The Emperor of Ice-Cream: A Critical Analysis

 

Wallace Stevens' The Emperor of Ice-Cream is a quintessential Modernist poem, marked by its enigmatic tone, juxtaposition of life and death, and the celebration of sensory experience. Published in Harmonium (1923), the poem is widely regarded for its complex imagery and philosophical undertones.

The poem consists of two equal-length stanzas, each presenting a distinct yet interrelated scenario. The first stanza is lively and filled with sensuous imagery, as the speaker directs a bustling scene of preparation. A cigar-rolling man is called upon to churn ice cream, women are instructed to dress informally, and boys are to bring flowers wrapped in old newspaper. The setting appears to be a wake or funeral, yet it is devoid of solemnity. Instead, it displays a spirit of celebration, which marks the central idea that life’s pleasures must be embraced without pretension.

In contrast, the second stanza shifts to a quieter, more intimate setting, where the deceased woman’s body lies in another room. A worn-out sheet stitched by the woman herself is placed over her, but her feet remain exposed, emphasizing the stark reality of death. The imagery of bunions and horn-like toes serves as a reminder of mortality in its most unembellished form. The lamplight is commanded to shine directly on her, stripping away any illusion and confronting the reader with the inescapable presence of death.

 

Themes and Interpretations

The Triumph of Reality Over Illusion The recurring refrain, Let be be finale of seem, encapsulates the poem’s central philosophical assertion: reality must take precedence over illusion. Stevens dismisses the idea of romanticizing death and instead suggests that human existence should be appreciated for what it is temporary, sensory, and physical.

The Sensory World as the Ultimate Reality Ice cream, a recurring motif, symbolizes indulgence, impermanence, and the fleeting joys of life. By elevating the Emperor of Ice-Cream as the supreme ruler, Stevens implies that tangible pleasures, rather than abstract or religious ideals, govern human experience.

 

Death as an Inevitable, Unvarnished Truth The second stanza’s unembellished description of the dead woman’s body serves to demystify death. The absence of sentimental mourning suggests that life and death should be acknowledged with equal clarity without unnecessary illusions.

Contrasts Between Life and Death The lively, almost carnivalesque energy of the first stanza stands in stark opposition to the cold stillness of the second. This contrast underscores the poem’s meditation on the cyclical nature of existence, where life’s revelry gives way to death’s inevitability.