'Tortures' by Wislawa Szymborska

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Nothing has changed.
The body is susceptible to pain,
it must eat and breathe air and sleep,
it has thin skin and blood right underneath,
an adequate stock of teeth and nails,
its bones are breakable, its joints are stretchable.
In tortures all this is taken into account.Nothing has changed.
The body shudders as it shuddered
before the founding of Rome and after,
in the twentieth century before and after Christ.
Tortures are as they were, it's just the earth that's grown smaller,
and whatever happens seems right on the other side of the wall.Nothing has changed. It's just that there are more people,
besides the old offenses new ones have appeared,
real, imaginary, temporary, and none,
but the howl with which the body responds to them,
was, is and ever will be a howl of innocence
according to the time-honored scale and tonality.Nothing has changed. Maybe just the manners, ceremonies, dances.
Yet the movement of the hands in protecting the head is the same.
The body writhes, jerks and tries to pull away,
its legs give out, it falls, the knees fly up,
it turns blue, swells, salivates and bleeds.Nothing has changed. Except for the course of boundaries,
the line of forests, coasts, deserts and glaciers.
Amid these landscapes traipses the soul,
disappears, comes back, draws nearer, moves away,
alien to itself, elusive, at times certain, at others uncertain of its own existence,
while the body is and is and is
and has no place of its own.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Tortures by Wislawa Szymborska: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

As a literary work, Tortures by Wislawa Szymborska is a powerful and moving poem that explores the complexities of human cruelty and the potential for redemption. Written in 1986, the poem speaks to the horrors of the 20th century, from the Holocaust to the use of torture in modern warfare. Through its vivid imagery and understated language, Tortures offers a haunting reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of empathy and compassion.

Form and Structure

Tortures is a free-verse poem with no consistent rhyme or meter. The poem consists of a series of short, fragmented lines that create a sense of abruptness and urgency. The fragmentation also serves to mirror the fragmented experiences of the victims of torture, as well as the fragmented nature of memory and trauma. The lack of punctuation and caesuras between lines further contribute to this sense of disjointedness, as the reader is forced to pause and reflect on each image and idea.

Despite its fragmented structure, Tortures maintains a sense of coherence through the use of imagery and repetition. The poem opens with a description of a "bird that has flown in" and ends with a call to "remember the bird." This bird serves as a metaphor for the victims of torture, who are often silenced and forgotten by those in power. By returning to this image at the beginning and end of the poem, Szymborska creates a sense of circularity and closure, inviting the reader to reflect on the poem's themes and message.

Themes and Interpretation

At its core, Tortures is a meditation on the human capacity for cruelty and the potential for redemption. Throughout the poem, Szymborska presents a series of vivid and often disturbing images that reveal the brutality of torture. From the "stun gun's electrodes" to the "iron maiden's teeth," the poem depicts a range of torturous methods and devices that are designed to inflict pain and suffering on the human body.

But while the poem is unflinching in its portrayal of these horrors, it also offers a glimmer of hope. In the final lines of the poem, Szymborska urges the reader to "remember the bird," to hold onto the memory of those who have been silenced and oppressed. In doing so, she suggests that empathy and compassion are the antidotes to cruelty and violence.

One way to interpret the poem is as a critique of power and authority. Throughout the poem, Szymborska portrays the torturers as faceless and anonymous, their actions justified by their position of authority. By focusing on the victims of torture, however, she highlights the human cost of such actions. In doing so, she challenges the reader to question the legitimacy of power and to consider the role that empathy and compassion should play in our interactions with others.

Another way to interpret the poem is as a commentary on memory and trauma. By using fragmented language and disjointed imagery, Szymborska captures the disorienting nature of traumatic experiences. She also suggests that memory is a powerful tool for healing, as it allows us to remember and honor those who have suffered. In this sense, the poem can be seen as a call to remember the past and to use our memories as a means of promoting empathy and understanding.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Tortures by Wislawa Szymborska is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that offers a critique of human cruelty and an affirmation of empathy and compassion. Through its fragmented structure and vivid imagery, the poem captures the disorienting and dehumanizing effects of torture, while also suggesting that memory and empathy are powerful tools for healing and transformation. As we continue to grapple with the legacy of the 20th century and the ongoing use of torture in modern conflicts, Tortures remains a vital and timely reminder of the importance of remembering and honoring those who have suffered.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Tortures: A Masterpiece of Irony and Satire

Wislawa Szymborska, the Polish Nobel laureate, is known for her sharp wit and incisive commentary on the human condition. Her poem "Poetry Tortures" is a prime example of her mastery of irony and satire. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in this poem to understand its deeper meaning.

The poem begins with a seemingly straightforward statement: "No, poetry isn't torture." However, as the poem unfolds, it becomes clear that the speaker is being ironic. The next line reads, "It's a honey-colored lick." This image of sweetness and pleasure contrasts sharply with the idea of torture, setting up the poem's central irony: that poetry can be both pleasurable and painful.

The poem's first stanza goes on to describe the pleasures of poetry: "a sip of wine that expands your chest," "a kiss like a seraph's blessing," "a caress that melts away all pain." These images are sensual and evocative, painting a picture of poetry as a source of comfort and beauty.

However, the second stanza takes a darker turn. The speaker acknowledges that poetry can also be painful: "It's a wound that never heals," "a scream that no one hears," "a knife that cuts without a trace." These images are jarring and violent, contrasting sharply with the sweetness of the first stanza.

The third stanza brings the two opposing ideas together: "It's a song that makes you weep," "a joy that breaks your heart," "a dream that wakes you up." Here, the speaker acknowledges that poetry can be both pleasurable and painful, that it can evoke both tears and joy.

The poem's final lines bring the irony full circle: "No, poetry isn't torture. Except for poets." Here, the speaker acknowledges that while poetry may not be torture for the reader, it can be for the poet. This line is both humorous and poignant, highlighting the idea that the creation of art can be a painful and difficult process.

The structure of the poem is simple but effective. It consists of four stanzas, each with three lines. The first and third stanzas describe the pleasures of poetry, while the second and fourth stanzas describe the pain. This structure creates a sense of balance and symmetry, emphasizing the idea that poetry can be both pleasurable and painful.

The poem's use of literary devices is also noteworthy. The images used throughout the poem are vivid and evocative, creating a sense of sensory experience for the reader. The use of irony is particularly effective, as it creates a sense of tension and contradiction that keeps the reader engaged.

The poem's use of metaphor is also notable. The image of poetry as a "honey-colored lick" is particularly striking, as it creates a sense of sweetness and pleasure. The image of poetry as a "knife that cuts without a trace" is also powerful, as it creates a sense of danger and violence.

The poem's use of repetition is also effective. The repetition of the phrase "No, poetry isn't torture" creates a sense of irony, as the poem goes on to describe the painful aspects of poetry. The repetition of the phrase "It's a" also creates a sense of rhythm and structure, emphasizing the poem's balance and symmetry.

In conclusion, "Poetry Tortures" is a masterpiece of irony and satire. Through its use of vivid imagery, irony, metaphor, and repetition, the poem explores the complex relationship between pleasure and pain in the creation and consumption of art. The poem's final lines, "No, poetry isn't torture. Except for poets," are particularly poignant, highlighting the idea that the creation of art can be a painful and difficult process. Overall, "Poetry Tortures" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that deserves to be read and appreciated by all lovers of literature.

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