For the Marriage of Faustus and Helen

"For the Marriage of Faustus and Helen" is a poem by American poet Hart Crane, published in his 1926 collection White Buildings. Crane wrote this poem as a response to T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land, aiming to counter what he perceived as cultural pessimism with a more optimistic vision.1

The poem draws inspiration from the legend of Faust, a scholar who makes a pact with the devil. However, Crane's work reimagines this narrative, particularly in its engagement with Helen of Troy, a symbol of ancient beauty and classical ideals. Crane sought to bridge the gap between the modern industrial age and the enduring power of the past in his poetry.21