(urth) Hunter of the East

[Gerry Quinn]

From: James Wynn 



  > Gerry Quinn wrote:

  > Answered in my previous post.  
  > The rising Sun *is* in a real sense visible in the poem.  Unlike Orion.
> Just to clarify our terms. "In a real sense" means "not". 

So you don’t agree that it’s possible to see something in a mirror, or in general by its reflection?   

  > When have I ever objected to metaphor?  What I look for, though, are 
  > metaphors that are actually present, like the noose of light, which is 
  > self-evidently thrown by the Sun.

> In classical cosmology, the Sun is the god that *rules* the day. It's doesn't 
> cause it. That is why we can have a separate god that personifies "the Dawn" 
> and why Khayyam can speak of Morning throwing a stone. The Sun is as
>  incidental (given the reference to Morning) as any other celestial object.

<Shrug>  We’re discussing Fitzgerald’s poem, not classical cosmology.

  > > However, *Morning* is named. Morning throws the stone at the stars. Why 
  > > is not Morning the hunter? Why is the hunter not Eos?

  > Eos is not such a terrible interpretation.  Unlike Orion, I think a reasonable 
  > case could be made.  Nevertheless, the Sun imagery seems much stronger. 
  > If Fitzgerald had written, say, “bright fingers grasp the turret”, I’d go with Eos.  
  > But he’s making up his own metaphor, and it’s a better one IMO.

> Are you saying that because the Iliad speaks of the Dawn's "rosy fingers"? Now
>  you are using knowledge of classical literature to buttress your interpretation. 

Yes, because the well-known association is there, unlike the case in the poem where were are talking about a noose.  The noose is apparently a new metaphor dreamt up by Fitzgerald; it has no classical associations that I know of.

> But that is totally legitimate because YOU are doing it. I don't recall anywhere 
> that the sun is associate with nooses, ropes, or lariats. (Sun as cowboy?)

It’s not – I interpret the poem on its own terms.  If the poem had referred to the Huntsman’s starry sword, I’d have no hesitation in saying the Huntsman is Orion.  But he’s the Huntsman of the East, and he throws a noose of sunlight, so he’s obviously the rising Sun.

It’s not rocket science.

- Gerry Quinn 
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