The Emperor
...the philosophical tones, when combined with his unusual flair toward elusive and often irrational complex use metaphors is enough to discourage the average reader from enjoying his work. After reading some of his best and now renowned work it becomes obvious to the critical thinking reader, that his work requires complete concentration, to fully understand his intricate stanzas and rhyme patterns that are his valiant attempts to avoid paraphrasing while losing himself and his readers in brilliant language, that are considered a school of poetry in themselves. Wallace Stevens is one the rare poets that any attempt to gain a better understanding of their work is best accompanied with an insight into the poets life and definition of the value or purpose of poetry.
Wallace Stevens was born in Reading Pennsylvania, in October 2, 1879. He attended Harvard University as an undergraduate from 1897 to 1900. Wallace planned to travel to Paris as a writer, but after working briefly as a reporter for the New York Herald Times, he decided to study law. Wallace graduated with a degree from New York Law School in 1903 and was admitted to the U.S. Bar in 1904. He practiced law in New York City until 1916.
Wallace worked as an attorney in several firms and in 1908 secured a position with the American Bonding Company, .He married Elsie Kachel Moll, a shop girl, from his hometown; their daughter, Holly, was born in 1924. She later edited her father's letters. The marriage was unhappy but stable. Elsie was fanatical in her housekeeping and Wallace idealized and rejected her presence. He didn't like visitors at home he kept distance to people but gained also fame as a serious joker. On the other hand, Stevens spent time with avant-grade writers and artist around Walter Arensberg, his Harvard classmate and art collector. Influenced by imagism [see Ezra Pound] and French...
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