Early Stevens

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In recent years, Nietzsche has become a pivotal figure in contemporary thought. Scholars have recognized his influence on Wallace Stevens, but Early Stevens reveals the depth of Nietzsche's impact on Stevens' early work for the first time. Focusing on poems from 1915 to 1935, while occasionally referencing later works, B. J. Leggett juxtaposes texts from both thinkers to offer fresh interpretations of Stevens' poetry. For example, "Peter Quince at the Clavier" is analyzed through Nietzsche's concepts of Apollonian and Dionysian art from The Birth of Tragedy. Stevens' early religious poems, particularly "Sunday Morning," are examined in light of Nietzsche's ideas on the transvaluation of values and the innocence of becoming. Additionally, Stevens' views on femininity, virility, and creativity are explored alongside Nietzsche's writings on gender. This intertextual critique uncovers hidden ideologies within Stevens' work, allowing for new readings of his poetry. The study also addresses Stevens' perspectivism, aphoristic style, and the Nietzschean epistemology present in his poems, as well as themes of art, untruth, and interpretation. By undertaking a truly intertextual reading, Early Stevens significantly enhances our understanding of this essential modern poet.