The commentators in “Sunlight and Shadow,” the speeches of mayors Low and Edson, and the poems of Crane and Mayakovsky all celebrate different sets of qualities and values embodied by the Brooklyn Bridge. In the comments below, compare and contrast the meaning of the Brooklyn Bridge for two or three of the above.
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September 7, 2017 at 2:09 pm
The Brooklyn Bridge was a massive undertaking that took around 14 years to complete and bound two major cities- Brooklyn and Manhattan. This project was a source of pride for America, as the bridge was the first steel suspension, boasting the longest distance covered over a body of water. Franklin Edison, the mayor of New York City, Seth Low, the mayor of Brooklyn, and Vladimir Mayakovsky, a poet who visited Manhattan, all shared their vibrant views on the completion of the bridge connecting the two powerful cities. Edison realized the benefits of the relationship betwixt the cities; the bridge was an advancement in communication and transportation that served as a pathway to future strength and prosperity. Low symbolically saw the hope that massive structure carried for the nation, because it was a project that everyone thought could never be realized; this was a wild dream that came true for America. In Mayakovsky’s poem, he felt humbled by the beautiful bridge.
Both mayors and the poet viewed the significance of the Brooklyn Bridge, in ways different and alike. New York City’s mayor Edison emphasized the economic importance of the bridge for the powerful cities. He knew that the cities were growing at a rate which demanded innovation and progress to meet the needs of the population. The completion of the Brooklyn Bridge reflected strides in population, commerce, manufacturing, financial goals, and industries which are all essential components of prosperous communities. Edison’s speech focused on the monetary and physical benefits that the bridge would cause, while Brooklyn’s mayor Low spoke about the qualities that make up a great city. To Low, the efforts that were exerted to create the bridge were indicative of the qualities that prosperous cities must have- faith, endurance, courage, and skill. Mayakovsky’s poem reflected his awe and wonder as a visitor in Manhattan. He viewed the bridge as “quite a thing!” Like Low, Mayakovsky saw the Brooklyn Bridge as a vision that miraculously came to life; both Brooklyn’s mayor and poet celebrated the beauty, power, and hope that the bridge entails. As well, both mayors viewed the bridge as a way to help the cities form a mutually beneficial relationship; the bridge enabled fast communication and new influx of workers to each city. As Low said in his speech, a successful relationship is formed by “both him that gives and him that takes.” The cities could thrive off of each others’ successes, rather than compete and tear each other down. Each unique view praised the wondrous bridge and the opportunities that it unfolded for the nation.
September 10, 2017 at 12:58 pm
The Brooklyn Bridge emerges over New York City’s East River, linking the two boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. It’s granite towers and steel cables have been standing since 1833 acting as a safe and scenic passage to millions of commuter, tourists, trains, bicycles, pushcarts, and cars. After 14 years of construction, involving the hard work of many, the people of these two cities were amazed at what was created. Franklin Edson, Seth Low, Hart Crane and Vladimir Mayakovsky each shared their satisfaction on the completion of the bridge. All of these men agreed that the bridge would bring pleasure to the many citizens traveling between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Both Franklin Edson and Seth Low agreed that the bridge was also a way of bringing people from the two boroughs together creating as Edson stated, “an enduring alliance between these two great cities.” Crane adds in his poem a vivid description of the bridge connecting him to the life endured by the people of both cities by just looking out the window of his apartment, while Mayakovsky describes his pride in its construction. These men all saw the magnificence, influence, and hope that the bridge brought to both boroughs.
In Edson’s address, he focuses on the effect that the bridge will have on future commerce and business, as the communication between Brooklyn and Manhattan could lead to many new advancements, innovation, and establishments. He then goes on to further question the consolidation of these two cities. Low, on the other hand, focuses his address on the amount of time that has been made available due to the construction of this bridge, where time is not just time but also money and opportunity. Crane and Mayakovsky bring in their personal opinions and experiences as visitors and viewers and of this wonderful creation. While Mayakovsky describes the feeling of joy and humbleness that the bridge brought upon him during his stay in the United States, Crane describes the connection the bridge helped him feel, enabling him to take in everything that the great boroughs had to offer. In their own ways, each author was able to portray his view on what the wonderful influence the bridge was going to bring to both boroughs in the future.
