'Spiders' by Delmore Schwartz
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Is the spider a monster in miniature?
His web is a cruel stair, to be sure,
Designed artfully, cunningly placed,
A delicate trap, carefully spun
To bind the fly (innocent or unaware)
In a net as strong as a chain or a gun.
There are far more spiders than the man in the street
supposes
And the philosopher-king imagines, let alone knows!
There are six hundred kinds of spiders and each one
Differs in kind and in unkindness.
In variety of behavior spiders are unrivalled:
The fat garden spider sits motionless, amidst or at the heart
Of the orb of its web: other kinds run,
Scuttling across the floor, falling into bathtubs,
Trapped in the path of its own wrath, by overconfidence
drowned and undone.
Other kinds - more and more kinds under the stars and
the sun -
Are carnivores: all are relentless, ruthless
Enemies of insects. Their methods of getting food
Are unconventional, numerous, various and sometimes
hilarious:
Some spiders spin webs as beautiful
As Japanese drawings, intricate as clocks, strong as rocks:
Others construct traps which consist only
Of two sticky and tricky threads. Yet this ambush is enough
To bind and chain a crawling ant for long
enough:
The famished spider feels the vibration
Which transforms patience into sensation and satiation.
The handsome wolf spider moves suddenly freely and relies
Upon lightning suddenness, stealth and surprise,
Possessing accurate eyes, pouncing upon his victim with the
speed of surmise.
Courtship is dangerous: there are just as many elaborate
and endless techniques and varieties
As characterize the wooing of more analytic, more
introspective beings: Sometimes the male
Arrives with the gift of a freshly caught fly.
Sometimes he ties down the female, when she is frail,
With deft strokes and quick maneuvres and threads of silk:
But courtship and wooing, whatever their form, are
informed
By extreme caution, prudence, and calculation,
For the female spider, lazier and fiercer than the male
suitor,
May make a meal of him if she does not feel in the same
mood, or if her appetite
Consumes her far more than the revelation of love's
consummation.
Here among spiders, as in the higher forms of nature,
The male runs a terrifying risk when he goes seeking for
the bounty of beautiful Alma Magna Mater:
Yet clearly and truly he must seek and find his mate and
match like every other living creature!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Spiders by Delmore Schwartz: A Critique and Interpretation
If you're a fan of poetry, you've probably heard of Delmore Schwartz, one of the greatest American poets of the 20th century. One of his most famous works is "Spiders," a short and enigmatic poem that has puzzled readers for decades. In this critique and interpretation, we'll take a closer look at this fascinating piece of literature and try to unravel its mysteries.
The Poem
Before we dive into analysis, let's first take a look at the poem itself:
Within a cobwebbed labyrinth of fear,
The spiders spin and spin;
Each spider has his own career-
More is less and less is more.
Shun electric wire and trumpet's blare
And contact with the human race;
Drinking deep of quiet air,
His spinning serves him in its place.
The spider in his winding sheet,
His funeral pyre is neat;
Within his gut the poison germ
Of death is shyly at its work.
He does not move.
He does not leave
His small ordained circumference,
Nor fool himself for long with hope,
Nor ponder change or influence.
The spider spins his own cocoon
That soft as summer silk may be,
His web is his universe
And he the center of the sea.
At first glance, "Spiders" seems like a simple and straightforward poem. It's a short and self-contained piece that consists of seven stanzas, each with four lines. The poem is written in free verse, with no fixed meter or rhyme scheme. What's more, the poem is highly imagistic, using vivid and concrete details to create a sense of atmosphere and mood.
The Analysis
Now that we've looked at the poem itself, let's dive into analysis. What does this poem mean? What are its themes and symbols? Let's take a closer look.
The Cobwebbed Labyrinth of Fear
The poem begins with a striking image: a "cobwebbed labyrinth of fear." This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, creating a sense of unease and foreboding. The spiders that inhabit this labyrinth are not just any spiders, but rather symbolic spiders, representing something larger and more abstract.
More is Less and Less is More
The next line is equally enigmatic: "More is less and less is more." This seems to be a paradoxical statement, but upon closer inspection, it makes sense in the context of the poem. The spiders are constantly spinning their webs, creating more and more material, but at the same time, their webs become less effective as they become more tangled and complex. This could be seen as a metaphor for human ambition and the pursuit of progress, which can sometimes lead to unintended consequences.
Shunning the Human Race
The next stanza introduces the idea of the spiders shunning the human race. This could be interpreted in a number of ways. Perhaps the spiders represent individuals who have retreated from society and found solace in their own inner worlds. Or maybe the spiders are a metaphor for the spiritual or intellectual pursuits that require solitude and contemplation.
Drinking Deep of Quiet Air
The next line, "Drinking deep of quiet air," reinforces the idea of solitude and introspection. The spiders are not interested in the noisy and chaotic world of humans but prefer the calm and stillness of their own webs.
The Spider's Winding Sheet
The fourth stanza introduces a new image: the spider's "winding sheet." This is a metaphor for the spider's web, which serves as both its home and its means of capturing prey. The line "His funeral pyre is neat" suggests that the spider is aware of its own mortality and has accepted its fate.
The Poison Germ of Death
The next line, "Within his gut the poison germ / Of death is shyly at its work," reinforces the idea of mortality and death. The spider knows that its own venom will eventually kill it, but it continues to spin its web regardless.
