Red Balloon

Themes
Religion-Judaism, discrimination, prejudice, loss, isolation, childhood and naivety, identity


Content
The balloon in this poem is symbolic of Abse's religion and it is something that is a point of both "joy" and "shame" for the boy in the poem. However, the boy is persecuted due to his religion, with people threatening to destroy the balloon due to what it represents. This is a poem concerning the persecution of Jews, even at such a young age and the resilience of religion.


Analysis

• A balloon is typically fragile and easily burst, hinting at the psychologically vulnerable state of the young boy whilst the colour "Red" can be linked to blood and is something that is inextricably linked to humans but is also representative of anger and threats.
• The poem starts with the red balloon sailing over the "startled town", suggesting that the town and its people are shocked by its appearance, likely because as we later learn, the balloon is a symbol of Judaism and people often feel resentment towards those of that faith  or were not familiar with it.
• The balloon flies over "chimney-pots" and " a block of flats", seemingly searching for someone. The alliteration in this line creates a childlike tone while the fact that it is "wind-blown" suggests that religion can come to anyone and everyone and goes wherever faith is needed. It seems almost to be fate when the balloon "landed where I [the boy] stood" and religion comes to the boy. The persona suggests that "finding's keeping", as though the balloon is simply a toy and not symbolic of so much more. The boy "polished" the balloon "till it shone like living blood", showing a level a care on the part of the boy as he ensures that the balloon looks its best and he becomes so obsessed with it that it becomes a part of him. He makes the balloon come alive through his affection and dedication to the balloon and the oxymoron of "living blood" appears slightly sinister, foreshadowing the more serious turn the poem takes later on.
• However there then appears the paradoxical statement "It was my shame, it was my joy" as the boy holds the balloon to high esteem and believes in his religion wholeheartedly but this makes other people look at him differently. Children and adults alike should not be made to feel "shame" by others because of their beliefs. The boy is deeply affected by others comments at such a stage of innocence in his life and the balloon brings him "notoriety", but not necessarily of the good kind. He becomes isolated and shunned by others simply because of his religion.
• Knowledge of his religion brings "rude boys" from "all of Wales", thus causing the balloon to no longer be a "toy". Up until this point, the speaker had simply thought of it as something to play with but then comes to realise its significance and the hatred it can induce in others. Innocence is lost and the boy is being forced to grow up from his childish naivety.
• Moving into the fourth stanza, the possessive pronoun "my" in relation to the balloon shows that the boy has completely accepted his religion and that it is growing inside him- "soared higher like a happiness". The speaker's religion is his point of light in an otherwise "dark" life and consolidates his identity. This then is perhaps what the "girls of Cardiff" recognise and "sigh" at- the boy is unique and glowing on the inside from the influence of religion.
• In months previous, the speaker "boasted" of his "unique" and "precious" balloon as he adored it with childish simplicity but now that he understands the reaction of others to it, he "dare" not "show it". The persona recognises the brutal truth that many will not accept his religion ,as is the case even now, and he feels as though he cannot trust anyone, "however long they swear their love". Religion can cause a variety of emotions, including shame, and the boy often feels insecure revealing his religion to others for fear of their reaction. This point is proven to be justified when even his best friend turns on him to state that the balloon is a "Jew's balloon... stained with our dear Lord's blood". The conflicting religions here cause problems with the friendship as the so- called "best friend" sees Judaism as an abomination, though the speaker simply admits that it cannot be "denied", not understanding fully the significance and standing proud of his religion. The speaker does not understand why religion should make a difference and what "relevance" it has to the friendship, resulting in the friend responding with the vulgar statement "let's get it circumcised". This disgusting language is disrespectful towards the boy's religion and shows that the speaker is bullied and intimidated due to his beliefs. Why is it that people who preach peace respond to other religions with such hate?
• In response to the speaker and his religion, other boys "laughed" in mockery and "cursed" his stupidity, eventually leading to violence and "dirty knives" being revealed. The idea that Abse describes these knives as "dirty" is perhaps representative of the other boy's vulgar thoughts and corrupted minds, as shown through the aggression they display in having "lunged" and "clawed" at the speaker's balloon. The speaker is verbally and physically attacked as the boys try to destroy something that they do not like but despite this, the balloon "would not burst". Though a balloon is fragile, religion inspires confidence in the speaker, so much so that he can withstand the attack and discrimination without losing his religion. Religion lends strength to the person who holds it, even in the face of brutal violence. The speaker is "cut" and left "half conscious in the street" with his nose having been "bled"- the boys tried to beat the religion out of him and the reference to the nose could link to the idea at the time that all Jews had 'long noses'. Anti-Semitic feeling was increasingly growing across the world at the time and the boys repeatedly tell the speaker to "give up" the red balloon- society pressurises people to change their religion in order to be match society's ideals. This is met with a lack of understanding by the speaker as he fails to come to terms with why people are so intent on making him lose his beliefs.
• In response to the attack, the speaker returns home to the safety and security of family and a frightened and vulnerable tone is created: "Father, bolt the door, turn the key, lest those sad brash boys return". The speaker sees the other boys as sad figures of humanity due to the extent of prejudice within them and the line "to insult my faith and steal my red balloon" separates the idea of religion and the red balloon. For this reason, it has been interpreted that the balloon is representative of confidence or happiness, which allows the speaker to accept religion into his heart. The reader must remember that this is a very young boy being treated in such a harsh manner simply because of what he believes in.
• The ABCA rhyme scheme of this poem highlights the cyclical and repetitive nature of religious persecution, which was increasingly growing due to Anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany.
• Judaism in Wales: The rapid expansion of the coal mining industry in the 19th century lead to major economic growth and a vast increase in immigration to Wales. The Jews were one group who immigrated to Wales in large numbers during this period, leading to the founding of new Jewish communities, particularly in the heavily industrialised South Wales Valleys. A synagogue was founded in Merthyr Tydfil in 1875, and by the end of the century, most towns in the Valleys were home to small Jewish communities and trading stations.^[4] Generally, these communities appear to have been well tolerated, though there were some notable exceptions. In 1911 antisemitic sentiment came to a head in the Tredegar area, where working-class mobs attacked Jewish-owned businesses, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.^[5] Early 20th-century Welsh Jewish society is featured in the 1999 film Solomon & Gaenor, which is set at the time of the Tredegar riots.Jews continue to flourish in Wales, being augmented by refugees from Nazi-dominated Europe in the late 1930s. The modern community in South Wales is centered in the Cardiff Reform Synagogue and the Cardiff United Synagogue. The synagogue of Merthyr Tydfil, the major one north of Cardiff, ceased to hold regular services in the 1970s and was later sold. It is a Listed Building.
• -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Wales 

