He analyzes what has changed in the world since the outbreak of the world wars. I interpret that he believes that the honor of ancient ages is dead. However, he believes that despite “negation and despair”, he can become an “affirmative flame”. Instead of appealing to honor and nationalism, he demands that “we must love one another or die.” Even if he never speaks of honor, it seems to me that he calls humanity to stand side by side. Auden's understanding of what it means to shine hope and be good to all humanity parallels my personal definition of