“Desolation Row” is one of Bob Dylan’s most emblematic songs, filled with literary and historical references. Here are the characters mentioned in the song, along with brief descriptions:
- Cinderella: A classic fairytale character known for her rags-to-riches story.
- Romeo: The male protagonist from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”
- Ophelia: A character from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” who tragically drowns.
- Noah: A biblical figure who built an ark to survive a worldwide flood in the Book of Genesis.
- Einstein (disguised as Robin Hood): Albert Einstein, the physicist, represented in the guise of the legendary outlaw who stole from the rich to give to the poor.
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame (referred to as a “hunchback”): The central character from Victor Hugo’s novel “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.”
- Dr. Filth: A character presumably created by Dylan, representing corruption and decay.
- His nurse: The aide to Dr. Filth, likely a symbol of mindless assistance to corruption.
- Casanova: A historical figure known for his romantic escapades.
- The Phantom of the Opera: The masked character from Gaston Leroux’s novel, known for haunting the Paris Opera House.
- Nero: A notoriously cruel Roman Emperor, often associated with tyranny and extravagance.
- The Blind Commissioner: An invented character that could symbolize blind law enforcement or bureaucracy.
- Cain and Abel: Brothers from the Book of Genesis; Cain murdered Abel out of jealousy.
- The riot squad: A generic term for law enforcement units trained to suppress riots. They represent oppressive forces in the song.
- Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot: Influential poets and critics of the early 20th century.
Cansu Demir
