Dream Song 29 Poem: John Berryman 's Muses for HBO's Succession Finale

In HBO's pulse-pounding "Succession," Kendall Roy dances to the melancholy of John Berryman.

Poetry and Power: Unveiling the Influence of John Berryman Poem on Succession

In the confessional theatre of our time, when mass culture consumes our senses with its kaleidoscopic textures, poetry stands as a refuge, a solitary island of imagination unfettered by commercialism. This truth is nowhere more evident than in HBO's acclaimed series, Succession. In the grand game of power and legacy unfolding on the screen, it is the hushed whispers of a Pulitzer-prize winning poem, John Berryman's "Dream Song 29," that echoes through the corridors of the Roys' empire, Waystar Royco.

Season after season, the finale titles borrow from this remarkable American poem, reflecting a deep reverence for the power of verse. From "Nobody Is Ever Missing" in the first season finale, to "This Is Not For Tears," "All the Bells Say," and finally "With Open Eyes" in the series finale, Berryman's words reverberate with symbolic poignancy, subtly guiding viewers through the psychological labyrinth of the Roy family.

TL;DR

John Berryman's haunting "Dream Song 29" has served as a poetic compass for HBO's 'Succession'. Throughout each season, episode titles taken from the poem hint at the fate of Kendall Roy and his tumultuous journey towards the finale. From Kendall's vehicular manslaughter incident with a waiter at Shiv's wedding to the lingering dread of his fate in the upcoming season 4 finale titled "With Open Eyes," the series mirrors the emotional tumult of Berryman's character, Henry.
As Kendall grapples with his actions, much like Berryman's Henry who contemplates if he did 'end anyone and hack her body,' we witness the terrifying feeling of uncertainty. As viewers, we're left speculating if Kendall's end of season fate is alluded to in Berryman's poem. The lines "All the bells say: too late. This is not for tears; thinking...Nobody is ever missing," could be Armstrong's easter egg hinting towards an interesting choice in Kendall's fate. 'Succession' demonstrates the influence of American poetry, specifically the work of Pulitzer Prize winner John Berryman, in shaping contemporary storytelling.

Kendall Roy: A Modern-day Henry from John Berryman poem 'Dream Song 29'?

"Dream Song 29" introduces us to the tortured soul of Henry, Berryman's dream persona who grapples with guilt and the specter of a crime he did not commit. The haunting words "nobody is ever missing" allude to an undercurrent of culpability that has become a cornerstone of the Succession narrative. Kendall Roy, his conscience scarred by the waiter's death at Shiv's wedding, embodies Berryman's Henry in a televised saga. The question "could this poem spoil the ending of Succession?" embodies the interplay between these parallel universes of verse and screen.

In the penultimate episode of season 3, Kendall's existential crisis bears an uncanny similarity to the fear-filled contemplation in "Dream Song 29." The shroud of death hangs over Kendall, his desolation mirrored in Berryman's verse: "All the bells say: too late. This is not for tears; thinking." Kendall, like Berryman's Henry, lives his life "with open eyes," yet is seemingly blind to the spiraling consequences of his actions.

In the world of Logan 's empire, beneath the stern Sienese face of power and tradition, lies the chilling uncertainty. It's not about what will happen to Kendall, rather it's about the path that Kendall has taken and where it ends - a haunting parallel to the narrative etched within John Berryman's verse.

Finale Title. Could this poem...

The finale title of season 4, "With Open Eyes," resonates with foreboding and anticipation, a complex weave of themes that Armstrong, the series creator, expertly handles. He finds in Berryman's lines an echo of the Roy children's struggles, their wide-eyed, oblivious stumbles towards the reins of power at Waystar. Could the final line of the poem, "Nobody is ever missing," foreshadow the ultimate fate of Kendall? As the show enters its final act, the cryptic words of Berryman's masterpiece continue to fuel speculation, a testament to the enduring power of poetry in contemporary culture.

Tracing the Hidden Lines of John Berryman's Masterpiece: A Deep Dive into the Parallels between Kendall and Henry

The intersection of Berryman's life and his "Dream Songs" creates a compelling parallel with the Succession narrative. Berryman, who faced the tragedy of his father's suicide at age 11 and later took his own life at 57, wove themes of loss, guilt, and fear into his poetry. Similarly, Logan's children grapple with their father's looming mortality and their complicated feelings of love, resentment, and ambition. Each season finale's title captures these nuanced emotions, functioning as a hidden Easter egg that reveals the deeper layers of the Roys' struggles.

Season 4. Armstrong 's confessional Dream Song 29. Shiv ?

Succession's use of Berryman's "Dream Song 29" exemplifies the potential of poetry to enrich the narratives of mass culture. In our world, where commercialism often dictates the rhythm of storytelling, the series stands as an emblem of resistance, championing the power of verse to delve into the intricate mazes of the human psyche. As we await the series finale with bated breath, Berryman's "With Open Eyes" looms large, casting its spectral light on the fates of the Roys and reminding us that poetry's echo can resonate even amidst the clamor of our modern world.