View of the Capitol from the Library of Congress by Elizabeth Bishop Summary
Elizabeth Bishop’s poem View of the Capitol from the Library of Congress depicts a situation in Washington, D.C., in which the speaker watches the Capitol building, a military band performing music, and how the surroundings influences the sound and pictures.
Describing the Capitol Building
The poem begins with the speaker staring at the Capitol dome. The sunshine passes across it, making it look brilliant yet rough in texture. A lunette (a tiny crescent-shaped window or arch) reflects light and appears to gaze blankly. The speaker compares this to a “old wall-eyed horse,” implying that the window appears dead and unfocused, looking aimlessly. This generates the impression that the Capitol, a magnificent emblem of authority and power, is aloof, disinterested, or even unfeeling.
The Air Force Band Playing Music
The speaker then focuses his attention to the Air Force Band, which is performing on the Capitol steps. The band members are clothed in traditional blue uniforms and play their instruments with zest and intensity. Despite their attempts, the music does not fully reach the speaker. The sound is characterized as arriving in fragments—sometimes loud and clear, sometimes weak, and sometimes absolutely silent. This is unusual since there is no wind or other natural disturbance that might interfere with the music.
The Role of the Trees
The speaker begins to consider why the music is inconsistent and concludes that the trees between them and the band may be the cause. The trees appear to “intervene,” which means they impede or absorb the sound in some way. The speaker explains this in a romantic fashion, seeing the trees catching the melody in their leaves and amassing “gold-dust.” This picture implies that the music is delicate and fragile, unable to move through the trees freely. The leaves get thick beneath the weight of the sound, and the song fades before it reaches the listener.
The Flags and the Band’s Efforts
The speaker also observes little flags nearby, which are always waving in the air. Rather from seeming robust and dynamic, they appear weak and “limp,” moving in a lifeless manner. This contrasts with the band’s determined efforts to play their instruments. Despite the musicians’ hard labor, their music appears to fade into the background, as if their performance is worthless.
A Plea for the Music to Be Heard
In the poem’s last words, the speaker appears to be pleading with the “great shades” (perhaps enormous trees or shadows) to move aside so that the music might be heard properly. The brass instruments in the band aim to “boom,” which means they should be loud and strong. However, due to natural barriers, their full influence is not felt. The poem concludes with a note of dissatisfaction or longing, as if the speaker desires a clearer, more direct experience with the music but is unable to have it.
An Analysis of Elizabeth Bishop’s View of the Capitol from the Library of Congress
Elizabeth Bishop’s poem View of the Capitol from the Library of Congress presents a vivid yet thought-provoking image of power, communication, and barriers. While the poem describes a specific moment—a view of the Capitol, a military band playing, trees intervening, and flags waving—it also conveys deeper messages about the limits of authority and the struggles of communication. Through her use of imagery, symbolism, and contrast, Bishop highlights how messages from powerful institutions can be distorted, how efforts can go unrecognized, and how nature and human constructs interact in complex ways.
Power and Distance in the Capitol’s Imagery
The poem’s opening lines focus on the Capitol building, a well-known symbol of government and authority. However, Bishop does not describe it as a grand or majestic structure; instead, she portrays it as somewhat lifeless and indifferent. The light is described as “heavy” and “coarse” on the dome, suggesting an oppressive atmosphere rather than one of enlightenment or openness. The mention of a “small lunette” that reflects the light makes the building resemble a “big white old wall-eyed horse.” This comparison is significant because a wall-eyed horse appears blank and unfocused, implying that the Capitol is detached, inattentive, or unaware of its surroundings.
This description suggests that power, while physically imposing, may lack true awareness of or connection with the people it governs. The Capitol stands as a distant, almost blind entity, symbolizing an institution that may not fully comprehend or respond to the needs of those it oversees. This theme of power being removed from the people runs throughout the poem, reinforcing the idea that authority can sometimes be disconnected from reality.
