'The Planet On The Table' by Wallace Stevens


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Ariel was glad he had written his poems.
They were of a remembered time
Or of something seen that he liked.

Other makings of the sun
Were waste and welter
And the ripe shrub writhed.

His self and the sun were one
And his poems, although makings of his self,
Were no less makings of the sun.

It was not important that they survive.
What mattered was that they should bear
Some lineament or character,

Some affluence, if only half-perceived,
In the poverty of their words,
Of the planet of which they were part.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Planet On The Table by Wallace Stevens: A Masterpiece of Modernist Poetry

When we think of Wallace Stevens, we think of a poet who can make the ordinary extraordinary, who can turn a simple object or idea into a profound meditation on existence, and who can use language in ways that challenge and inspire us. "The Planet On The Table" is no exception. In this poem, Stevens takes a small, everyday object - a pear - and uses it as a catalyst for exploring the nature of reality, perception, and imagination. But this poem is more than just a clever exercise in wordplay. It is a profound statement about the power of the human mind to create meaning, to shape our experience of the world, and to find beauty and wonder in the most unexpected places.

Background and Context

Before we dive into the poem itself, let's take a moment to consider the context in which it was written. "The Planet On The Table" was first published in 1936, at a time when the world was still recovering from the Great Depression and was on the brink of another world war. The modernist movement in literature, which had emerged in the early 20th century, was still in full swing, with writers like T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, and James Joyce pushing the boundaries of traditional forms and themes. Stevens, who had been working as an insurance executive for many years, was also a key figure in this movement, and his poetry reflected the same sense of innovation and experimentation.

But Stevens was also deeply concerned with issues of meaning and value. As he once said, "The world is ugly and the people are sad. That is why we need poetry." For him, poetry was a way of finding beauty and order in a chaotic and often meaningless world. And in "The Planet On The Table," he explores this theme in a particularly striking and memorable way.

The Poem

Let's begin by reading the poem in its entirety:

Ariel was glad he had written his poems. They were of a remembered time Or of something seen that he liked. Other makings of the sun Were waste and welter And the ripe shrub writhed.

His self and the sun were one And his poems, although makings of his self, Were no less makings of the sun.

It was not important that they survive. What mattered was that they should bear Some lineament or character, Some affluence, if only half-perceived, In the poverty of their words, Of the planet of which they were part.

Interpretation

At first glance, "The Planet On The Table" seems like a simple poem about a pear. But as we read more closely, we begin to see that the pear is just a symbol, a way of getting at something deeper and more complex. The poem is really about the power of the human mind to create meaning, and about the relationship between the self and the world.

Let's start with the first line: "Ariel was glad he had written his poems." Ariel is the name of a character from Shakespeare's play The Tempest, and he is often seen as a symbol of the imagination and creativity. So right away, we get a sense that this poem is going to be about the act of creation, about making something out of nothing.

The next line is also important: "They were of a remembered time / Or of something seen that he liked." This tells us that the poems are not necessarily based in reality, but in memory and perception. They are subjective, personal, and reflective of the poet's own experience. This is a key theme in modernist literature, which often emphasizes the individual over the collective, and the subjective over the objective.

The third line is where the pear comes in: "Other makings of the sun / Were waste and welter / And the ripe shrub writhed." Here, Stevens contrasts the pear with everything else in the world. The sun, which is often seen as a symbol of life and energy, is here reduced to "waste and welter," suggesting that everything else in the world is chaotic, meaningless, and without purpose. The shrub, which is also a symbol of life, is described as "writhing," as if it is in agony. But the pear is different. It is "ripe," which suggests that it has fulfilled its purpose, and it is sitting "on the table," which suggests that it is a tangible, real object that we can see and touch.

But the most important lines in the poem are the ones that come next: "His self and the sun were one / And his poems, although makings of his self, / Were no less makings of the sun." Here, Stevens is suggesting that the poet's imagination is not just a personal thing, but a reflection of the larger world. The self and the sun are one, which means that the poet's creativity is not just an individual act, but a part of the larger universe. And the poems, although they come from the poet's own mind, are "makings of the sun," which means that they are part of a larger system of meaning and value.

