Emma Lazarus, The New Colossus (750 words) - Essay Example

A Legacy of Love “The Colossus” Emma Lazarus Order no: 174962 No: of pages – 5 Premium – 6530 The Poetess Emma Lazarus: Emma Lazarus, a JewishAmerican woman and one of the first successful Jewish American authors of the later part of the nineteenth century was the fourth of seven siblings from a wealthy upper class Jewish family. She was born in 1849 to Esther Nathan Lazarus and Moses who was a prosperous sugar refiner, and spent most of her childhood around New York’s vibrant Union Square. She was recognized as an important American poet in her time and belonged to New York’s literary elite. Being a Jewish American woman, Emma had to face the challenge of belonging to two different world’s of conflict where she had to deal with inequality from both sides. Therefore Emma’s difficult experiences lent depth and power to all her writings. Emma’s complicated identity was therefore a barrier that obscured her place in American culture. Her turbulent upbringing lent an appropriate backdrop for her bold, powerful and inspiring essays and poetry protesting against the rise of anti – Semitism in the country. Even before the title of “Zionist” had been coined, Emma passionately called upon the Jews to unite and build a homeland in Palestine. “The Colossus” and its Historical Significance: Emma Lazarus’ historical poem, “The Colossus” written in 1883, gave to the American’s a credo that was praised and cherished for so many years. The words "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." (Emma Lazarus, The Colossus, 1883) are a part of the beautiful poem that was engraved on a huge bronze plaque that is hung in the Statue of Liberty Museum after about 20 years after she was laid to rest. These inspiring lines caught the imagination of our nation and continue to act as a beacon of light to show us the way we think and react to exile and freedom today. Emma wrote this historic poem at the age of 34 without even thinking of the great impact it would have on the nation many years later. She had written this poem for fundraising for the pedestal of the Liberty Statue. She lived a life of isolation and devoted all her time and energy to writing. She became ill with the terrible disease of cancer and passed away in 1887. Twenty years later, in 1903, this bronze plaque bearing Emma’s sonnet was presented by philanthropist Georgiana Schuyler and was placed on the interior wall of The Statue of Liberty’s pedestal. Then again it was removed and was mounted in the Liberty exhibit at the base of the monument. Themes in “The Colossus”: Many different themes are reflected in Emma’s sonnet, “The Colossus” some of which are Liberty, Patriotism and courage. Many of the conflicting ideals and identities that Emma dealt with in her own life are reflected or echoed through her sonnet. The main theme in her sonnet was her selfless love and courage which she tried her best to instill in the hearts and minds of the suffering Jewish people. Being an American author she believed that the ancient lands could continue with their old traditions and “storied pomp”. All the same Emma invokes her ancient Greek ideals by transforming the “brazen giant” into “The Mother of Exiles” who is an embodiment of majesty, beauty and defiance which defines itself as “The New Colossus”. She describes The Mother of Exiles as standing as a lone beacon to the world but who is still an ambiguous figure of power who speaks with “silent lips”. Her thematic representations of the ancient and the modern are filled with underlying struggles and tensions under the surface of the poem. Her compassion and grief cry out from the lines “You huddled masses yearning to breathe free” as she welcomes the immigrants from all over the world. At the same time, she hints at the discrimination and suffering these refugees were to suffer when she uses the following lines, “wretched refuse of your teeming shore”. Emma uses other conflicting themes like freedom and oppression, Jew and American and voice and silence which bring out the pain and turbulence in her sonnet. As James Russell Lowell wrote, “your sonnet gives its subject a raison detre." (James Russell Lowell, “The Colossus”, Jewish Women’s Archive) In Emma’s own words, “Wherever there is humanity, there is the theme for a great poem." This was the feeling she had when writing any poem. The themes she used were strong and went straight to the heart. A Legacy of Love: Emma Lazarus was one of the first and most renowned of the Jewish writers in the American History of literature who died at the young age of 38, but she left behind a rich legacy that is treasured and respected even today. Speaking on this issue John Hay mourns her early death and describes it as “affliction to those of her own race and kindred," and he enumerates on her death as "an irreparable loss to American literature." (John Hay, 1887) Her sonnet “The New Colossus” had become a banner statement for the rights and freedom of immigrants. Her influence can also be seen in the Emma Lazarus Federation of Jewish Women’s Clubs. Right from the 1950’s, the women who belong to the organization have dedicated themselves to fighting against racism and anti- Semitism. They strive to cultivate leadership and courage in the Jewish community while celebrating their rich culture and heritage. She was an ardent and important forerunner of the Zionist Movement and in 1900, her “Epistle to the Hebrews” was reprinted by The Federation of American Zionists. Her fearless courage during the wave of anti – Semitism when she railed against prejudice and false stereotypes is remembered till this day. I chose to give my essay on “The New Colossus” the title of “A Legacy of Love” because Emma Lazarus has given to us, not only something precious, but something which we can be proud to be associated with even today. A Few of Her Other Works: In 1871, Emma published her second book of poems titled “Admetus and other poems” for which she received rave reviews. “Miss Lazarus must be hailed by impartial literary criticism as a poet of rare original power." (Illustrated London News, 1971) She had written only one novel in her life time titled “Alide: An episode in Goethe’s Life” for which the famous Russian author had this to say of Emma, "An author who writes as you do...is not far from being himself a master." (Turgenev) All through the 1870’s Emma published her poetry in popular periodicals and magazines. The year 1876 saw her completing a drama “The Spagnoletto” which earned her a lot of praise. This drama was published privately but was never performed. In 1881, the German Jewish poet Heine, called her Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, "... a copy of an artists work made by an artists hand." (Heine, 1881) One of the most renowned Jewish poets of her time, she is remembered even today for her love and passion with which she wrote her poems though she did not enjoy the recognition that she very much deserved. References: JWA – Emma Lazarus/ Introduction www.jwa.org/exhibits/wov/lazarus Jewish Womens Archive. "JWA Emma Lazarus/Introduction." Read More