In Nunhead Cemetery
Encyclopedia
In Nunhead Cemetery is a poem by Charlotte Mew
. As the title overtly proclaims, the poem deals with the subject of death, and also with the subject of insanity
. While the subject of death is a well-travelled road in Victorian poetry, the poem itself is unconventional in its treatment of its subject matter in a number of respects, not least the implicit (and explicit) criticism of the axioms of Christian
faith, the overwhelmingly predominant religious ideology of England of the time. This expression of criticism also serves to underpin a deeper and more comprehensive social alienation being expressed by Mew within the confines of the poem.
The poem is written from the perspective of a man, whose fiancée has recently died, as he stands beside her newly-dug grave in Nunhead Cemetery
. The vehicle allows her to explore the subject matter (social alienation) far more openly and rigorously than perhaps she could have done at the time in her own voice. This repositioning of perspective is entirely consonant with her ambiguous and divided personality: her family had a long and checkered history of insanity, and moreover she was a lesbian at a time when homosexuality was itself widely considered a form of insanity.
Charlotte Mew
Charlotte Mary Mew was an English poet, whose work spans the cusp between Victorian poetry and Modernism.She was born in Bloomsbury, London the daughter of the architect Frederick Mew, who designed Hampstead town hall and Anna Kendall. She attended Lucy Harrison's School for Girls and lectures at...
. As the title overtly proclaims, the poem deals with the subject of death, and also with the subject of insanity
Insanity
Insanity, craziness or madness is a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity may manifest as violations of societal norms, including becoming a danger to themselves and others, though not all such acts are considered insanity...
. While the subject of death is a well-travelled road in Victorian poetry, the poem itself is unconventional in its treatment of its subject matter in a number of respects, not least the implicit (and explicit) criticism of the axioms of Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
faith, the overwhelmingly predominant religious ideology of England of the time. This expression of criticism also serves to underpin a deeper and more comprehensive social alienation being expressed by Mew within the confines of the poem.
The poem is written from the perspective of a man, whose fiancée has recently died, as he stands beside her newly-dug grave in Nunhead Cemetery
Nunhead Cemetery
Nunhead Cemetery is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries in London, England. It is perhaps the least famous and celebrated of them.. The cemetery is located in the Nunhead area of southern London and was originally known as All Saints' Cemetery. Nunhead Cemetery was consecrated in 1840 and...
. The vehicle allows her to explore the subject matter (social alienation) far more openly and rigorously than perhaps she could have done at the time in her own voice. This repositioning of perspective is entirely consonant with her ambiguous and divided personality: her family had a long and checkered history of insanity, and moreover she was a lesbian at a time when homosexuality was itself widely considered a form of insanity.