The Mending Wall

The paradox of a wall that “mends” is finally revealed.

This composite image of Red in Buxton is a synthesis of multiple references to the later phase of Purgatory where Dante reunites with Beatrice in the Garden of Eden. The Oak tree, rock wall, the enigmatic comment by Andy earlier about a “Robert Frost poem,” and Andy’s invitation to Red in his letter to “come a bit farther” all come together in this scene like pieces of a puzzle.

In a nutshell, in canto 27 of Purgatory, Dante and Virgil encounter an Angel who tells them that they must pass through a “wall of fire” to proceed on their journey. Dante initially refuses, but Virgil then tells him: “Look my son, between Beatrice and you there’s just this wall.” They both pass through the wall of fire and approach the Garden of Eden.

A Church procession then approaches them, rich in symbolism. A member of the procession cries out three times a verse from the Song of Songs 4:8: “Veni, spousa de Libano.” (Come with me from Lebanon, my Spouse). A veiled Beatrice then appears, the procession then advances to a tree that was bare and despoiled. They encircle it and say “Adam” as one, in unison. A pole is joined to the base of the tree, and it is instantly renewed and blossoms. Dante mentions a hymn that he “did not understand…nor could grasp completely the melody.” Dante and Beatrice are finally reunited. Dante tells her: “I do not recall that I was ever estranged from you, nor do I have a conscience that troubles me.”

The six italicized elements above – 1) a wall, 2) a reference to the 4^th chapter of the Song of Songs, 3) an invitation (Come with me), 4) a tree, 5) a beautiful hymn that was not understood, and 6) a reunion, all occur either here or in the Opera scene.

The convergence of these various elements suggests that Buxton is a symbolic portrayal of successful “Redemptive Reunion” across an array of four symbol sets: 1) Dante – Beatrice 2) Red – Andy 3) Bride- Bridegroom 4) God-Shekhinah.

The reunion is slightly modified, as this happens in Zihuatanejo, not the Garden of Eden. The title of the Robert Frost Poem, The Mending Wall, suggests a paradoxical type of wall that “mends,” re-connects,” instead of acting as a barrier, since after passing through the wall of fire, Dante and Beatrice are reunited. Dante’s comment that: “he did not recall ever being estranged from Beatrice,” also alludes to Andy’s earlier remark about the Pacific Ocean – that it as “no memory.”