September 10, 2017 at 4:50 pm
After reading the speeches of mayors Low and Edson, and the poem by Mayakovsky it is clear that all three of these people viewed the creation of the Brooklyn Bridge as a new era of trade and communication in New York City. In Edson’s speech, he says a common current now flows in the veins of Brooklyn and Manhattan. The bridge will allow for the two cities to more easily communicate and trade with each other. Low compared the building of the Brooklyn Bridge to the creation of the Eerie Canal. He said that one of the reasons he was able to gain popular support for the project was because people had seen how successful a public works project like the Eerie Canal had been. Another similarity in the way these people viewed the Brooklyn Bridge was that they saw its creation as a momentous occasion in American architecture. Low called the bridge and “American Triumph” and Mayakovsky said its cables stretch to the feet of the stars. The Brooklyn Bridge was a tremendous project and nothing compared to it in the time period.
One difference in the meaning of the Brooklyn Bridge portrayed from the readings is that Mayakovsky viewed the bridge as more of a Romantic symbol of America whereas Edson viewed it from a practical standpoint. In Mayakovsky’s poem, he admires the bridge’s beauty by saying ship masts look no larger than pins when compared to the bridge. When looking at the bridge through Mayakovsky’s eyes, we can see it from a visitor’s perspective and therefore be able to appreciate its grandeur in a more artistic way. However, in Edson’s speech, he talks more about the economic benefits of this project and how it will monetarily benefit the city. Even though Edson also thinks the bridge is a proud symbol of the city, he is more interested in discussing how it will more directly impact the lives of those living in the city.
September 10, 2017 at 7:21 pm
In the late 19th Century, Manhattan’s population was booming with its large immigrant population and land was filled up with commerce production. The congested city of Manhattan needed to expand and the Brooklyn Bridge became the direct link to its expansion. John Augustus Roebling and his son, Washington Roebling, were German civic engineers who designed the structure of the magnificent Brooklyn Bridge. However, due to the panic of 1873 in its political corruption, the financial downfall of Wall Street and social chaos, it delayed the construction of the bridge. It took nearly 14 years to complete this massive structure. The Brooklyn Bridge was two times more expensive and three times longer than its initial budget and projected timeline. Despite the impediment, the bridge marks the beginning of a vertical city. The component of the bridge contains steel and electricity which later on inspired the foundation of the city with skyscrapers and electrical lightings.
The Brooklyn Bridge was officially completed on May 24, 1883, known as the People’s Day. In the speeches of mayors Low and Edson, it celebrates the arduous work and hard labor of the engineers and common workers. The Brooklyn Bridge strengthen the growth and prosperity of the two cities together, Brooklyn and Manhattan. Mayor Low praised the effort and determination of the humble workers who worked many arduous and dangerous hours to achieve this wonderful masterpiece for which sparks the fondest sense of hope and rejoice in the signal of triumph. This bridge is figuratively and literally a connection to close the gap between the Brooklyn and Manhattan. The accessible transportation bonds the people from the two cities together. It is a commute for everyone where he stated “all without distinction and without exception.” This bridge represents a sign of democracy and beginning of unity of all people regardless of social class, race, skin color or religion. The values embodied in the Brooklyn Bridge is courage, enterprise, skill, faith, and endurance. According to the poem of Vladimir Mayakovsky, he was astonished by the beauty of this phenomenal structure. There is pride that radiated from the bridge. He emphasized that this bridge will be a success in the contemporary world. The sustainability of the bridge lasted for decades to come and illustrate hope that anything can be achieved with commitment and effort. This was what makes New York City, a place to dream and make that dream come true.
September 11, 2017 at 7:03 pm
The Brooklyn Bridge to this day is a spectacle of fine engineering that connects two boroughs economically, socially and culturally. When it was first built, people from Brooklyn and Manhattan were in awe from the outstanding structure standing before them. Some, however, had differing opinions regarding the use and practicality of the Brooklyn Bridge. In the year 1993, the mayor of New York and the mayor of Brooklyn gave an acceptance address regarding the Brooklyn Bridge. Franklin Edson (NYC mayor) thanked the President and recognized the financial opportunities the connection between the boroughs can bring. He saw it as an alliance between two cities, similar to a business trade. Because of the future financial benefits, Edson even hinted at another similar project. Seth Low (Brooklyn mayor), similar to Edson saw the magnificence of the bridge and the expansion of communication between the boroughs. Unlike Edson, Low ignored the financial aspect of the Brooklyn Bridge but instead acknowledged the beauty of it and the work put in it. He thanked the trustees who allowed for such project to be made as well as all the workers who put the time and effort into this project. He saw it as a cultural connection, a chance to link different people with different histories. The most important part of the speech, that was not evident in Edson’s, was the appreciation for those who died. Low says, “In the course of the construction of the Bridge a number of lives have been lost. Does it not sometimes seem as though every work of enduring value, in the material as in the moral world, must needs be purchased at the cost of human life? Let us recall with kind- ness at this hour the work of those who labored here faithfully unto the death.” Commemorating those who died in the construction of the bridge showed a more honest side to the mayor that unfortunately Edson lacked.
