'The Fish' by Elizabeth Bishop
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I caught a tremendous fish
and held him beside the boat
half out of water, with my hook
fast in a corner of his mouth.
He didn't fight.
He hadn't fought at all.
He hung a grunting weight,
battered and venerable
and homely. Here and there
his brown skin hung in strips
like ancient wallpaper,
and its pattern of darker brown
was like wallpaper:
shapes like full-blown roses
stained and lost through age.
He was speckled with barnacles,
fine rosettes of lime,
and infested
with tiny white sea-lice,
and underneath two or three
rags of green weed hung down.
While his gills were breathing in
the terrible oxygen
--the frightening gills,
fresh and crisp with blood,
that can cut so badly--
I thought of the coarse white flesh
packed in like feathers,
the big bones and the little bones,
the dramatic reds and blacks
of his shiny entrails,
and the pink swim-bladder
like a big peony.
I looked into his eyes
which were far larger than mine
but shallower, and yellowed,
the irises backed and packed
with tarnished tinfoil
seen through the lenses
of old scratched isinglass.
They shifted a little, but not
to return my stare.
--It was more like the tipping
of an object toward the light.
I admired his sullen face,
the mechanism of his jaw,
and then I saw
that from his lower lip
--if you could call it a lip
grim, wet, and weaponlike,
hung five old pieces of fish-line,
or four and a wire leader
with the swivel still attached,
with all their five big hooks
grown firmly in his mouth.
A green line, frayed at the end
where he broke it, two heavier lines,
and a fine black thread
still crimped from the strain and snap
when it broke and he got away.
Like medals with their ribbons
frayed and wavering,
a five-haired beard of wisdom
trailing from his aching jaw.
I stared and stared
and victory filled up
the little rented boat,
from the pool of bilge
where oil had spread a rainbow
around the rusted engine
to the bailer rusted orange,
the sun-cracked thwarts,
the oarlocks on their strings,
the gunnels--until everything
was rainbow, rainbow, rainbow!
And I let the fish go.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Fish: A Masterpiece of Observation and Reflection
The Fish is a poem that has stood the test of time, captivating readers with its vivid imagery, sensory details, and profound reflections on life and death. Written by Elizabeth Bishop in 1946, the poem is a masterpiece of observation and interpretation, celebrating the beauty and complexity of nature while also reflecting on the human condition. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, symbols, and stylistic devices used by Bishop to create a poem that is both simple and profound, accessible and mysterious, captivating and thought-provoking.
Background and Context
Before we delve into the poem itself, it is important to understand the context in which it was written. Bishop was a renowned American poet who lived from 1911 to 1979, and who is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. She was known for her precise, understated style; her keen observational skills; and her ability to find beauty in everyday objects and experiences.
The Fish was written in 1946, at a time when Bishop was struggling with personal and professional challenges. She had recently suffered a nervous breakdown and was struggling to find her voice as a poet. The poem itself was inspired by a fishing trip she took with her friend Marianne Moore, during which Bishop caught a huge fish that she described as "venerable" and "homely." The experience stayed with her, and she later wrote the poem as a way of reflecting on the fish's life and her own.
Themes and Symbols
At its core, The Fish is a meditation on life and death, and the interconnectedness of all living things. Through her careful observation of the fish, Bishop explores themes of resilience, survival, aging, and mortality, while also highlighting the beauty and mystery of the natural world.
One of the key symbols in the poem is the fish itself. From the very beginning, Bishop describes the fish in vivid detail, painting a picture of its rough, scaly skin, its "infinitely fragile" gills, and its "tremendous" jaws. As she studies the fish more closely, she begins to see it as a symbol of endurance and survival, noting the scars on its body and the way it has "five big hooks / grown firmly in his mouth." Despite all the hardships and challenges it has faced, the fish has managed to survive and thrive, becoming a "venerable" presence in the water.
Another important symbol in the poem is the fishing line. The line represents both the connection between the fisherman and the fish, and the fragility of that connection. Bishop notes that the line is "like a poem / or a feat of engineering," highlighting its delicate balance between art and science. As she studies the line, she also reflects on the ways in which it connects her to the fish, and to the larger web of life that surrounds them both. In the end, the line becomes a symbol of the tenuous, yet powerful, connections that exist between all living things.
