'The Jungle Husband' by Stevie Smith


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Dearest Evelyn, I often think of you
Out with the guns in the jungle stew
Yesterday I hittapotamus
I put the measurements down for you but they got lost in the fuss
It's not a good thing to drink out here
You know, I've practically given it up dear.
Tomorrow I am going alone a long way
Into the jungle. It is all grey
But green on top
Only sometimes when a tree has fallen
The sun comes down plop, it is quite appalling.
You never want to go in a jungle pool
In the hot sun, it would be the act of a fool
Because it's always full of anacondas, Evelyn, not looking ill-fed
I'll say. So no more now, from your loving husband Wilfred.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Jungle Husband: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Stevie Smith's poem, The Jungle Husband, is a beautifully crafted work of art that delves deep into the complexities of human relationships. Through the use of vivid imagery and powerful symbolism, Smith explores the themes of love, loss, and the struggle for individuality. The poem is an excellent example of how a skilled writer can use words to paint a picture that captures the essence of human experience.

Overview

The Jungle Husband is a narrative poem that tells the story of a woman who falls in love with a man who lives in the jungle. The woman is initially drawn to the man's wildness and ruggedness, but as time passes, she becomes disillusioned with him and longs for the comforts of civilization. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the woman's relationship with the man.

Themes

The Jungle Husband is a poem that deals with a wide range of themes, including love, loss, and the struggle for identity. At its core, the poem is about the tension between our desire for independence and our need for companionship. The woman in the poem is torn between her love for the man and her longing for the life she left behind. Her struggle to reconcile these conflicting desires is a universal human experience that many readers will be able to relate to.

Imagery

One of the most striking features of The Jungle Husband is the vivid imagery that Smith uses to bring her characters and setting to life. The jungle is portrayed as a wild and untamed place, full of danger and mystery. The man who lives in the jungle is described as a primitive and savage creature, with hair that "stood up like a porcupine's". The woman, on the other hand, is described as delicate and fragile, with skin that is "like the petals of a rose".

The use of such vivid and contrasting imagery is a powerful tool that Smith uses to convey the central conflict of the poem. The woman is drawn to the man's wildness, but she is also repelled by it. She longs for the safety and comfort of civilization, but she is also attracted to the danger and excitement of the jungle. The use of powerful imagery helps to bring these conflicting desires to life in a way that is both visceral and relatable.

Symbolism

In addition to its powerful imagery, The Jungle Husband also makes use of powerful symbolism to convey its themes. One of the most prominent symbols in the poem is the jungle itself. The jungle represents the untamed and uncontrollable aspects of human nature. It is a place where the rules of civilization do not apply, and where the primal instincts of survival and desire are allowed to run free.

The man who lives in the jungle is also a powerful symbol. He represents the wild and untamed aspects of the human psyche. He is a reminder that we are not all that different from the animals that we share the world with. His presence in the poem is a reminder that we are all capable of acts of great savagery and violence, and that we must always be vigilant against the darker aspects of our nature.

Conclusion

The Jungle Husband is a masterpiece of literary art that explores the complexities of human relationships in a way that is both relatable and powerful. Smith's use of vivid imagery and powerful symbolism helps to convey the central conflict of the poem in a way that is both visceral and engaging. The poem is a testament to the power of language and the ability of skilled writers to use words to capture the essence of human experience.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Jungle Husband: A Poem of Love and Freedom

Stevie Smith's "The Jungle Husband" is a classic poem that explores the themes of love, freedom, and the struggle for independence. The poem tells the story of a woman who falls in love with a man who lives in the jungle, and the challenges they face as they try to build a life together. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Smith creates a world that is both beautiful and dangerous, where love and freedom are constantly at odds.

The poem begins with a description of the jungle, a place of "green and gold" where "the sun beats down like a hammer." The woman, who is unnamed, is drawn to this wild and untamed place, and she falls in love with a man who lives there. The man is described as a "jungle husband," a wild and free creature who is at home in the jungle. He is a symbol of the woman's desire for freedom and independence, and she is willing to risk everything to be with him.

The woman's love for the jungle husband is intense and all-consuming. She describes him as "my heart's delight," and she longs to be with him always. But their love is not without its challenges. The jungle husband is a wild and unpredictable creature, and he is not always easy to live with. He is described as "a creature of the wild," and he is prone to fits of rage and violence. The woman must learn to navigate this dangerous world if she wants to be with him.

Despite the challenges they face, the woman and the jungle husband are deeply in love. They build a life together in the jungle, and they are happy together. But their happiness is short-lived. The woman soon realizes that she cannot live in the jungle forever. She longs for the comforts of civilization, and she begins to feel trapped in the jungle. She realizes that she cannot be truly free as long as she is with the jungle husband.

The poem ends with the woman leaving the jungle husband and returning to civilization. She is torn between her love for him and her desire for freedom. She knows that she cannot have both, and she must choose between them. The poem ends with the woman looking back at the jungle, longing for the freedom and love she has lost.

"The Jungle Husband" is a powerful poem that explores the themes of love, freedom, and the struggle for independence. It is a poem that speaks to the human desire for freedom and the challenges we face as we try to build a life that is truly our own. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Smith creates a world that is both beautiful and dangerous, where love and freedom are constantly at odds.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery. Smith creates a vivid picture of the jungle, with its "green and gold" colors and its oppressive heat. The jungle is a symbol of the woman's desire for freedom and independence, but it is also a dangerous and unpredictable place. The jungle husband is a symbol of this danger, with his wild and unpredictable nature. Smith uses these images to create a sense of tension and conflict, as the woman struggles to reconcile her love for the jungle husband with her desire for freedom.

Another important theme in the poem is the struggle for independence. The woman is torn between her love for the jungle husband and her desire for freedom. She realizes that she cannot be truly free as long as she is with him, and she must make a choice. This struggle is a universal one, as we all face the challenge of balancing our desire for love and companionship with our need for independence and freedom.

Overall, "The Jungle Husband" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of love, freedom, and the struggle for independence. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Smith creates a world that is both beautiful and dangerous, where love and freedom are constantly at odds. The poem speaks to the human desire for freedom and the challenges we face as we try to build a life that is truly our own. It is a poem that will resonate with readers for generations to come.

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