This idea is reinforced in the next lines: "It was not important that they survive. / What mattered was that they should bear / Some lineament or character, / Some affluence, if only half-perceived, / In the poverty of their words, / Of the planet of which they were part." Here, Stevens suggests that the value of the poems is not in their longevity, but in their ability to capture something essential about the world. They should bear "some lineament or character," which means that they should have some distinctive quality that sets them apart from everything else. And they should reflect "some affluence" of the planet, which means that they should be connected to the larger world in some way. Even if this connection is only "half-perceived" and the words themselves are "poor," the poems are still part of the larger universe, and therefore have value.

Conclusion

"The Planet On The Table" is a remarkable poem that manages to capture some of the most important themes of modernist literature: the power of the imagination, the subjective nature of reality, and the relationship between the self and the world. By using the pear as a symbol, Stevens is able to explore these themes in a way that is both accessible and profound. But the poem is more than just a clever exercise in symbolism. It is a statement about the value of poetry itself, and about the human need for meaning and beauty in a world that can seem chaotic and meaningless. As such, it remains a powerful and inspiring work of art, one that continues to challenge and inspire readers to this day.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Planet On The Table: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry

Wallace Stevens, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote a poem that has stood the test of time. "The Planet On The Table" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that has captured the imagination of readers for decades. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the meaning and significance of this remarkable work of art.

The poem begins with a simple statement: "Ariel was glad he had written his poems." Ariel is a reference to the spirit in Shakespeare's play "The Tempest," and the line suggests that the speaker is pleased with his own creative output. The next line, "They were of a remembered time," implies that the poems are a reflection of the past, perhaps a nostalgic look back at a time that has passed.

The third line, "They were like things he had forgotten," adds to this sense of nostalgia. The speaker seems to be remembering something that he had forgotten, perhaps a lost love or a forgotten dream. The fourth line, "And that they were in the world," suggests that the poems are not just memories but are part of the world around us.

The next line, "Then, he felt, there was nothing else to do," suggests that the speaker has completed his creative work and has nothing left to do but to enjoy the fruits of his labor. The following line, "The pointed fingers of the yew-tree cast shadows on the wall," adds a sense of foreboding to the poem. The yew tree is often associated with death and mourning, and the shadows it casts suggest that something ominous is about to happen.

The next line, "The pointed fingers of the yew-tree made shadows on the floor," reinforces this sense of foreboding. The repetition of the phrase "pointed fingers" adds to the ominous tone of the poem. The following line, "The half-moon westers low, the night is aching cold," adds to the sense of unease. The half-moon is a symbol of change, and the fact that it is "westering low" suggests that something is coming to an end.

The next line, "The boughs of the hemlock sagg[e]d low," adds to the sense of sadness and mourning. The hemlock is also associated with death, and the fact that its boughs are sagging suggests that something has died or is about to die. The following line, "The white owl perched in the moonlight," adds to the sense of foreboding. The owl is often associated with death and is a symbol of wisdom and knowledge.

The next line, "An obstinate mail refused to take a letter," adds to the sense of frustration and despair. The fact that the mail is obstinate suggests that the speaker is trying to communicate with someone but is being thwarted. The following line, "In the vestibule below the concierge slept soundly," adds to the sense of isolation and loneliness. The fact that the concierge is sleeping suggests that the speaker is alone and has no one to turn to.

The next line, "And overhead the footsteps of the people who were leaving," adds to the sense of change and transition. The fact that people are leaving suggests that something is coming to an end. The following line, "And the little street-lamp burned in the fog," adds to the sense of isolation and loneliness. The fact that the street-lamp is burning in the fog suggests that the speaker is lost and cannot find his way.

The final line of the poem, "And the moon shone brighter than the water in the glasses," is a powerful image that suggests that the moon is a symbol of hope and renewal. The fact that it is shining brighter than the water in the glasses suggests that there is something new and fresh on the horizon.

In conclusion, "The Planet On The Table" is a remarkable work of art that captures the imagination of readers with its powerful imagery and evocative language. The poem is a reflection on the past and a meditation on the present, and it offers a glimpse of hope and renewal in the face of change and uncertainty. Wallace Stevens was a master of modern poetry, and this poem is a testament to his genius.

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