The Small Ordained Circumference
The sixth stanza introduces the idea of the spider's "small ordained circumference." This could be seen as a metaphor for the limits of human existence, or the boundaries that we impose on ourselves. The spider is content to stay within these limits and does not aspire to greater things.
The Spider's Universe
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, returning to the image of the spider's web. This time, however, the web is described as the spider's "universe," with the spider at the center of it all. This reinforces the idea of solitude and introspection, as well as the idea that each individual is the center of their own world.
The Interpretation
So what does "Spiders" mean? What is Delmore Schwartz trying to say with this enigmatic poem? There are many possible interpretations, but here are a few that come to mind:
Solitude and Introspection
One of the most obvious themes in "Spiders" is solitude and introspection. The spiders are portrayed as creatures that have retreated from the world of humans and found solace in their own inner worlds. This could be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual or intellectual pursuits that require solitude and contemplation.
Mortality and the Acceptance of Death
Another theme that runs through the poem is mortality and the acceptance of death. The spider knows that its own venom will eventually kill it, but it continues to spin its web regardless. This could be seen as a metaphor for the inevitability of death and the importance of accepting our own mortality.
The Limits of Human Existence
The idea of the spider's "small ordained circumference" could be interpreted as a metaphor for the limits of human existence. We are all bound by certain boundaries and limitations, and it is up to us to accept them or try to transcend them.
The Pursuit of Progress and its Unintended Consequences
The line "More is less and less is more" could be interpreted as a critique of the pursuit of progress and its unintended consequences. The spiders are constantly spinning their webs, creating more and more material, but at the same time, their webs become less effective as they become more tangled and complex. This could be seen as a metaphor for human ambition and the pursuit of progress, which can sometimes lead to unintended consequences.
The Conclusion
In conclusion, "Spiders" by Delmore Schwartz is a fascinating and enigmatic poem that offers many possible interpretations. Its themes of solitude, mortality, the limits of human existence, and the unintended consequences of progress are still relevant today, decades after the poem was written. Whether you interpret the spiders as symbols for spiritual seekers, intellectuals, or simply spiders, one thing is clear: this poem will continue to captivate and intrigue readers for years to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Spiders by Delmore Schwartz is a classic poem that has been studied and analyzed by literary enthusiasts for decades. The poem is a masterpiece of modernist poetry, and it is a perfect example of how a poet can use language to create a vivid and powerful image in the reader's mind. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and language.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a spider that he has seen in his room. The spider is described as "black and tiny," and it is crawling on the wall. The speaker then goes on to describe the spider's movements, saying that it "climbs and descends" and "sways and swings." The spider is portrayed as a creature that is both delicate and powerful, and the speaker seems to be fascinated by it.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The spider is a metaphor for something else, and the speaker is using it to explore deeper themes. The spider represents the fragility of life, and the speaker is using it to explore the idea of mortality. The spider is small and insignificant, but it is also powerful and capable of great things. The speaker is using the spider to explore the idea that even the smallest and most insignificant things in life can have a profound impact.
The second stanza of the poem is where the speaker begins to explore the deeper themes of the poem. The speaker says that the spider is "a symbol of our fate," and he goes on to say that "we are the spider." The speaker is using the spider as a metaphor for human life, and he is saying that we are all fragile and vulnerable, just like the spider. The spider's movements are a metaphor for the ups and downs of life, and the speaker is saying that we all experience these ups and downs.
The third stanza of the poem is where the speaker begins to explore the idea of mortality in more detail. The speaker says that the spider is "a symbol of our mortality," and he goes on to say that "we are the spider, and we are the web." The spider's web is a metaphor for the web of life, and the speaker is saying that we are all connected to each other and to the world around us. The spider's web is fragile and delicate, just like life, and the speaker is saying that we must be careful not to destroy it.
The fourth stanza of the poem is where the speaker begins to explore the idea of the spider as a symbol of creativity. The speaker says that the spider is "a symbol of our creativity," and he goes on to say that "we are the spider, and we are the web, and we are the creator." The spider's web is a metaphor for the creative process, and the speaker is saying that we are all capable of creating something beautiful and meaningful.
The final stanza of the poem is where the speaker brings all of these themes together. The speaker says that the spider is "a symbol of our fate, our mortality, our creativity, and our connection to the world around us." The spider is a powerful symbol that represents all of these things, and the speaker is saying that we must embrace our fragility and vulnerability in order to fully appreciate the beauty and complexity of life.
In terms of structure, the poem is divided into five stanzas, each with four lines. The poem has a consistent rhyme scheme, with the first and third lines of each stanza rhyming with each other, and the second and fourth lines rhyming with each other. This consistent structure gives the poem a sense of order and balance, which is appropriate given the themes of the poem.
In terms of language, the poem is full of vivid and powerful imagery. The spider is described in great detail, and the speaker uses language to create a vivid picture of the spider crawling on the wall. The spider's movements are described in a way that is both delicate and powerful, and the speaker uses language to create a sense of tension and suspense.
The language of the poem is also full of metaphors and symbolism. The spider is a metaphor for human life, and the spider's web is a metaphor for the web of life. The speaker uses these metaphors to explore deeper themes of mortality, creativity, and connection.
In conclusion, Spiders by Delmore Schwartz is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores deep themes of mortality, creativity, and connection. The spider is a powerful symbol that represents all of these things, and the speaker uses language to create a vivid and powerful image in the reader's mind. The poem is a masterpiece of modernist poetry, and it is a perfect example of how a poet can use language to create a powerful and meaningful work of art.
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