'Property' by Robert Service
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The red-roofed house of dream design
Looks three ways on the sea;
For fifty years I've made it mine,
And held it part of me.
The pines I planted in my youth
Triumpantly are tall . . .
Yet now I know with sorry sooth
I have to leave it all.
Hard-hewn from out the living rock
And salty from the tide,
My house has braved the tempest shock
With hardihood and pride.
Each nook is memoried to me;
I've loved its every stone,
And cried to it exultantly:
"My own, my very own!"
Poor fool! To think that I possess.
I have but cannot hold;
And all that's mine is less and less
My own as I grow old.
My home shall ring with childish cheers
When I shall leave it lone;
My house will bide a hundred years
When I am in the bone.
Alas! No thing can be my own:
At most a life-long lease
Is all I hold, a little loan
From Time, that soon will cease.
For now by faint and failing breath
I feel that I must go . . .
Old House! You've never known a death,--
Well, now's your hour to know.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Property by Robert Service: An analysis of the human greed
Robert Service's poem "Property" is a classic piece of literature that vividly portrays the human greed for property, and its destructive consequences. Written in 1916, the poem remains relevant even today, in a world where the desire for wealth and possessions has only intensified. In this essay, I will provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of the poem, highlighting its themes, symbolism, and style.
The Themes of Property
The central theme of the poem is the human desire for property, and the greed and envy that it creates. Service presents this theme through the character of Tom McNeice, a farmer who is obsessed with owning the land around his farm. The poem begins with the lines:
Tom McNeice, you're of the stirrup,
And one day the world will know
How a son of the sod found fortune
In the hills of the Callow.
Here, Service sets the tone for the poem, introducing Tom as a man who is ambitious and determined to acquire wealth and property. Tom's desire for land is further emphasized in the lines:
Oh the Callow is sweet for grazing,
And the hills are red with gold,
And I'll be lord of a thousand
Ere my bones are stark and cold.
Tom's ambition is driven by his envy of the wealthy landowners who surround him, and his desire to be like them. Service captures this envy in the lines:
And my heart is eaten within me
With envy of them that hold
The lands of my fathers' fathers
And the hearths that were bright of old.
The poem thus portrays the destructive consequences of the human desire for property, and the envy and greed that it creates.
The Symbolism of Property
Service uses powerful symbolism to convey the themes of the poem. The land around Tom's farm is portrayed as a symbol of wealth and power. Tom's desire to own this land is thus symbolic of his desire for wealth and status. The land is also symbolic of the past, and the heritage that Tom is trying to reclaim. This is conveyed in the lines:
And my heart is eaten within me
With envy of them that hold
The lands of my fathers' fathers
And the hearths that were bright of old.
The land is thus a symbol of the past, and the legacy that Tom is trying to reclaim.
Another important symbol in the poem is the river that runs through the land. The river is a symbol of nature, and the beauty and harmony that exists in the natural world. However, Tom's desire for property blinds him to this beauty, and he sees the river only as a means to an end. This is conveyed in the lines:
And the river that ran so sweetly
I've dammed for my own behoof;
No boat now goes on its bosom,
And it sings a dirge for its youth.
Here, the river is portrayed as a victim of Tom's greed, and its beauty and harmony are destroyed.
The Style of Property
Service's style in "Property" is simple and direct, with a strong rhythm and rhyme scheme that reinforces the poem's themes. The poem is written in a colloquial style, with phrases like "son of the sod" and "red with gold" that evoke the rural setting of the poem. The use of repetition and alliteration also adds to the poem's rhythm and impact. For example, the repetition of "And my heart is eaten within me" emphasizes Tom's envy and resentment.
Service also uses imagery and metaphor to convey the themes of the poem. The imagery of the river, for example, is a powerful metaphor for the destructive consequences of Tom's greed. The metaphor of Tom as a "son of the sod" also reinforces the theme of heritage and legacy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Robert Service's poem "Property" is a classic piece of literature that vividly portrays the destructive consequences of the human desire for property. Through the character of Tom McNeice, Service conveys the themes of greed, envy, and the destructive power of the desire for wealth and possessions. The poem's powerful symbolism and simple, direct style add to its impact, making it a timeless work of literature that remains relevant even today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Property by Robert Service is a classic poem that explores the concept of ownership and the human desire to possess things. The poem is a powerful commentary on the nature of materialism and the way it can consume us, leading us to forget the things that truly matter in life.
At its core, Property is a poem about a man who becomes obsessed with owning a piece of land. He spends all his time and energy trying to acquire it, and when he finally does, he realizes that he has lost sight of what is truly important in life. The poem is a cautionary tale about the dangers of materialism and the way it can lead us astray.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the man's obsession with the land. He talks about how the man spends all his time thinking about it, dreaming about it, and scheming to acquire it. The man is consumed by his desire to own this piece of property, and he will stop at nothing to get it.
As the poem progresses, we see the man's obsession grow stronger. He becomes more and more fixated on the land, and he begins to neglect the things that truly matter in life. He stops spending time with his family and friends, and he becomes isolated and alone.
Despite his obsession, the man eventually acquires the land. He is overjoyed at first, but soon realizes that his obsession has cost him dearly. He has lost his family, his friends, and his sense of purpose in life. He is left with nothing but his property, and he realizes that it is not enough to make him happy.
The poem ends with the speaker reflecting on the man's fate. He talks about how the man has become a cautionary tale, a warning to others about the dangers of materialism. The speaker urges us to remember that there are more important things in life than possessions, and that we should never lose sight of what truly matters.
Overall, Property is a powerful poem that explores the dangers of materialism and the way it can consume us. It is a cautionary tale that reminds us to focus on the things that truly matter in life, and to never lose sight of our priorities. The poem is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today, and it is a testament to Robert Service's skill as a poet.
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