Poets like Hart Cane and Mayakovsky used the Brooklyn Bridge as inspiration in their creative works of literature. Hart Cane in his poem “To Brooklyn Bridge” emitted a darker tone, giving the Brooklyn Bridge a mysterious vibe. He speaks about the suicide from the bridge as well as false hope the bridge brings for the citizens of New York. But just like Edson and Low, he understands the connection the bridge makes with the two boroughs. However, he is scared of its power, its height, and its possibilities, similar to Edson’s unfamiliarity of what the future holds. Cane admires the bridge from a far, different from how Mayakovsky describes his interaction with it. In Mayakovsky’s “Brooklyn Bridge” he tells the reader how prideful he is while walking the bridge and the joy he gets from its views. He appreciates the steel, the backbone of the bridge, just like Low in his speech gives thanks to people who were behind the project, technically the “steel” or the “backbone” of it. Low and Mayakovsky both praise the beauty of the bridge as well as the jobs it provided for thousands of unemployed New Yorkers. Each person viewed the bridge in his own way but in the end, they all understood the splendor of the Brooklyn Bridge.
September 11, 2017 at 10:07 pm
Before the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn and Manhattan were two completely separate cities. Over 600,000 people resided within the confines of their city. Communication, commuting, commerce, and economic growth was possible with the Brooklyn Ferry, but it was the Brooklyn Bridge that established the sense of connection between the two cities and encouraged unprecedented economic and social development. The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge took almost 14 years to complete. With the overgrowing anticipation, the bridge was finally completed in 1873.
Upon the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge, both Mayor Low of Brooklyn and Mayor Edson of Manhattan delivered a heartfelt speech that encapsulated the emotions and sentiments of the people. It was, however, Mayor Low’s speech that truly presented the beauty of the Brooklyn Bridge. He argues that the meaning of the Brooklyn Bridge was beyond the opportunities it entailed. It was the American spirit and glory of not just New Yorkers, but the diverse groups of people that contributed to the construction of this bridge. As he put it, “The glory of it belongs to the race” and “cannot be confined to the limits of local pride”. However, Low wasn’t simply proud of the diversity of the workers, but also the effort they put to complete the bridge. In his speech, he mentions that lives have been lost and acknowledges the time that it took to finish it. He exclaims at the opportunities that has been provided as a result of their efforts, whether it be economic prosperity, rapid communication, or simply just convenience for the people. It was the collective effort of the people that made this project such a beautiful masterpiece.
The pride that Mayor Low conveyed in his speech was evident in Vladimir Mayakovsky’s poem. Throughout his poem, he describes the hardships that the bridge represents and how its great length and height is enough to make him proud. This is very similar to what Mayor Low has mentioned in his speech. Both men realizes that it is exactly the effort put on the construction of bridge that evokes their pride. What Mayakovsky doesn’t realize is the prosperity and convenience that the bridge has brought to New Yorkers. Since he is a Russian poet, he sees the bridge from a more artistic perspective than the opportunistic approach. He admires the materials used to build the bridge, the design of it, the emotions that it evoked, but rarely does he mention the growth enabled by this bridge. Nevertheless, both Mayor Low’s speech and Mayakovsky’s poem displays the beauty and importance of the Brooklyn Bridge.
September 11, 2017 at 10:46 pm
The creation of the Brooklyn Bridge ushered in a plethora of changes to the metropolis of New York City. As a newly added fixture to the city’s network of transportation, it serves not only as a vanguard of communication, but also of inspiration and change. For those who witnessed its construction, it has served as a spur for many different ideas and meanings. From poets to mayors alike, the Brooklyn Bridge hasn’t failed to make an astounding effect on the lives of New York City inhabitants and their lives.
One of the first people to react to the creation of the Brooklyn Bridge was mayor of New York City, Franklin Edson. From his perspective, he viewed the Brooklyn Bridge as a symbol of the future of New York. In his address of the completion of the structure, not only did he highlight its positive effects on present day New York, but also the New York of centuries to come. Edson admired the hope that the bridge brought to New York as a connection between 2 cities with bustling societies. Edson believes that with the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge comes to the success and fortune of the future, and more than just being a bridge, it is the elemental unifier of New York.
