James Thomson’s Poem, City of Dreadful Night

James Thomson’s poem ‘The City of Dreadful Night’ heavily features pessimism, uncertainty and restless toward the transition of modernisation going through the country. The uncertainty reflects the changes taking place in Victorian Era; the poem was written in 1873, only a few decades after the Industrial Revolution had taken place. Not only that, but also doubt and scepticism about religion was emerging into public discourse along with new scientific and intellectual ideas breaking though (Wild). Thomson’s poem mirrors this restless and the uncertainty toward the modernisation of the Victorian Era. This is portrayed through the formal features of the poem; rhythm and shape convey the restless that the narrator of the poem is experiencing not only mentally as well as physically. Also a want to return to the traditional culture that provided certainty and security. Furthermore, the use of imagery conveys the harsh, dark nature of modernity that the persona experience: there is a lack of colour and description of inhabitants of the city that expresses feelings of isolation and depression. Finally, the motif of the temporal setting of night conveys the feeling that the modern city is unnatural.

The poems formal features draw upon influences from past writers to highlight the decaying nature of the traditional and how modernisation is leading to this decay. The use of the rhythm demonstrates this. Iambic pentameter is used throughout the canto. During the late 19th Century, the iambic pentameter was becoming less relied upon by poets. This was being exchanged for a less rigid and strict rhythm, experimenting in new techniques. The iambic pentameter was used by writers such as Shakespeare and Milton who were renowned for their wor...

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...o draw attention to the grotesque images of the poem along with enhancing the restlessness throughout which mirrors the restlessness the people are feeling. Through a lack of imagery of the people, the indifference and crisis of purpose is conveyed along with the harshness of the city. The colours used to describe nature convey nature as being tarnished, that it is no longer pure because of modernisation. Whilst the absence of colour used to describe the city highlights the feeling that modernisation has taken life and vivid beauty from the city. Finally, by use of temporal setting, Thomson conveys how the cities are empty of religion, that these modern cities feel unnatural. Thus, through these techniques, Thomson is able to create a sense of despair and uncertainty towards the modernisation of the city.

Works Cited

Thomson, James. 1874. City Of Dreadful Night