“What Lays Between the Two”
Within history there has always been this theory of spirits, ghosts and other life forms. This notion has entertained the imagination of many, while others believe that humans are the only ones living on Earth. Nevertheless, through enough gathered evidence there are suggestions that there may be other life forms. Generally, everyone is accustomed to seeing certain things with a naïve or biased perspective. Consequently, we fail to acknowledge the possibility that there could be another life form looming through the world. In Anthony Hecht`s poem “The End of the Weekend” he utilizes the influence of another life form in his poem. Through several scenes indulged with vivid imagery and particular themes like the dead and sin and the dark tone it is evident that the presence of another life form shapes the outlook of this poem.
In the beginning of the poem, Hecht`s introduces a setting with a rather dark tone to it. “A dying firelight slides along the quirt.” (Hecht Line 1) This line suggests that there are no actual lights but rather a fire was started to produce light. It seems like the outside setting is placed in the middle of a far place with open spaces with the indications of open water, windy weather and also the dying firelight. The idea that ghosts or another life form is present is in affect due to the creepy and endless wind as Hecht`s describes it. “Outside, across the lake, an endless wind whips at the headstones of the dead and wails.” (8) This leads one to question the presence of the graveyard in that particular area, and also if there are any wandering spirits, ghosts or zombies lurking in the area? Also there could be a possibility that the cabin itself has been there a very long time. From inside the cabin Hecht describes the funny images and shadows that are cast against the wall. “The eventual shapes of all our formless prayers, This dark cabin of loose imaginings.” (13, 14) This suggests that the young couple may not be entirely alone as they intended to be. It is clear that the boy in the poem does not feel fully safe. “Although we are alone, I lock the door.” (12) Hecht`s introduces the climax of the poem, “And then the noise. Something is dropped. It grates against the attic beams.” (17, 18) This sudden action makes one clearly feel that there could be either a rodent running around or someone else is truly in the cabin. From the beginning, it introduces that the young couple is in someone else`s home. It could be that the young couple is in the man`s father cabin or perhaps it could be an inheritance gift from the late father. Considerably the sudden object that is dropped is done at the moment the young couple is starting to engage in a romantic moment. Indeed if there is a person or some type of spirit in the cabin, at this point it does not want the young couple engaged in any romantic affairs. This opens the theme of possible sin in the poem. Hecht describes in the third stanza, “The eventual shapes of all our formless prayers.” One can say that this line is rather dark and plays into the idea that the young couple`s actions of pre-marital sex are careless. When people sin they are careless and have no recollection sometimes of the moral consequences of their sins. It is evident the two individuals are falling into the plight of pre-marital relations and will not care about the later repercussions that can occur. This is evident in the later portions of the poem. “She rubs against me and I feel her nails.”(11) The couple seems particularly juvenile due to Hecht`s detail of the girl reading a novel of Captain Marryat, who wrote adventure books for children. In addition, the instances of the girl also wearing an attire of skin tight jeans and shirt, and the initial indications of the cowboy all stimulate the reader`s perception and imagination towards the potential youth in the poem.
The usage of a dark tone seems to run throughout this