The Martyr by Herman Melville

Indicative of the Passion of the People on the 15th Day of April, 1865

by: Herman Melville (1819-1891)



GOOD Friday was the day
Of the prodigy and crime,
When they killed him in his pity,
When they killed him in his prime
Of clemency and calm--
When with yearning he was filled
To redeem the evil-willed,
And, though conqueror, be kind;
But they killed him in his kindness,
In their madness and their blindness,
And they killed him from behind.

There is sobbing of the strong,
And a pall upon the land;
But the People in their weeping
Bare the iron hand:
Beware the People weeping
When they bare the iron hand.

He lieth in his blood--
The father in his face;
They have killed him, the Forgiver--
The Avenger takes his place,
The Avenger wisely stern,
Who in righteousness shall do
What the heavens call him to,
And the parricides remand;
For they killed him in his kindness,
In their madness and their blindness,
And his blood is on their hand.

There is sobbing of the strong,
And a pall upon the land;
But the People in their weeping
Bare the iron hand:
Beware the People weeping
When they bare the iron hand.


"The Martyr" was originally published in Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War. Herman Melville. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1866.

Analysis:

After reading "The Martyr," I get the impression that Melville's purpose in writing the poem was to associate Abraham Lincoln with Christ, our Lord. The opening line refers to Good Friday, which usually commemorates the crucifixion of Christ. It is the Friday preceeding Easter Sunday. Some may disagree, and this is warranted, but like Christ, Lincoln died on a Friday.

In the first stanza Melville poetically likens the assassination of Lincoln to the Crucifixion of Christ.

"When they killed him in his pity / When they killed him in his prime/Of clemency and calm,"

In my opinion, this describes the merciful, forgiving, and loving characteristics of both Christ and Lincoln. Lincoln could never bring salvation or forgive but was a messiah in his own right. Both men where killed in in the prime of their lives. Both had left a mark on those they worked for, but still had so much to give. The assassin murdered Lincoln despite his kindness. The Jews were instrumental in killing Christ despite the passive and mercy He exhibited to all men.

In the third stanza Melville compares Lincoln to the "Forgiver" which is, of course, similar to Christ. "They have killed him, the Forgiver" is followed by the line "The Avenger takes his place." One might ask, "Avenger"? I believe the "Avenger" is the people. The people are left to take vindicate both the work of Christ and Lincoln. Some suggest that Lincoln was the "Avenger" could also be Lincoln because he is described as "wisely stern."

Melville might laugh at my feeble analysis, but who knows. I think he would agree that the beauty of poetry is that it is open to exploration and interpretation. I know I would be tickled pink if my poetry was still be discussed over 14o years after publication.