Assisi: Overview

Assisi: Overview

‘Assisi’: Overview

Context

• ‘Assisi’ is one of Norman MacCaig’s most famous poems, alluding to the town of Assisi in Italy.
• The poem is inspired by MacCaig’s real-life visit to the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi.
• MacCaig uses the setting, a place associated with saintliness and piety, to challenge religious hypocrisy and societal attitudes towards disability.

Narrative and Structure

• The poem is entirely observational, with the speaker acting as a detached observer of the scenes unfolding before his eyes.
• The narrative is linear and descriptive, guiding the reader through the speaker’s experiences and thoughts during his visit.
• The poem is composed of three separate stanzas, each depicting a different aspect of Assisi - the church, the beggar and the priest.

Key Characters

• The unnamed speaker, presumably a version of MacCaig himself, who provides objective descriptions and insightful commentary.
• The dwarfish beggar, a man of significant physical handicap, positioned outside the grand church, representing the contrast between societal values and true benevolence.
• The priest, who is leading tourists around the basilica, symbolises the church’s disregard for its foundational principles.

Themes

• ‘Assisi’ explores themes of religion, hypocrisy, inequality, and compassion.
• MacCaig critiques the hypocrisy of the religious institution that celebrates Saint Francis, known for his compassion towards the poor and the sick, yet ignores the beggar at its doorstep.
• The poem ultimately calls for empathy and kindness towards those who’ve been marginalised by society.

Summary

• ‘Assisi’ is a powerful indictment of religious hypocrisy and societal apathy towards the disabled. Employing an observational narrative style and striking imageries, MacCaig leverages the physical settings and character depictions to criticise the lack of compassion and understanding in society.