In comparison to Edson perspective on the construction of the Brooklyn bridge, Mayor of Brooklyn Seth Low commented on the Brooklyn bridges novelty as being an American success, something Edson did not do. Low marveled at the bridge’s American identity, and the idea that the bridge was an organically American project from start to finish. For the first time, a bridge of this magnitude had been constructed on American soil, by Americans, with American raised money and supplies, and for the betterment of American citizens. His pride for the bridge as an American triumph overrides his opinion on the far-reaching effects of the bridge as a whole. Although he does mention the bridges promise to the future, he rather focuses on his amazement at its construction in the present day. Words he conjures as characteristic of the bridge are “courage, enterprise, skill, faith, [and] endurance”.
In comparison to Edson and Low, the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky looked onto the construction of the Brooklyn bridge not as a New York native, but as a foreigner. Mayakovsky’s interpretation of the Brooklyn bridge is different from those of the two former mayors in the sense that it is that of someone who is both new to America and new to such architectural triumphs. From his lens, the Brooklyn Bridge is both a revolutionary form of transportation and an admirable form of art. He talks about the bridge as if it were his own native bridge, and says “I clamber, in pride, upon the Brooklyn Bridge”. However, Mayakovsky is one of the first of the three subjects I’ve talked about to discuss the negative side of the Brooklyn Bridge. In his line “from this spot, jobless men leapt, headlong into the Hudson”, Mayakovsky depicts the actions of those who were less fortunate both economically and socially in the wake of the bridge’s construction. Although the overall effect of the bridge is an everlasting impression of glory, triumph, and American pride, it is necessary to address the darker side of a bridge, the side that took the efforts of thousands to build and the sacrifice of their time and even lives. Mayakovsky does this in a poetic way, whereas, Mayor of Brooklyn, Seth Low, addresses those who were lost in the building of the bridge through the form of a speech, honoring their memory through his praise for the bridge.
September 11, 2017 at 11:16 pm
Originally built to unite the two cities and to expand Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge project started in 1869 and finished fourteen years later. The Brooklyn Bridge was a place where the citizens of New York could experience a thrill and see the city from a new perspective. It also provided countless opportunities, new occupations and lifestyles for the citizens. The completion of the bridge provided many different thoughts and emotions including those from the commentators in “Sunlight and Shadow” and the mayors of Low and Edson.
Mayor Low and Edson were able to see the economic benefits from the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge. During the winter, the harbor was frozen and as a result, trade was halted. With this creation of the bridge in mind, they were able to devise a plan where they would be able to transport goods and will be able to expand outwards towards Brooklyn. There were many advantages that would help the economy rise and the two mayors were able to recognize this. The interactions between the two boroughs would increase business and in return create more revenue. It would be a prosperous relationship and even though the two mayors don’t know what the future holds, they know that the two boroughs will continue to be linked and will cooperate together.
On the other hand, Mayor Low and the commentators of “Sunlight and Shadow” shared identical views about the values incorporated in the Brooklyn Bridge. It represented that the descendants of Europeans and Asians who came to the America are here to stay because this is their home. It was a grand accomplishment and this was seen with the celebrations that they had. They set off fireworks for hours and this displayed how Americans were full of pride. The Americans were able to take credit for all the work that they had done. It took patience and strength to compete the bridge and once it was completed, many realized that the bridge incorporated characteristics that Americans had while completing the project which included bravery, endurance and hope. The bridge also contained ideals from the American promise where people can go achieve any of their dreams with the required effort.
September 11, 2017 at 11:57 pm
The Brooklyn Bridge was, at the time of its completion, the greatest engineering achievement in all of the United States. It took fourteen years to complete and it connected the two boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. It represents an important turning point in the history of New York City in that it not only connected two communities separated by water, which was unprecedented at the time, it also decongested much of what was becoming a crowded Manhattan. Additionally, it allowed for city expansion into Long Island, furthering the ever-growing expanse of the City of New York.
Both the speeches of mayors Low and Edson, as well as the poems of Crane and Mayakovsky, reflect on the importance of the Brooklyn Bridge and the importance it played in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The bridge’s significance in trade and commerce, as well as culture, pushed forward the growth of the city; and both the mayors and poets realize this. Mayor Edson mentions the nearly unlimited possibilities that the bridge offers. More specifically, he discusses the unification of Brooklyn and Manhattan, furthermore, he emphasizes the communities as a whole and celebrates the now possible unification of the two cultures. Mayor Low is concerned with the bridge’s flow and current and how much easier and convenient it will be for the two cities.
On the other hand, the two poets also rave of the Brooklyn Bridge’s possibilities. Crane, in “To Brooklyn Bridge,” writes of the bridge’s might and significance of a marvelous work of art and actual being rather than a method of transportation. On the other hand, Mayakovsky writes of the humbleness he feels in the presence of such a feat of modern architecture. Altogether, the Brooklyn Bridge serves as a significant monument dedicated to the hard work of New Yorkers.
