The poem Dance of the Dead, by Goethe is a chilling and vivid depiction of a supernatural dance of the dead, an eerie scene where the dead rise from their graves to engage in a ghostly revelry. Here’s the thing itself and a detailed analysis and interpretation of the poem:
THE warder looks down at the mid hour of night,
On the tombs that lie scatter'd below:
The moon fills the place with her silvery light,
And the churchyard like day seems to glow.
When see! first one grave, then another opes wide,
And women and men stepping forth are descried,
In cerements snow-white and trailing.
In haste for the sport soon their ankles they twitch,
And whirl round in dances so gay;
The young and the old, and the poor, and the rich,
But the cerements stand in their way;
And as modesty cannot avail them aught here,
They shake themselves all, and the shrouds soon appear
Scatter'd over the tombs in confusion.
Now waggles the leg, and now wriggles the thigh,
As the troop with strange gestures advance,
And a rattle and clatter anon rises high,
As of one beating time to the dance.
The sight to the warder seems wondrously queer,
When the villainous Tempter speaks thus in his ear:
"Seize one of the shrouds that lie yonder!"
Quick as thought it was done! and for safety he fled
Behind the church-door with all speed;
The moon still continues her clear light to shed
On the dance that they fearfully lead.
But the dancers at length disappear one by one,
And their shrouds, ere they vanish, they carefully don,
And under the turf all is quiet.
But one of them stumbles and shuffles there still,
And gropes at the graves in despair;
Yet 'tis by no comrade he's treated so ill
The shroud he soon scents in the air.
So he rattles the door—for the warder 'tis well
That 'tis bless'd, and so able the foe to repel,
All cover'd with crosses in metal.
The shroud he must have, and no rest will allow,
There remains for reflection no time;
On the ornaments Gothic the wight seizes now,
And from point on to point hastes to climb.
Alas for the warder! his doom is decreed!
Like a long-legged spider, with ne'er-changing speed,
Advances the dreaded pursuer.
The warder he quakes, and the warder turns pale,
The shroud to restore fain had sought;
When the end,—now can nothing to save him avail,—
In a tooth formed of iron is caught.
With vanishing lustre the moon's race is run,
When the bell thunders loudly a powerful One,
And the skeleton fails, crush'd to atoms.
Analysis
Setting and Atmosphere
- Opening Scene: The poem begins with a night-time setting in a churchyard, illuminated by the silvery light of the moon. This creates a mystical and somewhat serene atmosphere, which is soon disrupted by the rising of the dead.
- Imagery: The use of light and shadow, particularly the moonlight making the churchyard glow like day, adds to the eerie and otherworldly feel of the scene.
Rising of the Dead
- Grave Openings: The graves opening one by one and the dead stepping forth are described with a matter-of-fact tone, which contrasts with the supernatural nature of the event. The dead are depicted in their burial shrouds, which they soon discard as they begin to dance.
- Dance: The description of the dead dancing is both grotesque and captivating. Their movements, hindered by their shrouds, and the eventual shedding of these shrouds suggest a release from the constraints of death, albeit temporarily.
Temptation and Theft
- Warder’s Role: The warder, observing this spectacle, is tempted by a sinister voice to steal one of the shrouds. This act introduces a human element into the supernatural events, highlighting themes of temptation and fear.
- Shroud Theft: The quick action of the warder stealing a shroud and hiding behind the church door adds tension to the narrative. The warder's actions set up the subsequent chase.
Supernatural Pursuit
- Pursuer’s Desperation: One of the dead, unable to find its shroud, begins to frantically search and eventually realizes where it is. The depiction of the dead climbing and rattling at the church door heightens the sense of urgency and fear.
- Warder's Fear: The warder’s fear and the physical description of him quaking and turning pale emphasize the horror of the situation.
Climactic Confrontation
- Desperate Climb: The pursuer’s climb up the church’s Gothic ornaments to reach the warder creates a climactic moment filled with tension. The imagery of the pursuer as a spider adds to the horror.
- Inevitable Doom: The warder’s fate is sealed when he is caught by the iron-toothed pursuer. This moment is both inevitable and tragic, underscoring the consequences of his earlier actions.
Conclusion
- Bell’s Power: The poem concludes with the tolling of the bell, which has the power to end the supernatural events. The final destruction of the skeleton symbolizes the end of the night’s horrors and the return to normalcy.
Interpretation
- Themes of Temptation and Consequence: The warder’s theft of the shroud, driven by temptation, leads to dire consequences. This highlights a moral lesson about the dangers of yielding to temptation.
- Supernatural Justice: The relentless pursuit of the shroudless dead and the eventual crushing of the skeleton suggest a form of supernatural justice. The dead, disturbed from their rest, seek to reclaim what is theirs, and the warder’s actions lead to his downfall.
- Eerie Atmosphere: The poem excels in creating an eerie and suspenseful atmosphere, with detailed imagery and a steady buildup of tension. The use of moonlight, the dance of the dead, and the climactic chase all contribute to a haunting narrative.
Overall Assessment
The poem is a masterful blend of gothic horror and moral allegory, using vivid imagery and suspenseful storytelling to explore themes of temptation, fear, and supernatural retribution. The detailed descriptions and escalating tension make it a compelling read, immersing the reader in the eerie and unsettling world of the churchyard at night.
