Refugee Blues by Wystan Hugh Auden - Summary, Key Themes, Q&A Solved

"Refugee Blues" is a poignant poem written by W.H. Auden in 1939, which reflects the plight of Jewish refugees who fled Nazi Germany before World War II. The poem is known for its sombre tone and rhythm that echoes the sadness and desperation of displaced people. Auden uses the form of a blues song, traditionally a form of expression for hardship, to intensify the emotional impact.

Summary:

The poem is narrated by a Jewish refugee who speaks of the hardships and rejection they face while trying to seek asylum in various countries. The narrator describes their loss of identity, home, and citizenship, highlighting how bureaucratic systems have turned a blind eye to their suffering.

Each stanza reveals a new aspect of their hopelessness:

1. The first stanzas talk about the lack of a place they can call home and how the world seems indifferent to their situation.
2. The middle stanzas depict the endless attempts to find refuge and the cruelty of the bureaucracy, where they are denied visas and help.
3. The final stanzas describe the rising threat of violence against them and the coldness of the natural world, symbolizing the larger political indifference.

Key Themes:

1. Displacement and Exile: The refugees are homeless and stateless, cast out of their own country, with no place willing to accept them.
2. Inhumanity of Bureaucracy: The poem critiques how the cold, rigid nature of political systems fails to recognize the human cost of war and oppression.
3. Alienation and Loss of Identity: The refugees lose not only their home but also their sense of belonging and identity, becoming mere numbers in the eyes of officials.
4. Prejudice and Persecution: The poem highlights the antisemitism and prejudice that drive the refugees' plight.
5. Isolation: The narrator and their companion are isolated from the rest of the world, forced to fend for themselves in a hostile environment.

Structure and Style:

The poem uses a simple, repetitive structure, with three-line stanzas, each closing with a refrain-like line, mimicking the form of traditional blues songs. The simplicity of the structure contrasts with the deep emotional and political content, making the message even more striking.

Notable Imagery:

• The city of a million souls: Suggests how, despite being surrounded by people, the refugees are utterly alone.
• Ten million soldiers: Symbolizes the growing militarization and threat of war, which overshadows any sympathy for the refugees.
• A door standing open: Ironically contrasts the actual closed doors the refugees face when seeking asylum.
• The consul’s office: Represents bureaucratic indifference, where people’s lives are reduced to paperwork.

Conclusion:

"Refugee Blues" is a powerful commentary on the horrors faced by refugees during one of the darkest times in human history. Auden's use of the blues format amplifies the emotional depth, making it a timeless poem that resonates with displaced people and refugees even today.

UNDERSTANDING THE POEM (Q&A)

1. The title, ‘Refugee Blues’ encapsulates the theme of the poem. Comment.
   The title combines "Refugee," symbolizing displacement and statelessness, with "Blues," a musical form expressing sorrow. It reflects the refugees' deep despair and loneliness, emphasizing their suffering and rejection as they search for a home.

2. What is the poetic technique used by the poet to convey the plaintive theme of the poem?
   Auden uses the blues structure—short, repetitive stanzas with a mournful refrain—to evoke the emotional tone of loss and hopelessness. This rhythmic repetition amplifies the refugees' pain and isolation.

3. What do the references to the birds and animals made in the poem suggest?
   Birds and animals symbolize freedom and belonging in nature, contrasting sharply with the refugees' predicament. They suggest that even nature provides more acceptance and security than the political systems that deny asylum to the displaced.

4. How does the poet juxtapose the human condition with the behaviour of the political class?
   Auden contrasts the refugees' helplessness and suffering with the callous, indifferent bureaucracy of the political class. While the refugees yearn for safety, political systems focus on regulations and borders, ignoring their humanity.

5. How is the essence of the poem captured in the lines ‘two tickets to Happiness’?
   These lines reflect the irony that the refugees dream of a distant happiness, but it remains unattainable due to the barriers they face. Their longing for happiness is contrasted with the harsh realities of rejection and statelessness.

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TRY THIS OUT (Q&A)

1. Here is a list of devices used in poetry. Elaborate on their use in this poem.
   a. Refrain: The repeated lines enhance the sorrowful tone, reinforcing the hopelessness of the refugees' situation.
   b. Pathos: The poem evokes deep sympathy, as it humanizes the refugees' plight, emphasizing their pain and exclusion.
   c. Irony: The promise of freedom and happiness contrasts bitterly with the refugees’ actual experience of rejection and danger.
   d. Sarcasm: Auden’s portrayal of bureaucratic indifference, such as "the consul banged the table," highlights the cruelty disguised as formality.

2. What does the colour ‘blue’ suggest in the poem? Make a list of other colours and the emotions and moods they carry.
   Blue suggests sadness, hopelessness, and despair.
   Other colours:

• Red: Anger, danger.
• White: Purity, innocence.
• Black: Grief, death.
• Green: Hope, renewal.