September 12, 2017 at 12:42 am
The Brooklyn Bridge opened on May 24th, 1883 on what became known as “The People’s Day”. The completion of the Brooklyn Bridge was a major accomplishment that revolutionized New York City. The bridge was not only the longest bridge at the time of its completion; it physically connected Brooklyn with Manhattan and provided a reliable means of transportation for people and goods between the two cities. The bridge served as a symbol of the city’s spirit and determination in the face of hardship.
Both the documentary “Sunlight and Shadow” and Mayor Franklin Edson’s speech celebrate and recognize the significance of the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge. They both recognized the important impact that the bridge had on people and commerce between Brooklyn and New York. Likewise, both recognized how the bridge was a major innovative achievement: “Sunlight and Shadow” acknowledged its unprecedented length and size, while Mayor Edson acknowledged its profound impact on commerce as a mode of transport just as the Erie Canal decades before.
While both “Sunlight and Shadow” and Mayor Edson’s speech both acknowledged the symbolic significance of the Brooklyn Bridge, they did so in different ways. “Sunlight and Shadow” presented how the bridge was a symbol of the city’s effort and unique opportunity. In contrast, Mayor Edson’s speech presented how the bridge was a symbol of prosperity and unity between the cities of New York and Brooklyn. The bridge would not only increase commerce and communication between the cities, but also unite them as one continuously growing municipality.
September 12, 2017 at 12:51 am
The Brooklyn Bridge was a project conjured by a few people who believed in the technology and ability of the American people to build something great. At the time, such a massive structure was not typical and many were skeptical of its success. However, the faith and hard work in the American dream proved strong enough, resulting in the connection of two major cities.
Many responded during this momentous time, reflecting on their opinions and thoughts. Among those included the Mayor of New York City at the time, Franklin Edson, and the Mayor of Brooklyn, Seth Low. Both recognized the economic and social growth to come from the connection of Brooklyn and Manhattan. Apart, the two were both great cities, bustling with people, opportunities and money. However, while Low was sure of this outcome, Edson was more speculative. Edson saw the potential for great prosperity while Low believed success was inevitable. Edson gave this sense of urgency to continue to work hard and strive for greatness, as it is never guaranteed. Low believed the energy and life in both cities were bound to flow between one another. Although both saw the bridge as a success, it was the future to come that they did not completely see eye to eye.
Poets Hart Crane and Vladimir Mayakovsky also responded to the completion of the bridge in similar ways. Both visiting New York City, the Brooklyn Bridge caught them at a loss for words. They both expressed in their poems an awe-struck feeling towards its massiveness. However, for Mayakovsky, he found the bridge to be a great accomplishment that will remain throughout New York’s history, bringing opportunities for “jobless men.” While Crane has a little more uncertainty in the fulfillment of the bridge’s purpose. He sees that it “vaults the seas,” meaning it does connect Brooklyn and Manhattan, but he isn’t sure how helpful it will be for the poor, whom “unto us lowliest sometimes sweep… a myth to God.”
September 12, 2017 at 12:53 am
The Brooklyn Bridge was one of the biggest architectural challenges at the time when it was built. It took 14 years to be completely finished and even some workers died while working on it. Franklin Edson, the mayor of New York City, gave a speech at the opening ceremony of the Brooklyn Bridge. In his speech, he focusses on the past growth of New York City and the future growth of both New York City and Brooklyn now that there is a body of land connecting them. He looks back at the past scale of progression of these two cities and questions what the future might hold for them now that there is a faster and simpler way of transportation between the two.
Seth Low, the mayor of the city of Brooklyn, also gave a speech at the opening ceremony of the Brooklyn bridge. However, he continues to marvel at the architecture and meaning of the Brooklyn bridge rather than just the past and future it can provide for both cities. He goes on to mention the Erie Canal and its importance to transportation and trade and how the Brooklyn Bridge is just as important. Low also praises the Americans that built the bridge and that the Brooklyn Bridge was completely American made. It required faith and courage to create the bridge and Low thanks those that contributed to its success. He ends his speech by saying how only great people could’ve made such a great Bridge and that these people come from these great cities.
Both Seth Low and Franklin Edson are thankful for the successful completion of the Brooklyn Bridge, but they display it differently. Edson is concerned for the future on whether or not the progress of improvement will be able to keep up with the pace at which both cities are expanding. Low is focused on the present and what the Brooklyn Bridge can offer in the present. He says how the creation of the Brooklyn Bridge is a triumph and that the American people should be proud.
