Susan Howe appears to be the master of bridging the gap between literature and visual art. Howe’s, “The Midnight” displays this bridge perfectly. While combining visual works of art such as pieces of manuscripts, photographs, and portraits, Howe is able to present a work that transforms with every read.
The overwhelming theme in “The Midnight” is the effects of insomnia. This is apparent throughout the entire text and through the cluttered state of the book itself. Many of her images and references do not instantly make sense or connect. All of the Alice and Wonderland images set throughout the text don't necessarily relate to the text displayed next to or around the image, Howe is more focused on the ideas surrounding the story of Alice and Wonderland such as bizarre adventures and the question of what is real or unreal.
The most interesting part of her poetry however is the interweaving between poetry and prose. I would like to whether she wrote the prose or the poetry while awake at 2 a.m. To honest both are so abstract I believe it could be either.
The text as a whole for seems to be still a work in progress, which I believe is the intent of Howe. The text is so obscure it could quite possibly go on forever. On lighter note, the level of complexity and demand for very close reading I will admit, made “The Midnight” a challenging but rewarding read.
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