, away from the main event.
They never forgot	Refers back to the old Masters, emphasizing their awareness of human dynamics.
That even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course	Suggests that extreme suffering or sacrifice is often overlooked or accepted as inevitable.
Anyhow in a corner, some untidy spot	Indicates that significant events may occur in neglected or overlooked places.
Where the dogs go on with their doggy life and the torturer’s horse	Life goes on for the animals, oblivious to human tragedies around them.
Scratches its innocent behind on a tree.	Adds a touch of mundane detail to the scene, highlighting the indifference of nature.
In Breughel’s Icarus, for instance: how everything turns away	References Pieter Bruegel’s painting where Icarus’s fall is ignored by those around him.
Quite leisurely from the disaster; the ploughman may	Suggests a casual disregard or unawareness of the tragedy by ordinary people.
Have heard the splash, the forsaken cry,	Implies the ploughman might be aware of Icarus’s fall but remains detached.
But for him it was not an important failure; the sun shone	Emphasizes the ploughman’s indifference, as life and nature continue unaffected.
As it had to on the white legs disappearing into the green	Vivid imagery of Icarus’s legs as he falls into the sea, unnoticed.
Water, and the expensive delicate ship that must have seen	Suggests that even those capable of acknowledging the tragedy (the ship) are indifferent.
Something amazing, a boy falling out of the sky,	Describes the extraordinary event of Icarus falling from the sky.
Had somewhere to get to and sailed calmly on	Conveys the ship’s indifference as it has its own agenda, continuing despite the tragedy.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Musee des Beaux Arts” by W. H. Auden

Device	Definition	Example	Explanation
Alliteration	The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words.	“While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along”	The repetition of the “w” sound creates a sense of rhythm and emphasizes the actions of the people.
Allusion	A reference to a famous person, place, event, or work of literature.	“Breughel’s Icarus”	The poem alludes to the painting “Landscape with the Fall of Icarus” by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, which depicts the myth of Icarus falling from the sky.
Antithesis	The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas or images.	“How, when the aged are reverently, passionately waiting / For the miraculous birth, there always must be / Children who did not specially want it to happen”	The poem contrasts the anticipation of the elderly with the indifference of the children.
Consonance	The repetition of consonant sounds within words.	“How it takes place / While someone else is eating or opening a window”	The repetition of the “t” sound emphasizes the actions of the people.
Enjambment	The continuation of a sentence or thought beyond the end of a line of poetry.	“The sun shone / As it had to on the white legs disappearing into the green”	The enjambment creates a sense of urgency and momentum.
Imagery	The use of vivid language to create mental images.	“The expensive delicate ship that must have seen / Something amazing, a boy falling out of the sky”	The imagery of the ship sailing calmly on while Icarus falls creates a stark contrast.
Irony	A contrast between what is expected or intended and what actually happens.	“The torturer’s horse / Scratches its innocent behind on a tree”	The irony lies in the contrast between the horse’s innocent action and the torturer’s cruel deed.
Metaphor	A comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as.”	“Its human position”	The poem metaphorically compares suffering to a human position, suggesting that it is a common and unavoidable part of life.
Meter	The rhythmic pattern of a poem.	The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which consists of five unstressed syllables followed by five stressed syllables.	The meter contributes to the poem’s formal and reflective tone.
Oxymoron	A figure of speech combining contradictory terms.	“Dreadful martyrdom”	The phrase “dreadful martyrdom” combines the ideas of suffering and sacrifice.
Paradox	A statement that seems contradictory but expresses a truth.	“They never forgot / That even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course”	The paradox suggests that even the most terrible suffering must eventually end.
Personification	Giving human qualities to non-human things.	“The sun shone / As it had to”	The poem personifies the sun by suggesting that it has an obligation to shine.
Repetition	The repeated use of words, phrases, or sounds.	“The old Masters: how well they understood”	The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the importance of the old Masters’ understanding of suffering.
Simile	A comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as.”	“How it takes place / While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along”	The simile compares suffering to the everyday actions of others.
Symbolism	The use of objects, characters, or events to represent something else.	The painting of Icarus	The painting symbolizes the indifference of the world to human suffering.
Tone	The author’s attitude toward the subject matter.	Contemplative, reflective, and melancholy	The tone is created through the use of imagery, symbolism, and language.
Understatement	A figure of speech in which something is expressed less strongly than it could be.	“The sun shone / As it had to”	The understatement suggests that the sun’s shining is a matter of course, even in the face of tragedy.
Verbal irony	A figure of speech in which what is said is different from what is meant.	“The torturer’s horse / Scratches its innocent behind on a tree”	The verbal irony lies in the contrast between the horse’s innocent action and the torturer’s cruel deed.
Visual imagery	The use of words to create mental images.	“The white legs disappearing into the green”	The visual imagery of Icarus falling into the water creates a sense of loss and despair.
Word choice	The selection of specific words to achieve a particular effect.	“Dully,” “Indifference,” “Disaster”	The word choice contributes to the poem’s somber and reflective tone.