September 12, 2017 at 2:16 am
The Brooklyn Bridge was a magnificent feat that resulted in unprecedented and lasting change for both Manhattan and Brooklyn. The commentators in “Sunlight and Shadow” and the speeches of mayors Low and Edson both agree with this. They both explain the significance of the Brooklyn Bridge and why it is celebrated as one of the greatest achievements in the United States. They both share a tone that is triumphant and proud of what had been accomplished despite all the roadblocks along the way. A major difference is the way they tell the story of the Brooklyn Bridge. The commentators give background, context, and most importantly the history. They emphasize how much work was put into the Brooklyn Bridge by showing the events that led up to the Brooklyn Bridge and what the people of both cities went through to see its completion. They offered information on why the Brooklyn Bridge took so long, what was going on in the cities at the time, and why it was continued. On the other hand, the speeches given by the mayors put more emphasis on the significance of the bridge for the future. They show the impact of the Brooklyn Bridge for the future. It portrays the power of imagination and what people can accomplish if they put their mind to it.
September 12, 2017 at 4:03 am
The completion of the Brooklyn Bridge marked it as one of the greatest wonders of science. After putting in fourteen years of labor, the Brooklyn Bridge was finally completed in 1833. This magnificent bridge stretches over the East River and connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Along with merging two communities, this bridge also aided in decongesting the overpopulated Manhattan. Upon the completion of the bridge, the Mayor of New York City Franklin Edson and the Mayor of Brooklyn Seth Low had a lot to say as to what this could bridge could accomplish through their addresses.
In his acceptance address, Edson thanked the President and saw this alliance between the two cities as a huge accomplishment. Both Edson and Low viewed this as a mean of communication between these two great cities. Low mainly addresses this bridge as an American triumph and states that with lasting faith, the completion of the bridge was possible. He mainly admires the brilliance and appeal of the bridge. Low in his speech thanked those who put so much labor into the construction of the bridge and even remembered the lives lost. He states that “courage, enterprise, skill, faith, and en-durance” were all qualities that made this bridge. Although both mayors are thankful for this bridge, Edson gives off with more of question to the future, whereas Low appreciates the success of it now and how grateful he is to everyone that made it possible. The poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, much like Low, appreciates the beauty of the bridge. He shows ho proud he is of it and truly admires the greatness of it.
September 12, 2017 at 9:17 am
The completion of the Brooklyn Bridge was a monumental architectural achievement after fourteen years of toil, and the structure linking Manhattan to Brooklyn was the start of immense social and economic growth. Franklin Edson, the mayor of the city of New York, had delivered a speech acknowledging the financial benefits of connecting the two cities and subsequently questioned whether or not the people of Manhattan and Brooklyn would be able to keep up with the rate of growth. Seth Low, the mayor of Brooklyn, delivered a particularly patriotic speech that detailed the collaborative effort of those who worked tirelessly, some even to death, to complete the bridge that provided thousands of opportunities as well as facilitated communication, both of which were previously nonexistent.
Vladimir Mayakovsky’s poem “Brooklyn Bridge” mirrors the national pride of Low’s speech, despite being a Russian poet whose stay in New York City was temporary. He expresses his belief in the indestructibility of the Brooklyn Bridge and comments on its physical aspects, with the unique structure of the poem perhaps mimicking the steps he took upon the bridge. However, Mayakovsky does not mention anything about the opportunities the Brooklyn Bridge brings to the people, nor does he bring up the societal developments the bridge could expedite.
September 12, 2017 at 9:27 am
Across all the speeches and poetry, the Brooklyn Bridge signifies a sense of pride and hope for its speakers. It was universally understood that by connecting the two populous cities of Brooklyn and Manhattan, the bridge was shifting New York and all the people in the surrounding area into a new era of open borders, which brought with it commercial and social opportunity. Mayakovsky sees this Bridge as a beacon of said opportunity. He imbues it with much significance, comparing the bridge to the way ships connected Europe with the West Hemisphere, forever changing the lives of both the European settlers and the native people. Drawing a parallel to such a significant event, Mayakovsky is suggesting that this new connection has the capacity to greatly alter the lives of the citizens of both sides of the river in a similar manner.
