Firey loyalty

In Heman’s Casabianca, the most prominent image is that of fire. It continues throughout the poem in various forms and intensities and dominates all other imagery in the writing. The oft-mentioned flames lead themselves to present a feeling of desperation that grows towards the end of the poem until the climax. Additionally, unending loyalty is a striking image that runs through the work. While prominent, this picture of devotion is subordinate to the flames.

While the imagery of fire lends itself to easy interpretation, the idea of unending loyalty sends a more powerful message. Throughout the poem, the child refuses to remove himself from his position unless ordered to do so by his commanding officer, his father. The son does not realize his father had passed. The powerful loyalty of the son can be inspiring, yet terrifying if the implications are understood. The loyalty is his undoing; he refuses to leave the boat without permission. It is as if he is trained to only take orders. A sense of self and self-preservation does not seem to exist. It seems almost robotic in the sense that the son cannot understand humanity’s greatest goal: to survive. Moreover, the son is robotic in that he cannot think for himself. There seems to be no self-awareness, but rather his existence is commanded by being a follower.

Though written in the early 1800s, a modern-day approach to this poem can explain it as a critique of society. Hemans could be suggesting society’s willingness to blindly follow the government or the leaders of a society. In this literal case, the absolute trust placed in the chieftain leads to the demise of his son. In more general, applied terms, Hemans could be suggesting that the dependency that grows out of a society for its government can be beneficial but terrifying when crisis erupts. Dependency leads to less of a “think-for-yourself” attitude in society and without use, it gets pushed aside. Hemans paints a beautiful scene of heroic loyalty while simultaneously shows the flaws.