The New Colossus

"The New Colossus" is a famous Petrarchan sonnet written by the American poet Emma Lazarus.

A Petrarchan sonnet is a specific type of poem with a set structure. Lazarus wrote this poem in 1883 to support a very important goal. She wanted to raise money for the construction of the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty. This pedestal serves as the massive base that holds the statue upright. The poem is much more than just a way to collect donations. It changed how people perceive the meaning of the statue itself.

The creation of the poem involved several interesting steps and people. A fundraiser named William Maxwell Evarts first asked Lazarus to contribute her work. Initially, she refused to participate in the project. However, a writer named Constance Cary Harrison convinced her to change her mind. Harrison argued that the poem would be significant for immigrants sailing into the harbor. Lazarus was an activist who helped Jewish refugees fleeing antisemitic pogroms in eastern Europe. She used her writing to express empathy for these people.

The poem uses vivid imagery to describe the setting and the statue. It mentions the "sea-washed, sunset gates," which refers to the mouths of the Hudson and East Rivers. At the time, New York City and Brooklyn were separate cities. The poem also mentions "imprisoned lightning." This phrase describes the electric light in the statue's torch, which was a new technology then. Lazarus describes the "huddled masses" to represent the large numbers of immigrants arriving in the United States. She calls the statue the "Mother of Exiles" to show her maternal strength.

Lazarus compares the statue to a much older monument from history. She refers to the "brazen giant of Greek fame." This is a reference to the Colossus of Rhodes.

The Colossus of Rhodes was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was a massive sculpture that stood in a Greek harbor during the 3rd century BC. By calling the Statue of Liberty a "New" Colossus, Lazarus creates a contrast. She moves the focus from ancient empire and grandeur to a symbol of welcome and hope.

History shows that the poem's journey to the pedestal took many years. The poem was first read at an art auction on November 2, 1883. This auction helped fund the pedestal through August 1885. However, the poem was largely forgotten during the actual opening of the statue in 1886. It was not until 1901 that a friend named Georgina Schuyler began efforts to memorialize it. In 1903, a bronze plaque was finally cast and mounted inside the pedestal.

Interestingly, the plaque calls itself an engraving, but it is actually a casting. There is even a small error on the plaque where a comma is missing.

The poem has had a massive influence on American culture and identity. Some writers believe the poem reinvented the statue's purpose. Instead of just being a monument to republicanism, it became a symbol for the downtrodden. The poem's words have appeared in many places, such as the book "A Nation of Immigrants" by John F. Kennedy. It has also been used in films like "Saboteur" and "Hold Back the Dawn."

Even music is influenced by it, including songs from the movie "An American Tail."

Today, "The New Colossus" remains a vital piece of literary and historical study. The American Jewish Historical Society holds the original handwritten manuscript. They also run the Emma Lazarus Translation Project to collect versions of the poem in many languages. The poem continues to be a subject of debate and discussion in modern politics. It connects the history of immigration to the very physical structure of one of the world's most famous landmarks. This connection ensures that Lazarus's words and her empathy continue to be felt by many.