Explication of "Miniver Cheevy" by Edwin Arlington Robinson

    Edwin Arlington Robinson uses many examples of allusion to describe who Miniver Cheevy is and it helps illustrate what his inner desire is. In the first stanza, Miniver is described as “a child of scorn [...] He wept that he was ever born”. Though this does not involve allusion, this syntax makes the reader aware of how Cheevy already sees himself. Robinson writes that Miniver “loved the days of old” and “dreamed and rested from his labors; He dreamed of Thebes and Camelot, and Priam’s neighbors”. This is the first example of allusion in the poem. The places he dreamed of all have similarities associated with both potency and tragedy. Thebes is known for stories such as Cadmus, Oedipus, and Dionysus. Cadmus was known as the founder of Thebes and a soldier in the Trojan War, while Oedipus is an infamous character in a three-story play by Sophocles. The story centers on a man who learns that his fate is his to kill his father and marry his mother and the horrific journey that unravels. Dionysus is known as the god of wine and winemaking as well as theatre. Something that is also interesting about Dionysus was that he was known as a “dying god”. Camelot is the castle and court associated with the legendary King Arthur. It was said to be a perfect inspiration for romance writers. Priam was the king of Troy during the Trojan War and his name means “exceptionally courageous”. There is so much information in these two short lines inform readers about Miniver Cheevy-how he is a dreamer and nostalgic of the past though he was not there to necessarily experience it. He also “loved the Medici” which was a political dynasty belonging to a banking family and later became a royal house. It is evident that Cheevy longed for this romanticized and illustrious lifestyle that cease to exist in hs current time period. In the sixth stanza he says he “eyed a khaki suit with loathing” and “missed the medieval grace of iron clothing”. An interesting and provocative use of syntax that Robinson uses is when Cheevy is describing how much contempt he has for the gold he attains but knows that he could not live without it, “Miniver scorned the gold he sought, But sore annoyed was he without it”. The last line of the poem was extremely thought provoking especially after reading up on Thebes, Camelot, and Priam. The last two lines are “Minver coughed and called it fate, And kept on drinking”. These allusions all associate with drinking in a certain aspect of their story are culture so Robinson incorporating that in his last line creates a powerful impact not only on the character but the audience listening to the poem. It is powerful because Miniver Cheevy in a way, is living out what he misses from the past in the current time; it is the only thing he can do and the only thing he can hold onto.