The Air Force Band and the Struggle of Communication
One of the most striking images in the poem is that of the Air Force Band playing on the Capitol’s east steps. The band, dressed in “Air Force blue,” is putting forth a strong effort, playing “hard and loud.” However, despite their volume, the music does not come through clearly. The speaker describes how the sound reaches them in “snatches,” fluctuating between being “dim then keen, then mute.” The inconsistency of the sound is odd, as there is “no breeze” to explain why the music is fading in and out.
This breakdown in communication serves as a powerful metaphor for how messages, particularly those from institutions of authority, often fail to reach their intended audiences in a clear and complete manner. The band’s music represents an attempt at conveying meaning, yet obstacles—both natural and societal—interfere with its transmission. The use of the word “queer” emphasizes how strange it is that something as loud as a brass band could still fail to be fully heard. This reflects a broader issue in society: even when power tries to communicate, something often distorts or blocks the message before it reaches the people.
The Trees as a Symbol of Barriers
Bishop attributes the distortion of sound to the presence of giant trees that “stand in between” the band and the listener. She suggests that the trees “must intervene,” catching the music in their leaves “like gold-dust.” While the phrase “gold-dust” gives the impression of something valuable or beautiful, the weight of the collected sound makes “each big leaf sag.” This creates an image of music being absorbed rather than transmitted, weighed down rather than released.
The trees symbolize barriers—whether they are physical, social, political, or psychological—that prevent clear communication between authority and the public. Just as the trees block the sound waves from reaching their destination, various layers of bureaucracy, misinformation, or societal divisions can obstruct direct and honest exchanges. The image of sagging leaves suggests exhaustion, as if carrying the burden of incomplete or muffled messages over time has taken a toll.
Additionally, the trees may represent nature’s quiet resistance to human efforts. While the band plays loudly in a show of order and discipline, the organic presence of the trees absorbs and disrupts that performance. This interplay between human effort and natural forces suggests that no matter how structured and authoritative a system may be, nature—or the unpredictable elements of life—will always have an influence.
The Flags as Weak Symbols of Power
National flags are often symbols of strength, pride, and identity, but in this poem, they appear weak and ineffective. The speaker describes the flags as feeding “their limp stripes into the air.” The word “limp” indicates a lack of movement or energy, which contrasts with the usual image of flags flying proudly in the wind. Instead of standing tall, they seem to droop, as if their symbolic power is fading or unconvincing.
This depiction suggests a questioning of patriotic symbols and whether they truly carry the strength they are meant to convey. If the Capitol is distant and unaware, the band’s music is blocked, and the flags are weak, then what remains of the authority and pride they are supposed to represent? Bishop subtly critiques the way nations use symbols to project power, while in reality, those symbols may not hold the same force or influence.
The Ending: Frustration and Unresolved Communication
Toward the end of the poem, the speaker expresses a desire for the trees to move aside so the music can be fully heard. The phrase “Great shades, edge over, give the music room” sounds almost like a plea. However, there is no indication that the trees actually shift or that the music reaches its full clarity. Instead, the band continues its efforts, wanting to “boom – boom – boom.” The repetition of “boom” mimics the sound of a drum or a brass instrument, but because it trails off, it reinforces the idea that the music never truly breaks through.
The lack of resolution leaves the reader with a sense of frustration, mirroring real-world struggles where voices are not always heard, efforts are not always recognized, and authority does not always connect with the people it governs. The poem does not offer a solution, which makes its message even more powerful. It reflects the reality that barriers—whether in communication, politics, or personal relationships—are not always easily overcome.
Conclusion
Elizabeth Bishop’s View of the Capitol from the Library of Congress is more than a simple description of a scene; it is a meditation on power, communication, and the obstacles that prevent clear understanding. Through her imagery and symbolism, Bishop critiques how authority can be detached and unseeing, how efforts at communication can be distorted, and how barriers—whether natural or societal—can prevent meaningful exchanges. The poem ultimately leaves the reader with a feeling of incompleteness, emphasizing the ongoing struggle to bridge the gaps between institutions, individuals, and truth.
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