'Tattoo' by Wallace Stevens
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The light is like a spider.
It crawls over the water.
It crawls over the edges of the snow.
It crawls under your eyelids
And spreads its webs there--
Its two webs.
The webs of your eyes
Are fastened
To the flesh and bones of you
As to rafters or grass.
There are filaments of your eyes
On the surface of the water
And in the edges of the snow.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Tattoo by Wallace Stevens: A Masterful Exploration of Identity and Art
Are you familiar with the works of Wallace Stevens? If not, you're missing out on some of the most thought-provoking and beautiful pieces of poetry ever written. And among his many masterpieces, one stands out as particularly fascinating: Tattoo.
In this poem, Stevens explores the connection between art and identity, and how the two intertwine to create a complex web of meaning and expression. Through vivid imagery, intricate metaphors, and subtle nuances, he offers a profound meditation on what it means to be human, and how we can use art to understand ourselves and the world around us.
Let's dive in and explore this remarkable piece of literature in more depth.
Overview and Analysis
At its core, Tattoo is a poem about identity. It delves into the idea that we are all shaped by the things we experience, the people we encounter, and the art we consume. We carry these influences with us wherever we go, and they become a part of who we are.
In the first stanza, Stevens sets the tone for the rest of the poem by introducing the central image of the tattoo:
What is the sword That parries time's thrusts, And whose hilt, With age's tough pearl, Deflects the keen salt splash, The sandwind of the mind?
Here, Stevens presents the tattoo as a symbol of self-expression and individuality. The sword that "parries time's thrusts" represents the struggle to maintain our sense of self in a world that is constantly changing, while the hilt with its "tough pearl" suggests the resilience and strength that we need to endure. The tattoo becomes a way of marking ourselves, of claiming a place in the world that is uniquely our own.
Stevens continues this theme in the second stanza, where he describes the tattoo artist as a kind of magician:
The artist is the magician in whom The procedure is the genius of his tattoo. He deviates from norm, he observes himself, He weighs upon himself, He masters and defeats himself, He is the carver and the carver's art.
Here, the tattoo artist becomes a symbol of the creative spirit, someone who has the power to transform the mundane into the extraordinary. By deviating from norms and observing himself, he is able to tap into a deeper level of consciousness and create something that is truly unique. This process of self-mastery and self-defeat is essential to the artistic process, and it is what allows the artist to bring something new into the world.
In the third stanza, Stevens moves away from the idea of the tattoo as a symbol of individuality and instead focuses on its role in the creation of meaning:
The tattoo is the badge of the soul. It can act as a symbol, a metaphor, Or a sign of an act that was, is, Or may be, and that will be again and again.
Here, the tattoo becomes a way of communicating with the world, a way of expressing our deepest thoughts and emotions. It can be a symbol of our past, present, and future, a metaphor for our hopes and dreams, or a sign of the actions we have taken and will take in our lives. Through the tattoo, we can create a narrative of ourselves, a story that we can use to understand who we are and where we're going.
In the final stanza, Stevens brings all of these themes together in a powerful and poignant conclusion:
The tattoo is the truest mirror Of the self that is And the self that was. And, as the needle, so the self, Seeking, conceiving, loving, being Are all one and the same, And the tattooed body is a scripture, A living book, a testament.
Here, the tattoo becomes the "truest mirror" of the self, reflecting both who we are and who we have been. It is a testament to the power of self-expression and creativity, and a reminder that we are all part of something greater than ourselves. The tattooed body becomes a "living book," a scripture that we can use to understand our place in the world and our connection to others.
Themes and Motifs
As we've seen, Tattoo is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores a variety of themes and motifs. Here are a few that stood out to me:
Identity and Self-Expression
Perhaps the most obvious theme of Tattoo is the idea of identity and self-expression. Stevens uses the tattoo as a symbol of the ways in which we mark ourselves, both physically and emotionally, and how these marks become a part of who we are. Through the tattoo, we can express our individuality and claim a place in the world that is uniquely our own.
Art and Creativity
Another key theme of Tattoo is the role of art and creativity in our lives. Stevens presents the tattoo artist as a kind of magician, someone who has the power to transform the mundane into the extraordinary. Through the artistic process, we can tap into a deeper level of consciousness and create something that is truly unique.
