Rhetoric of Resignation

In Rolfe's last body of work, he moves from a purely political perspective to that looks at everyday life. Also in this section, Rolfe shows less optimism than in his ideological poems praising communism. While Rolfe still has hope, he now takes a critical look at the world around him.

In the poem "Now the Fog" Edwin Rolfe uses several images of darkness to show a new perspective on life. He starts the poem out by commenting "imagination's eyes go blind" (Rolfe 2). Rolfe now questions the use of his art. He now sees that art alone, by expressing social ideas, can not save humanity. Nothing is inevitable. He clearly sees now that is possible for the forces of evil to triumph. Moreover, people themselves are susceptible to giving up the fight for freedom. As Rolfe comments "the habit of slavery, long discarded,/ becomes our normal comfortable suit" (9-8). People easily give up their freedoms for creature comforts. He comments that the path to freedom is made through resistance. By using the words "long discarded" Rolfe shows that freedom is a choice. We can ever fight for it or accept or lot in life. Again freedom is not the inevitable course of society, even for Americans. Therefore, Rolfe urges people to fight their oppression in his own life. While not making a clear political argument, the elements of Rolfe's early communism can be seen here. For example, as in the poem "Nightmare in Georgia" Rolfe tries to fight the oppression faced by African Americans. Communism with Rolfe should not be considered from the historical implications of such figures as Stalin but from the social philosophy. In both instances, Rolfe is indeed fighting for a "communal" aspect in society but only in the case of humanity itself.