Links to Larkin
Themes-  'Water'- This is one of the only poems in which Larkin talks directly about religion and the need for all religion to be purified as too much hate and elitism is present in all religions. A "furious devout drench" is necessary to achieve this purpose but Larkin believes that a religion can be constructed, thus undermining Abse's firm belief in his religion and devotion to it.
'Faith Healing'- Religion and faith can strengthen a person, even if the effects are not visible to the eye. People go to religious healers and find comfort in the strength and supposed healing they can offer, however, Larkin seems to suggest that the purpose of this use of religion is to exploit vulnerable people.
'Dockery and Son'- Dockery "knew what he wanted" at a young age and did not let go of this, even though his life decisions are viewed by the persona as a method of "dilution". Likewise, the boy in Abse's poem chose as a young child to accept religion, even though it led him to be scorned and abused by others.
'For Sidney Bechet'- Music is like religion in that it can evoke strong feelings of joy and gratitude in the listener and can strengthen a person during their hardest times. For Larkin, it is the "natural noise of good", like religion is believed to be a force for good by many.
'Take One Home for the Kiddies'- Children can be cruel and uncaring towards other living things. They are often ignorant of the consequences of their actions and heartless when dealing with lives.
'Ignorance'- People go through life never really knowing the facts but basing the truth upon their own beliefs. This can lead to prejudice and hatred of others who don't share the same view, even though the opinion is skewed and only the judgement of an individual.
'Afternoons'- Larkin makes judgements on people based on their class, just as people often discriminate against those of a certain religion.
'Send No Money'- Growing up is a learning curve as children come to see the significance of their choices earlier on in life. Whilst the boy in Larkin's poem believes he was tricked into wasting his childhood, the boy in Abse's poem realises the consequences of being a Jew and sticks with his religion despite this.


Tone:
Child-like, naïve: 'Take One Home for the Kiddies', 'A Study of Reading Habits'
Vulnerable: 'Afternoons', 'Ambulances'


Technique- Water is symbolic of purity just as the balloon in its fragile state is symbolic of religion.
Alliteration to create a childlike tone is present also in 'A Study of Reading Habits'-"dirty dogs" and in 'Water" ("any-angled") to create a simplicity to the poem.
The juxtaposition of "knowledge" and "imprecisions" appears in 'Ignorance' to highlight the confusion of the human mind and emotions whilst the repetition of "no" in 'Dockery and Son' displays how people try to force their opinion across when inside they are unsure themselves and empty or simply just cruel.