Arthur Rimbaud

Biography

On October 20, 1854, Jean-Nicholas-Arthur Rimbaud was born in Charleville, France. His father abandoned the family when Rimbaud was a young child, so Rimbaud's mother took on the job of raising her children completely alone. Rimbaud's teacher George Izambard became a friend and confidant to the young boy, even enouraging his charge to publish his first poem in 1870 (Deese).

The year, 1870, proved to be one of great change for Rimbaud. Besides having his poem published, Rimbaud also decided to run away from home, intending to head for Paris. However, he did not have enough money to purchase a train ticket and was sentenced to spend ten days in jail before being returned home (1573). Somewhere during all of this, Rimbaud's personality underwent a drastic change. He "had changed into a bitter, arrogant, disheveled, foul-talking adolescent," already showing signs of dissatisfaction with life (Deese). In 1871, Rimbaud returned to Paris where he became involved with the poet, Paul Verlaine. Verlaine had entered into a marriage with Mathilde Maute the previous year with the hopes of a prosperous union, but the couple seperated and eventually divorced over Verlaine's relationship with Rimbaud (1567). The relationship troubles between Verlaine and Rimbaud reached a climax in 1873 when Verlaine shot Rimbaud in the wrist and recieved two years in prison for the assault.

After the end of the disasterous relationship with Verlaine, Rimbaud attempted to return to his normal life. At twenty-one, he tired of French society and writing poetry. So, Rimbaud packed up and moved to Africa, virtually disappearing from the world. Lack of proper medical facilities in Africa brought Rimbaud back to France where he was diagnosed with a malignant tumor on the knee. The unfortuantely afflicted leg was amputated at the Marseille hospital in 1891, and Rimbaud was dead six months later in November of the same year (1573).

Rimbaud leaves a legacy behind. He spent his life rebelling against the constraints and rules of socity. He denounced his Catholic religon, although a sister claimed that Rimbaud reaccepted the religion upon his deathbed (Deese). Rimbaud's popularity and influence did not just extend to France during his lifetime. Many years after his death, he is still inspiring artists from all different genres. Painters, such as Picasso, were inspired by Rimbaud, and musicians from the Beats to Bob Dylan to Patti Smith used Rimbaud's life and beliefs as inspiration in their own art (Merkin).

Works

The Drunken Boat (1871)
A Season in Hell: Night of Hell (1873)
Les illuminations (1874)
Poesies
Letters

Historical Period

Arthur Rimbaud wrote during a period known as the Symbolist Movement. With its origins in France, the Symbolist Movement began around 1885 and ended somewhere around 1914. It should be noted that while this movement was mainly centered in France, poets and artists in other countries--United States, England, and Russia--did contribute. Other well-known Symbolist poets include Charles Baudelaire, Stephane Mallarme, and Paul Verlaine.

Links

Works Cited

Deese, Patrick. "Arthur Rimbaud." The Biography Project. PopSubCulture(dot)com. 29 Mar. 2006 Deese.

Merkin, Daphne. "Rimbaud Rules." The American Scholar 72, no.1 (2003): 45-52. Literature Resource Center. 27 Mar. 2006. Keyword: Arthur Rimbaud.