The speech of New York City’s mayor Franklin Edson, is full of a similar hope for what this newly established connection may mean for the future. Edson maintains that there are a great many “possibilities” which may arise from this construction. Edson makes a point that this Bridge may mean the consolidation of the two cities into one, and what that may mean for the city’s residents and commercial industry. Seth Low’s speech displays a slightly different pride. He dwells on the “American”, from the people who constructed the bridge to the materials from which the Bridge was constructed. He does not look for what this bridge may mean for the consolidation of New York City and Brooklyn, but rather for what this bridge may mean for the residents of Brooklyn, having now opened for them a point of easy access to the city. For Low, this bridge is a milestone in the communication between the two cities. All three individuals, Mayakovsky, Edson, and Low, see this bridge and the connection it establishes as a point of growth for the city’s people and its industries. They are all hopeful for the ways in which this connection will alter life in these cities.
September 12, 2017 at 9:31 am
Vladimir Mayakovsky states in his poem, “Brooklyn Bridge” that he felt the same connection to Brooklyn Bridge that a religious person might feel to his or her place of worship, that a conqueror might feel towards another successful conquest, that a painter might feel in a museum. He would come to the bridge because here is where he could ruminate on the hassles of life and find his solutions, here is where he feels a sense of pride, here is where he gets to admire the beauty both of the natural world, of the stars strewn above him, and of the man-made world, of the mighty spires of New York City. He also admired the idea that it felt like the bridge was built specifically for him to solidify his vision of a life of construction instead of style. This stands in stark contrast to the communal sense of Brooklyn Bridge that Walt Whitman provided in his own poem.
Hart Crane meanwhile wrote of a similar awe in his own poem, “To Brooklyn Bridge,” in which he admires the bridge’s stance as sentry standing guard of the City. It is the one immovable thing in a City defined by its ability to change. The City engulfs itself in emotion while the Bridge stands proud of its iron structure and stature.
The acceptance address of Hon. Franklin Edson at the opening ceremonies of the New York and Brooklyn Bridge (which would later be the just “the Brooklyn Bridge) also graciously praises the bridge, this time as a connection between two great cities, as at the time Brooklyn and New York were considered to be separate entities. He does not delve overmuch into the poetic reasons behind the bridge’s greatness, as he is speaking directly to the president. However, he does venture into the realms of optimistic rhetorical questions towards the end of his speech, indicating that he too sees a great potential in the bridge as a vehicle for change and for the benefit of all, somewhat indeed like Central Park.
September 12, 2017 at 9:59 am
The poem of Mayakovsky highlights the great stature to which the poet holds Brooklyn Bridge. One of the most profound stanzas that truly catches the essence of the poem, in my opinion, depicts how “…from this bridge, a geologist of the centuries will succeed in creating our contemporary world”. In this stanza, the poet speaks to how if our world was destroyed, the Brooklyn Bridge could be used as a point to rebuild all that we have accomplished to this day. This stanza assets the importance of the Brooklyn Bridge to the author as well as signifies the bridge’s everlasting qualities because it believes that the bridge has the ability to physically and metaphorically survive world demolition. Similarly, the poem “To Brooklyn Bridge” commends the Brooklyn Bridge as a stronghold force while the rest of New York City continues to move on like the waves. Crane comments on how the bridge marks beginnings in his poem through the usage of words phrases such as “How many dawns…” by comparing the Brooklyn Bridge to a timeless entity where many dawns have and will continue to take place.
While both poems comment on the enduring and immutable nature of the bridge, they differ in their addresses to the bridge. While Mayakovsky compares the bridge to a “church” or “monastery cell”-giving the bridge the same importance as a religious institution-he belittles himself as simply the “crazed believer” who steps on to the bridge. Contrastingly, Crane builds a more egalitarian relationship to the bridge by addressing it directly. While Mayakovsky’s words place the bridge on a pedestal, the usage of words such as “thee” by Crane forge a more personal relationship with the bridge. While both poems are written in the admiration of the Brooklyn Bridge, they differ in their addressment to the bridge.
September 12, 2017 at 10:46 am
The Brooklyn Bridge was one of the most marvelous feats of engineering at the time. To this day the Brooklyn Bridge has a major effect on the lives of people in the city. In 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge did the impossible; it connected Manhattan with Brooklyn thereby allowing millions of people to be easily connected to one another. This was revolutionary in all aspects of society be it commercial or social.
Both the Mayor of NYC and the Mayor of Brooklyn admired the Brooklyn Bridge and they both saw the potential. They acknowledged that this way a way to connect Manhattan to the 600,000 residents of Brooklyn and Edson foresaw the bridge as being a means of making Brooklyn and Manhattan part of one city that would boast a population of over 5 million. Edson also stated that he could not even comprehend the advancements that would occur in the next 25 years as a result of the construction. The Mayor of Brooklyn similarly praised the Brooklyn Bridge and its accomplishments. He also recognized the laborers and engineers who worked for 14 years creating this architectural marvel. He saw that the bridge would bring rapid communication and transportation to Manhattan and that it would be advantageous to the city for the future.