Themes: “Musee des Beaux Arts” by W. H. Auden

• Human Indifference to Suffering
• Auden explores how individuals often remain indifferent to the suffering of others. This theme is vividly illustrated in the lines where everyday activities continue unaffected by tragedies: “While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along.” The poem portrays this detachment through various scenarios, emphasizing the ongoing nature of life irrespective of others’ distress.
• The Isolation of Individual Experience
• The poem reflects on the isolation of personal experiences, particularly suffering, which goes unnoticed by the world at large. This is highlighted through the depiction of the children skating oblivious to the miraculous birth: “Children who did not specially want it to happen, skating / On a pond at the edge of the wood.” The separation of individual experiences from the collective awareness underscores a profound existential solitude.
• The Juxtaposition of the Mundane and the Extraordinary
• Auden masterfully juxtaposes mundane daily life with significant events. This juxtaposition is encapsulated in the portrayal of Icarus’s fall as a minor backdrop to ordinary life: “the ploughman may / Have heard the splash, the forsaken cry, / But for him it was not an important failure; the sun shone / As it had to on the white legs disappearing into the green / Water.” The contrast between the dramatic and the everyday highlights how extraordinary events are often submerged in the flow of normal life.
• The Role of Art in Reflecting Life
• The reference to the old Masters and the specific mention of Breughel’s painting of Icarus serve to explore the role of art in capturing and reflecting human life and emotions. Art is shown as a medium that remembers and records human suffering and indifference in ways that life itself may not acknowledge: “In Breughel’s Icarus, for instance: how everything turns away / Quite leisurely from the disaster.” Through this, Auden suggests that while life may overlook suffering, art retains and communicates these profound human truths.

Literary Theories and “Musee des Beaux Arts” by W. H. Auden

Literary Theory	Description	Application to “Musée des Beaux Arts”	References from the Poem
Formalism	Focuses on a close reading of the text itself, analyzing form, style, and structure without considering external contexts.	Formalist analysis would concentrate on Auden’s use of structure, imagery, and tone to convey themes of indifference and suffering. The poem’s layout, rhyme scheme, and choice of words are all key to understanding its emotional impact.	“About suffering they were never wrong, / The old Masters” – The poem begins by directly engaging with art’s portrayal of human conditions, setting the formal tone and theme.
Marxist Criticism	Examines literature based on its portrayal of social classes, economic conditions, and power dynamics.	A Marxist approach might explore how the poem comments on the indifference of those in comfortable or privileged positions towards the suffering of others. It highlights the social disconnect and the normalization of suffering by those unafflicted.	“the expensive delicate ship that must have seen / Something amazing, a boy falling out of the sky, / Had somewhere to get to and sailed calmly on” – Represents the elite’s disregard for tragedy that does not directly affect their goals or lives.
Reader-Response Criticism	Focuses on the reader’s experience and interpretation of the text, suggesting that meaning is created in the interaction between the reader and the text.	This theory would analyze how different readers might perceive the poem’s themes of suffering and human indifference based on their personal experiences and feelings. The poem invites the reader to reflect on their own reactions to suffering and indifference.	“In Breughel’s Icarus, for instance: how everything turns away / Quite leisurely from the disaster” – This line might evoke different feelings and thoughts about personal and societal responses to others’ misfortunes.

