Ezra Pound: A Problematic Figure

We have discussed fellow modernist poet Ezra Pound who had an immense impact on Eliot's work and ideas. Ms. King has also referenced the fact that Ezra Pound is a very problematic figure, so I thought I'd make a post explaining this. After World War I, like many others at the time, Pound was disillusioned with modern societal structures that had caused this war. Unfortunately, he saw the issues at hand as rooted in an international conspiracy involving Jewish bankers and problems with capitalism. As such, he turned to fascism and radical antisemitism. In 1933, he met Benito Mussolini and was awed by his meeting with the fascist dictator of Italy. Later, he became a radio broadcaster who aired his radically antisemitic ideals, arguing that the US should not enter World War II. He said the Third Reich and Fascist Italy were doing a good thing by spreading fascism around Europe, even stating that the Germans were "Civilizing" Russia. He called Hitler a "Jeanne d'Arc, a saint" and Mussolini an "imperfect character who lost his head." Pound was eventually arrested for treason after the United States invaded Italy. So while Pound is a notable figure of modernist literature given his profound influence on the literary movement and his own literary works, as a political figure he is incredibly problematic and sort of disturbing.