September 12, 2017 at 10:46 am
The Brooklyn Bridge was one of the most marvelous feats of engineering at the time. To this day the Brooklyn Bridge has a major effect on the lives of people in the city. In 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge did the impossible; it connected Manhattan with Brooklyn thereby allowing millions of people to be easily connected to one another. This was revolutionary in all aspects of society be it commercial or social.
Both the Mayor of NYC and the Mayor of Brooklyn admired the Brooklyn Bridge and they both saw the potential. They acknowledged that this way a way to connect Manhattan to the 600,000 residents of Brooklyn and Edson foresaw the bridge as being a means of making Brooklyn and Manhattan part of one city that would boast a population of over 5 million. Edson also stated that he could not even comprehend the advancements that would occur in the next 25 years as a result of the construction. The Mayor of Brooklyn similarly praised the Brooklyn Bridge and its accomplishments. He also recognized the laborers and engineers who worked for 14 years creating this architectural marvel. He saw that the bridge would bring rapid communication and transportation to Manhattan and that it would be advantageous to the city for the future.
September 30, 2017 at 4:13 pm
I’ve walked over the Brooklyn Bridge dozens of times, and its yet to fail to amaze me with its beauty and majesty. I’m very well aware that I am not alone in this fascination. The Brooklyn
Bridge remains one of the greatest feats of engineering to this day, and continues to be a source of awe, inspiration, and pride more than a hundred years after its completion. However, the Brooklyn Bridge has a different significance to many people. I’d like to compare the meaning the Brooklyn Bridge came to have for two individuals: Mayor Franklin Edson and poet Vladimir Mayakovsky.
Franklin Edson’s address places great emphasis on the new unity of Manhattan and Brooklyn, and the great advantages that such a connection would bring to both. He mentions other great public works that have connected different parts of America, for instance the Erie Canal, and the great wealth and interdependence these have brought. He also uses the achievements of technology and innovation of the time as a means of looking into the past and the future, mentioning that the world of New York City at the time of the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge could not have been imagined 25 years ago, and that it is impossible to visualize the potential greatness of the future in another quarter century.
Vladimir Mayakovsky, in his poem “Brooklyn Bridge,” takes on an entirely different view of the construction. Through his writing, one is instantly able to sense his utter fascination with the bridge. He mentions that stepping onto the bridge, for him, was an experience like that of a “crazed believer entering a church.” Being on the bridge made him feel “drunk with glory,” and “eager to live.” It was a place where he felt his visions come to life. Although he does reference the extent to which the construction of the bridge is an achievement of engineering and building, calling it an “austere disposition of bolts and steel,” his view of the bridge is a much more romantic one.
October 9, 2017 at 6:58 pm
Hart Crane’s piece of poetry on the Brooklyn Bridge can seem like it was written by someone who was high. His artistic yet abstract ways of describing the bridge are full of awe and admiration, commenting on its color and comparing it to metaphysical concepts such as heaven/religion. However, Crane’s piece “To Brooklyn Bridge” focuses heavily on the concept of connection. Describing the physical details of the bridge, Crane simultaneously gears towards the thesis of his poem which is that the Brooklyn Bridge will ultimately connect Americans. Strange enough thinking; are all Americans not of the same people? Not under the same flag and nationality? But that is what Crane emphasizes, that New York City is not simply any other city in the U.S. And more importantly, not only comprised of Americans. Hinting at the largely diverse population of the city, it seems that Crane is aware of this social phenomenon and while it has its economic benefits, it also has its downfalls. The brief seen where Crane describes a man committing suicide on a bridge may regard to the issues deeply rooted in the city; racism, structural inequality, segregation based on all sorts of distinctions, lack of overall federal support.
On the other hand, Seth Low, mayor of the city of Brooklyn sees this bridge as a symbol of American triumph. Opening his address by addressing the difficulty that was endured during the construction of the bridge, Low regards the bridge as a triumph of all sorts. A triumph of science, a triumph of faith, a triumph of American greatness. Low also goes to mention how many deaths occurred during the bridge’s construction, but swiftly moves on by saying that any great creation has unfortunately costed the lives of some. The address interestingly concludes with a theme of independence from New York City as a whole. Low mentions how Brooklyn will grow into a great city by itself, and that this bridge will assist into the rise to greatness. Contrasting to Crane’s poetry of how this bridge represented an opportunity for social congregation, it is evident that Low’s address is not only influenced to cater the Brooklyn citizens, but also from an economic perspective (which likely caused it to sound much more competitive in nature).