Critical Questions about “Musee des Beaux Arts” by W. H. Auden

Literary Works Similar to “Musee des Beaux Arts” by W. H. Auden

1. “The Shield of Achilles” by W. H. Auden: Similar to “Musée des Beaux Arts,” this poem also combines historical and mythical imagery to explore themes of human suffering and indifference.
2. “Landscape with the Fall of Icarus” by William Carlos Williams: This poem also reflects on Pieter Bruegel’s painting of Icarus, focusing on the unnoticed fall of Icarus, akin to Auden’s treatment of human indifference to suffering.
3. “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold: Arnold’s reflection on human misery and the retreat of faith echoes Auden’s contemplation of suffering amidst the mundane.
4. “Not Waving but Drowning” by Stevie Smith: This poem portrays the theme of misunderstanding and indifference towards an individual’s distress, resonating with Auden’s depiction of unnoticed suffering.
5. “An Irish Airman Foresees His Death” by W. B. Yeats: Yeats’ poem about the detached reflection on life and death by an airman parallels Auden’s portrayal of existential isolation and the overlooked tragedies in human life.

Suggested Readings: “Musee des Beaux Arts” by W. H. Auden

1. Kinney, Arthur F. “Auden, Bruegel, and ‘Musée Des Beaux Arts.’” College English, vol. 24, no. 7, 1963, pp. 529–31. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/372881. Accessed 21 Aug. 2024.
2. Bluestone, Max. “The Iconographic Sources of Auden’s “Musée Des Beaux Arts’’.” Modern Language Notes, vol. 76, no. 4, 1961, pp. 331–36. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/3040513. Accessed 21 Aug. 2024.
3. RAICHURA, SURESH, et al. “A Conversation with W. H Auden.” Southwest Review, vol. 60, no. 1, 1975, pp. 27–36. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43468693. Accessed 21 Aug. 2024.
4. de Vries, Lyckle. “Bruegel’s ‘Fall of Icarus’: Ovid or Solomon?” Simiolus: Netherlands Quarterly for the History of Art, vol. 30, no. 1/2, 2003, pp. 5–18. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/3780948. Accessed 21 Aug. 2024.
5. Rumens, Carol. “Poem of the Week: Musée des Beaux Arts by W.H. Auden.” The Guardian, 13 Jan. 2014. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jan/13/poem-week-musee-beaux-arts-wh-auden.

Representative Quotations of “Musee des Beaux Arts” by W. H. Auden

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“About suffering they were never wrong, / The old Masters”	These opening lines introduce the theme of the poem: the profound understanding of human suffering by the old Masters, specifically referring to the European painters.	Formalism – Focuses on the text itself, analyzing how the structure and choice of words set the thematic tone of understanding suffering.
“how it takes place / While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along;”	This passage highlights the everyday backdrop against which significant personal tragedies unfold, unnoticed.	Marxist Criticism – Examines the social dynamics and indifference of individuals absorbed in their own routine lives, oblivious to others’ suffering.
“In Breughel’s Icarus, for instance: how everything turns away / Quite leisurely from the disaster;”	Refers directly to Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s painting, illustrating the indifference of the world to the tragedy of Icarus falling into the sea.	New Historicism – Links the text to historical and cultural artworks, analyzing how Auden embeds art within poetry to critique societal attitudes.
“the expensive delicate ship that must have seen / Something amazing, a boy falling out of the sky,”	This describes the ship’s potential witness to Icarus’s fall, suggesting its indifference despite the remarkable nature of the event.	Reader-Response Criticism – Invites readers to ponder why the ship, representative of society, chooses to ignore the remarkable yet tragic event, reflecting on societal values.
“But for him it was not an important failure; the sun shone / As it had to on the white legs disappearing into the green / Water,”	The ploughman’s indifference to Icarus’s plight is underscored by his return to work, as nature itself remains unaffected by human tragedy.	Ecocriticism – Considers how human events are portrayed as insignificant in the larger context of natural and ongoing life processes, highlighting the poem’s environmental consciousness.