Don't Be a Miniver Cheevy
A Reflection on Writing as Culture Collapses
I’ve never been a fan of American poet E.A. Robinson. Yet his poem Miniver Cheevy, which is either about a man paralyzed by nostalgia for the past or a man who blames the modern era’s lack of glory and valor for his inactivity and alcoholism, has recently given me something to think about. In particular, the following parts have stood out in my mind —
Miniver Cheevy, child of scorn,
Grew lean while he assailed the seasons;
He wept that he was ever born,
And he had reasons.
Miniver loved the days of old…
Miniver sighed for what was not…
Miniver Cheevy, born too late,
Scratched his head and kept on thinking;
Miniver coughed, and called it fate,
And kept on drinking.1
What’s really stood out to me is that the real problem here is not modernity and its lack of opportunities for a fine, virtuous, valorous alcoholic like Miniver to showcase his outstanding thoughts and deeds. The real problem is that Miniver and Robinson, by extension it seems to me, cannot see that whether or not the present values what was truly great about the past is, ultimately, irrelevant.
What matter is how one lives before God.
As someone who is committed to being as thorough as I can be in my research and writing, it is often tempting to think like Miniver Cheevy. The diminishing attention span of many makes me question the practical efficacy of writing in long form, with many footnotes. If the number of people who are reading long form articles is gradually being surpassed by those who are engulfed in memes and TikTok videos, what is the point?
Well, the point is this: To honor God and love my neighbor. Writing in this way is something that God has given the capacity to do. And while it can sometimes be helpful for some, when it’s done correctly, and I am relaying the truth based on evidence and sound reason, it’s a historical witness to what is happening in the world. It is evidence of the truth or falsity of the claims of others, or of the good or bad consequences of others ideas and/or actions.
The Lord doesn’t need me or you or anyone else to verify what has happened, is happening, and will happen in the future. He is omniscient. Yet he has provided many different ways for us to see and understand the times; and this should make us thankful that we have the ability to do this, even if we are not writers or “content creators” who are making waves in the culture.
What matters is how one lives before God.
Miniver Cheevy didn’t get it. Robinson didn’t, either. And for a time, I also didn’t. But by God’s grace, I am beginning to grasp it.
—h.
The whole poem can be found here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44978/miniver-cheevy.