JASON. by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
This brief dramatic fragment — only three lines — features a speaker who callously condemns a group of people to starvation while also stating that ambassadors from Samaria are waiting for a meeting.
The poem
They shall stay and starve.-- My Lord, the Ambassadors of Samaria Await thy pleasure.
This brief dramatic fragment — only three lines — features a speaker who callously condemns a group of people to starvation while also stating that ambassadors from Samaria are waiting for a meeting. It resembles a scene from a play or a longer dramatic piece, highlighting a moment of ruthless political authority. The stark contrast between the casual cruelty of "They shall stay and starve" and the formal announcement of the diplomats arriving reveals a lot about the type of ruler being depicted.
Line-by-line
They shall stay and starve.--
My Lord, the Ambassadors of Samaria / Await thy pleasure.
Tone & mood
The tone feels cold and authoritative. The ruler's words lack any emotion — they are purely about command. The courtier's response is respectful and formal. Together, these two voices create a sharp dramatic contrast: power wielded without remorse, and service given without hesitation.
Symbols & metaphors
- Starvation — Used here not as a natural disaster but as a tool of political control. The ruler opts for starvation as a means of punishment or strategy, turning it into a symbol of power abuse.
- Samaria — A real location in ancient Israel, but here it serves as a reference to the biblical or classical world — and to the geopolitical maneuvering that shapes life among the powerful.
- The Ambassadors — Diplomacy comes right after cruelty. The ambassadors represent the public image of power — formal and ceremonial — contrasting with the private brutality of the events leading up to their announcement.
Historical context
Longfellow crafted this piece as part of a collection that draws inspiration from classical and biblical themes. The name Jason ties it to Greek mythology—specifically Jason of the Argonauts—while the reference to Samaria hints at a Near Eastern or biblical context. This suggests that Longfellow might have been mixing different traditions or writing a dramatic monologue set in an ancient court. Throughout his career, Longfellow had a strong interest in historical and mythological topics, and short dramatic fragments like this were a popular format in 19th-century American and British poetry, often serving as excerpts from larger verse dramas. The piece captures the Victorian era's intrigue with the ancient world, reflecting ongoing questions about power, justice, and moral authority.
FAQ
There are two speakers. The first, who says the line "They shall stay and starve," appears to be a lord or ruler. The second is a courtier or attendant who announces that ambassadors from Samaria have arrived. The poem feels like a piece of a play.
The poem doesn't state it outright — and that's what makes the line so unsettling. It refers to some unnamed group, likely enemies, prisoners, or a besieged population, whose fate the lord brushes off in just four words.
Samaria was a city and region in ancient Israel, placing the scene in a biblical or Near Eastern historical context. This setting evokes a world of ancient kingdoms and formal diplomacy, emphasizing the moral contrast established in the fragment.
It feels like a dramatic fragment — just a snapshot pulled from what might be a more extensive verse drama. Longfellow created several pieces in this style, and the double dash after the first line enhances the feeling that we’re entering an ongoing scene.
Jason is the hero from Greek mythology who led the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece. Longfellow seems to be setting this scene in a dramatic retelling of that myth or a similar classical tale, but the reference to Samaria hints at a mix of Greek and biblical elements.
The juxtaposition is key here. A ruler condemns people to starvation in one breath while welcoming foreign ambassadors in the next, without a moment's thought. Longfellow illustrates how power functions — effortlessly, without moral consideration, and always shifting to the next task at hand.
This is a dramatic fragment rather than a complete lyric poem. Its short length is intentional—it captures a single, morally charged moment in the life of a powerful character. This compression makes the cruelty feel more intense than it would in a longer piece.