In Hayden Carruth’s “In the Long Hall” the poet presents a struggling and weak human, undergoing changes, then getting to the point of stability for short moments. The speaker is an individual who is going through stages of life and the significance of the poem is addressed to the reader. The famous singer, Sting, states that “life is a roller coaster,” because most of the time we are down and full of anxiety. Occasionally, we reach the top for a quick, yet joyful moment that motivates us not to give up and win the battle of life. Our life span varies and we undergo changes every day, in every moment of our existence, facing and enduring trials. Our life is a very long journey and we all start from a narrow hall when we are born.
This hall widens and extends into a longer and more terrifying hall as we go further. During this long journey we arrive through small doors and we enter because we must, due to the fact that we cannot control our life span. First, he does not mind that he is on his knees, crawling, yet “as his skill improved he began to resent the way his tapestry was undoing itself.” He is growing up and realizes that there are many things in his living he cannot control. Later, he understands that as making his tapestry everything is unraveling in front of him. Additionally, he recognizes that the only certainty he has is his small piece of tapestry.
His tapestry symbolizes his life, which is progressing fast. He looks ahead and makes great effort in his life. (Words: 270) As the poet talks to his fellow humans, we, the readers realize that looking back or shrinking back is not a satisfactory movement. We need to keep going, gain energy, persistence to face and endure trials in order to be successful. We realize that we make mistakes, yet we correct them or at least we try. As we get more mature and full of knowledge, we do not just ride the roller coaster of life or walk down the hall and enter small doors, but find totality and inner peace, achieve goals, inspire ourselves and seek satisfaction.
The Essay on The Purpose of Life Is a Life of Purpose
Throughout my life, I have persevered through much pain and misfortune; however, instead of using my experiences as reasons for a life of retribution and reparations, I used these tragedies as motivation to making other people’s lives better. Growing up I witnessed my grandmother assist anybody she saw struggling or needed help. During the 17 years she was a part of my life, I watched her nurse ...
It is not easy to create our small life-tapestry and find certainty in it. We are aging every day and lose control upon life. Shakespeare says, “All the world’s a stage;” consequently, humans are the actors. We all have a role, and need to play accordingly to our position.
If we make a wrong step, the consequences are very hurtful. Therefore, we need to look ahead and never shrink back. “He worked as fast as / he could with trembling fingers / in futility, in frenzy, in despair,” emphasizes the poet’s situation, because all of the sudden he gets to the dead-end of his life. He is out of power as his life moving ahead; consequently, effort would not help him anymore. Finally, he arrives to his declining years. The whole poem is extremely melancholic, representing the idea of passing time.
“In the Long Hall” is an opened, free versed poem with no specific rhyme and rhythm. An extended metaphor exists through the whole poem and becomes a metaphor for life. Our life is always going to vary, whether we play our role accordingly or not, but we have the freedom to live a meaningful and joyous life just trying to move ahead until we reach our goals. (Words: 300).