Stylistic Devices
One of the things that makes The Fish such a powerful poem is Bishop's use of vivid imagery and sensory details. Throughout the poem, she uses precise, evocative language to create a sense of intimacy and immediacy, transporting the reader directly into the world of the fisherman and the fish. Whether she is describing the fish's "brown skin hung in strips / like ancient wallpaper," or the way its eyes "were far larger than mine / but shallower, and yellowed," Bishop's language is always rich and precise, bringing the reader into the heart of the scene.
Another important stylistic device in the poem is Bishop's use of repetition and variation. Throughout the poem, she repeats certain phrases and images, such as the "five old pieces of fish-line" or the "homely and alert" fish. By repeating these phrases, Bishop creates a sense of rhythm and momentum, building towards the poem's final moments of revelation and insight. At the same time, she also varies these phrases, changing their meaning slightly with each repetition, and creating a nuanced, layered portrait of the fish and its world.
Interpretation
So what does The Fish mean, and why has it endured as a classic of American poetry? At its core, the poem is a meditation on the beauty and complexity of the natural world, and the ways in which we are all connected to it. Through her careful observation of the fish, Bishop celebrates the resilience and endurance of all living things, while also reflecting on the inevitability of change and mortality. As she notes in the poem's final lines:
and I let the fish go
and watched him swim away
and I was happy.
Bishop's happiness in this moment is not just a reflection of her successful fishing trip, but of the deeper insight she has gained into the world around her. Through her study of the fish, she has come to appreciate the beauty and mystery of the natural world, and to recognize her own place within it. In this sense, The Fish is not just a poem about a fish, but about the human experience of living in a world that is both beautiful and fragile, mysterious and interconnected.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Fish is a masterpiece of American poetry, celebrating the beauty and complexity of the natural world while also reflecting on the human experience of living in it. Through her careful observation of the fish, Bishop creates a portrait of resilience, survival, and endurance, while also highlighting the fragility and interconnectedness of all living things. With its vivid imagery, precise language, and profound reflections on life and death, The Fish is a poem that will continue to captivate readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Fish by Elizabeth Bishop: A Masterpiece of Observation and Reflection
Elizabeth Bishop's poem, The Fish, is a classic example of how a poet can transform a seemingly mundane subject into a work of art. The poem is a vivid description of a fish caught by the speaker, who then proceeds to examine it closely and reflect on its significance. The poem is a masterful blend of observation, reflection, and poetic language, and it has been widely praised for its depth and beauty.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the fish as "battered and venerable and homely." The fish is covered in barnacles and has a "five-haired beard of wisdom" that suggests it has lived a long and eventful life. The speaker then proceeds to examine the fish's various physical features, such as its eyes, gills, and fins. The language used to describe these features is rich and evocative, and it creates a vivid image of the fish in the reader's mind.
As the speaker continues to examine the fish, she begins to reflect on its significance. She notes that the fish has "survived everything" and has "a tremendous will." The fish becomes a symbol of resilience and endurance, and the speaker marvels at its ability to survive in a harsh and unforgiving world. The fish also becomes a symbol of the speaker's own struggles and challenges, and she sees in it a reflection of her own strength and determination.
The poem then takes a surprising turn as the speaker decides to release the fish back into the water. This decision is unexpected, given the speaker's earlier description of the fish as a "victory" and a "trophy." However, the speaker's decision to release the fish is a testament to her respect for the fish and her recognition of its value as a living creature. The act of releasing the fish also becomes a symbol of the speaker's own compassion and empathy, and it suggests that she has learned something important from her encounter with the fish.
The Fish is a remarkable poem for many reasons. First and foremost, it is a masterful example of observation and description. Bishop's language is precise and evocative, and it creates a vivid image of the fish in the reader's mind. The poem is also notable for its use of symbolism. The fish becomes a symbol of resilience, endurance, and compassion, and it serves as a reflection of the speaker's own struggles and challenges. Finally, the poem is remarkable for its emotional depth. The speaker's decision to release the fish is a powerful moment of empathy and compassion, and it suggests that she has learned something important about herself and the world around her.
In conclusion, The Fish is a masterpiece of observation and reflection. Bishop's language is rich and evocative, and it creates a vivid image of the fish in the reader's mind. The poem is also notable for its use of symbolism, which transforms the fish into a powerful symbol of resilience, endurance, and compassion. Finally, the poem is remarkable for its emotional depth, which is evident in the speaker's decision to release the fish back into the water. The Fish is a timeless work of art that continues to inspire and move readers today.
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