The Piazza

Herman Melville’s “The Piazza” unfolds as a complex exploration of the American experience. The narrative is steeped in a tension sparked by the juxtaposition of Appearance Versus Reality, captured through a dualistic interplay of vivid color against primal light or darkness. This dichotomy hints at the deeper unity and complexity of the story’s composition. The story’s dualistic arrangement of imagery underscores its thematic coherence and multifaceted nature.

Melville’s narrative also takes on a parodic tone, particularly in its treatment of Romanticism. The act of gazing at “sublime” landscapes is turned on its head, evolving from a source of awe to an element of self-parody in the sheer amount of descriptive reflections and internal monologues. This parodic tone is also shown in the narrator’s references. For example, it is present in his ironic admiration of Don Quixote, whom he deems the “sagest sage that ever lived” (Paragraph 28), despite Quixote’s own notorious misinterpretations of reality. This tone underscores the narrator’s internal restlessness, irritation, and sardonic irony.

Melville’s narrative in “The Piazza” incorporates a distinctive, form of dark humor, subverting traditional literary tropes such as the hero’s journey and the rescue of the damsel in distress. This is exemplified in the comparison of Marianna to “a Tahiti girl, secreted for a sacrifice” (Paragraph 38), suggesting a grim fate for her character, contrary to conventional romantic narratives. Unlike British literature, steeped in traditions of landscapes adorned with castles and a rich tapestry of cultural, societal, and religious contexts, American writers like Melville navigated a different literary terrain. The narrator’s own perceptions are heavily influenced by the romantic literature he consumes, as seen in his musings, “what time I could spare from reading A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and all about Titania” (Paragraph 25). This romantic lens ultimately leads to a profound sense of disillusionment when confronted with the harsh realities of the American landscape.

In contrast to the established European literary scene, American writers faced the vast, untamed expanse of nature, a landscape that did not confine the imagination with traditional aesthetic boundaries. This concept of the American landscape’s sublime and unyielding nature is a recurring element in Melville’s work, reflecting the indomitable spirit of the American wilderness. Melville’s narrative thus weaves a diverse range of themes that are intricately intertwined, contrasting the romantic ideals ingrained by European literature with the rugged, untamed reality of the American experience. This juxtaposition serves to underscore the disparity between idealized visions and the stark truths of life in the American wilderness, lending a unique depth and complexity to the story’s exploration of human experiences and perceptions.

Melville’s “The Piazza” is rich in literary allusions from the start of the story, which starkly contrasts with the grim realities the narrator eventually faces. This romantic veneer, suggested through references to grand biblical scenes—“old Greylock, like a Sinai, till one thinks swart Moses must be climbing among scathed hemlocks there” (Paragraph 22), sets up an expectation of a landscape imbued with mythical and epic qualities. However, this romantic imagery is quickly undermined by the harshness of the actual landscape. The narrator, influenced by the romantic visions of authors like Edmund Spenser—“not even one Edmund Spenser, who had been there—so he wrote me—further than that to reach fairy-land, it must be voyaged to, and with faith” (Paragraph 27)—is ill-prepared for the reality he encounters.

Marianna, far from embodying the archetypal maiden of romantic tales, instead reflects the true, often grim, living conditions of the mountain inhabitants of that era. Described as residing in “a small abode—mere palanquin” (Paragraph 36), she represents a life marked by decay, poverty, and a stark departure from the idyllic images of romantic literature. The landscape, which the narrator had envisioned as a sublime, majestic setting, reveals itself to be rugged and unforgiving, a sentiment encapsulated in the phrase “Foot-sore enough and weary” (Paragraph 32).

Through this stark juxtaposition, Melville critiques the romanticized portrayal of nature and landscape common in the literature of his time. The story’s progression from romantic ideals to a confrontation with harsh reality reflects a broader commentary on the divergence between literary romanticization and the practical challenges of life in rural America.

This transition is echoed in a poignant quote from Melville’s “Pierre”: “Silence is the only voice of our god” (Chapter 3). This statement, while seemingly simple, profoundly challenges the conventional romantic portrayal of nature as a source of divine inspiration and grandeur. It posits a more contemplative, introspective approach to understanding one’s place in the world—a recognition that sometimes, the most profound truths are found not in grand declarations, but in quiet acceptance.

This thematic shift is further highlighted in Marianna’s despairing admission in “The Piazza”: “Prayer and pillow” (Paragraph 90). Marianna’s words reflect a disillusionment with traditional sources of solace and comfort. Her reliance on prayer and rest, typical means of seeking peace and resolution, proves futile in her struggle against the solitude and harshness of her existence. This mirrors the broader narrative shift from Romanticism to Realism, as traditional sources of comfort and explanation (like nature’s grandeur or divine intervention) give way to a more sobering recognition of life’s complexities and challenges.

Marianna’s experience, juxtaposed with the quote from “Pierre,” underscores Melville’s exploration of a world where the traditional romantic assurances offer little consolation or understanding. It suggests a move toward a more existential acceptance of reality, where silence—representing introspection and acceptance—becomes a profound response to life’s complexities. This narrative shift in “The Piazza” thus reflects a deeper philosophical questioning prevalent in Melville’s work, challenging the reader to reconsider the nature of truth, solace, and understanding in the face of life’s often harsh realities.

In conclusion, “The Piazza” stands as a multifaceted narrative that delves into the American experience, bridging the gap between romantic idealism and the sobering realities of life. Through its exploration of themes, imagery, and character development, the story encapsulates the evolving American literary landscape, offering a profound insight into the nation’s psyche and its confrontation with the vast, untamed expanse of its landscape. Melville’s work, thus, not only critiques the romantic ideals of his time but also paves the way for a deeper understanding of the complexities and contradictions inherent in the American experience.