Final answer:
The message of 'The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver' revolves around themes of selfless maternal love, sacrifice, and the transcendent nature of art, as demonstrated in the story of a mother weaving clothes for her son with a magical harp, despite their poverty.
Step-by-step explanation:
The message of 'The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver' by Edna St. Vincent Millay is intertwined with themes of selfless love, sacrifice, and the power of art and music to transcend difficult circumstances. The poem tells a haunting story of a poor mother who weaves clothes for her son using a magical harp. Despite their dire poverty, the mother prioritizes her son's well-being and warmth during the cold winter days. The harp-weaving serves as a metaphor for the sacrifices parents make for their children, as well as the transformative and consoling power of creativity and art. Millay's narrative conveys a message that resonates with the strength of maternal love and the lasting impact of selfless actions.
Through her lyrical and emotive style, Millay delivers a poignant commentary on poverty and the struggles of the human condition. The harp-weaver works until she literally cannot anymore, highlighting the all-consuming nature of a parent's love. The poem ultimately leaves readers with a sense of somber beauty and melancholy, reflecting on the depths to which one will go to care for loved ones, and suggesting themes of nobility in sacrifice and the enduring nature of love.
The ballad won Millay the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1923, signifying its critical acclaim and the impact it had on the literary world. The variance in tone and its rich, symbolic narrative have allowed 'The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver' to be a work that continues to be studied and admired for its emotional depth and beautiful craftsmanship.