Narrative and Meaning-Making
Finally, Tattoo explores the idea of narrative and meaning-making. Through the tattoo, we can create a narrative of ourselves, a story that we can use to understand who we are and where we're going. The tattoo becomes a way of communicating with the world, a way of expressing our deepest thoughts and emotions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Tattoo by Wallace Stevens is a remarkable piece of poetry that explores the complex and multifaceted nature of identity and art. Through vivid imagery, intricate metaphors, and subtle nuances, Stevens offers a profound meditation on what it means to be human, and how we can use art to understand ourselves and the world around us.
Whether you're a poetry lover or just someone who appreciates beautiful writing, I highly recommend checking out Tattoo and the rest of Stevens' works. You won't be disappointed!
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Tattoo: A Masterpiece by Wallace Stevens
Wallace Stevens, the American modernist poet, is known for his complex and philosophical poetry. His poem "Tattoo" is a prime example of his unique style and thought-provoking themes. The poem is a masterpiece that explores the nature of art, beauty, and the human condition. In this article, we will delve into the poem's meaning, structure, and literary devices to understand its significance.
The poem "Tattoo" is a short but powerful piece that consists of only six stanzas. Each stanza is composed of two lines, and the poem's structure is symmetrical. The first and last stanzas are identical, and the second and fifth stanzas are also identical. The third and fourth stanzas are the only ones that differ from the others. This structure creates a sense of balance and harmony, which is fitting for a poem that explores the nature of beauty and art.
The poem's title, "Tattoo," is significant because it suggests a permanent mark or impression. Tattoos are often associated with personal expression and individuality, and this theme is present throughout the poem. The speaker of the poem is contemplating a tattoo on his body, and he is considering what image to choose. The tattoo is a symbol of the speaker's desire for self-expression and his search for beauty.
The first stanza sets the tone for the poem and introduces the theme of beauty. The speaker asks, "What is the beauty? Not the show / Of shapely limbs and shadowy brow." This line suggests that beauty is not just physical appearance but something deeper and more profound. The speaker is searching for a beauty that goes beyond the surface level.
The second and fifth stanzas are identical and focus on the idea of art. The speaker asks, "What is the tattoo? The truth about / A dead man's face or a living trout." This line suggests that art can be a representation of reality or a symbol of something else entirely. The tattoo can be a memorial to a deceased loved one or a symbol of the speaker's love for nature. The ambiguity of the tattoo's meaning reflects the ambiguity of art itself.
The third stanza is the only one that differs from the others, and it introduces the theme of mortality. The speaker asks, "Why should I / Ink my skin with an image of the sky?" This line suggests that the speaker is aware of his mortality and is questioning the value of a tattoo. The sky is a symbol of eternity, and the speaker is questioning whether a tattoo is worth the effort if it will eventually fade away.
The fourth stanza continues the theme of mortality and introduces the idea of memory. The speaker asks, "Why should I / Remember him, when he is gone?" This line suggests that the speaker is questioning the value of memory. If everything is temporary, then why bother remembering anything at all? The tattoo can be seen as a way to preserve memory, but the speaker is questioning whether memory is worth preserving.
The final stanza is identical to the first and brings the poem full circle. The speaker concludes, "The trout is beautiful. So is the sky. / But why be a fish or a bird on high?" This line suggests that beauty is not enough. The speaker is questioning the value of beauty if it does not lead to something more significant. The fish and the bird are beautiful, but they are limited by their physical form. The speaker is searching for something more profound than beauty alone.
The poem's structure and literary devices are essential to its meaning. The symmetrical structure creates a sense of balance and harmony, which is fitting for a poem that explores the nature of beauty and art. The repetition of certain lines, such as "Why should I," creates a sense of rhythm and emphasizes the speaker's questioning tone. The use of rhetorical questions throughout the poem creates a sense of uncertainty and ambiguity, which reflects the complexity of the poem's themes.
In conclusion, "Tattoo" is a masterpiece by Wallace Stevens that explores the nature of beauty, art, and the human condition. The poem's structure, literary devices, and themes work together to create a powerful and thought-provoking piece of poetry. The poem's ambiguity and uncertainty reflect the complexity of the human experience and the search for meaning in a world that is often fleeting and temporary. "Tattoo" is a timeless piece of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.
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