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Poet: Stephen Crane (Stephen Crane Art)
Poem: 19.
A god in wrath
Volume: The Black Riders & Other Lines
Year: Published/Written in 1905
Poem of the Day:
May 28 2009
Comment 9 of 9, added on September 16th, 2008 at 8:25 AM.
I'm surprised by the number of posters who interpret this poem as religious in a traditional sense. It seems evident that Crane is questioning either a God who can abuse his people or the invented idea of a God who can abuse his people. When taken in context of other poems, such as "The Sins of the Father," Crane indicates the rebellion of a naturalist against proscribed religious doctrine of his time. Crane and other naturalists like Twain were not shy about exposing hypocrisy of biblical interpretation.
Christina from United States
Comment 8 of 9, added on December 14th, 2007 at 12:34 AM.
What is particularly interesting is the inequality of the God and the man...it becomes an abuse for the God to touch the man, th man can't retreat, is struck with "thunderous" blows and must contend with merely biting at the feet of the God
Laura from United States
Comment 7 of 9, added on June 16th, 2007 at 1:01 PM.
I think G-d is suppose to represent someone, but not
G-d Him/Herself. To me it seems soemone is being treated very badly by someone they feel is G-d or so much higher than them they might as well be G-d. for example, a boss or an abusive parent. The people who witness this re probably too scared to question this authority figure and that's why they say what they say. That's how i interpret it.
Sarah from United States
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Comments
I'm surprised by the number of posters who interpret this poem as religious in a traditional sense. It seems evident that Crane is questioning either a God who can abuse his people or the invented idea of a God who can abuse his people. When taken in context of other poems, such as "The Sins of the Father," Crane indicates the rebellion of a naturalist against proscribed religious doctrine of his time. Crane and other naturalists like Twain were not shy about exposing hypocrisy of biblical interpretation.
Christina from United States