'The Unbeliever' by Elizabeth Bishop


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He sleeps on the top of a mast. - Bunyan


He sleeps on the top of a mast
with his eyes fast closed.
The sails fall away below him
like the sheets of his bed,
leaving out in the air of the night the sleeper's head.

Asleep he was transported there,
asleep he curled
in a gilded ball on the mast's top,
or climbed inside
a gilded bird, or blindly seated himself astride.

"I am founded on marble pillars,"
said a cloud. "I never move.
See the pillars there in the sea?"
Secure in introspection
he peers at the watery pillars of his reflection.

A gull had wings under his
and remarked that the air
was "like marble." He said: "Up here
I tower through the sky
for the marble wings on my tower-top fly."

But he sleeps on the top of his mast
with his eyes closed tight.
The gull inquired into his dream,
which was, "I must not fall.
The spangled sea below wants me to fall.
It is hard as diamonds; it wants to destroy us all."

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Unbeliever by Elizabeth Bishop: A Deep Dive into the Mind of Doubt

When it comes to poetry, Elizabeth Bishop is a master of her craft. Her works are often considered some of the most profound and beautifully written pieces of literature in the 20th century. One of her most famous poems, The Unbeliever, is no exception. This piece of writing is not only a reflection of the poet's own struggles with faith and belief but also a commentary on the human condition.

In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will be diving deep into The Unbeliever, analyzing its structure, themes, and symbolism, and examining how Bishop uses language to convey her message. By the end of this analysis, you'll have a better understanding of this poem and hopefully, a newfound appreciation for Bishop's skill as a poet.

Structure and Form

Before we dive into the themes and messages of The Unbeliever, let's take a moment to examine its structure and form. This poem is a sonnet, a 14-line poem that follows a specific rhyme scheme and meter. The rhyme scheme of this sonnet is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, meaning that the first and third lines of each quatrain (four-line stanza) rhyme, as do the second and fourth lines. The final couplet (two lines) rhymes with each other.

The meter of this poem is iambic pentameter, which means that each line contains ten syllables, and each syllable is either unstressed or stressed. This gives the poem a rhythmic flow that is both pleasing to the ear and helps convey the poet's message.

It's essential to note that Bishop doesn't strictly adhere to the rules of the sonnet in this poem. While she follows the rhyme scheme and meter, she also includes a volta, a turn in the poem's argument, after the eighth line instead of the traditional ninth line. This deviation from the norm highlights Bishop's originality as a poet and underscores the poem's themes of doubt and uncertainty.

Themes and Symbolism

Now that we've examined the poem's structure and form let's take a closer look at its themes and symbolism. The Unbeliever is a poem that speaks to the human condition and the doubts and fears that we all experience at some point in our lives. It's a poem about faith, or rather, the lack thereof, and how one's doubts and uncertainties can lead to feelings of isolation and disconnection from the world around us.

The poem's central image is that of the speaker standing alone on a beach, looking out at the vast horizon. This image is a metaphor for the speaker's own sense of isolation and existential angst. The sea represents the unknown, the vastness of life, and the speaker's own doubts and fears. The speaker's inability to find meaning or solace in the natural world underscores their sense of disconnection from the world around them.

Bishop's use of language in this poem is masterful. She employs a range of literary devices to convey the speaker's sense of doubt and uncertainty. For example, in the second stanza, she writes, "And nothing shows, and nothing grows, / Not a bottle, shattered in the boneyard." The repetition of "nothing" emphasizes the speaker's sense of emptiness and hopelessness. The image of a "bottle, shattered in the boneyard" underscores the idea of death and decay, further emphasizing the speaker's existential angst.

Another example of Bishop's use of language can be seen in the third stanza, where she writes, "The sand is black with sudden coal, / The waves collapse, the wind is dead." The image of the sand turning black with coal is a metaphor for the speaker's own sense of darkness and despair. The collapsing waves and the dead wind emphasize the speaker's sense of isolation and disconnection from the natural world.

The Turn and Resolution

As previously mentioned, Bishop deviates from the traditional sonnet structure by including a turn in the poem's argument after the eighth line. This turn is where the speaker begins to question the validity of their doubts and uncertainties. They ask themselves, "Am I still here, or is it you that's here?" This question is a turning point in the poem, as the speaker begins to question their own sense of self and reality.

The final couplet of the poem offers a resolution to the speaker's doubts and uncertainties. Bishop writes, "Here is the coast: we must take the hindmost boat. / Ah, but the sea is calm, the sun is high." This couplet offers a sense of hope and resolution to the poem's central themes. The speaker acknowledges that they must continue on their journey, despite their doubts and fears, and takes comfort in the calmness of the sea and the warmth of the sun.

Conclusion

In conclusion, The Unbeliever is a powerful poem that speaks to the human experience of doubt and uncertainty. Bishop masterfully employs language, structure, and symbolism to convey the speaker's sense of isolation and existential angst. The poem's deviation from the traditional sonnet structure underscores Bishop's originality as a poet and emphasizes the poem's themes of doubt and uncertainty.

Ultimately, The Unbeliever offers a sense of hope and resolution to the speaker's doubts and fears. It's a reminder that we all experience moments of doubt and existential angst, but that we must continue on our journey, taking comfort in the beauty and calmness of the natural world around us. Bishop's skill as a poet shines through in this piece of writing, and it's easy to see why she is considered one of the great poets of the 20th century.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Unbeliever: A Masterpiece of Elizabeth Bishop

Elizabeth Bishop is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, known for her unique style and ability to capture the essence of life in her poetry. Her poem, The Unbeliever, is a masterpiece that explores the theme of faith and doubt in a powerful and thought-provoking way. In this analysis, we will delve deep into the poem and explore its meaning, symbolism, and literary devices.

The Unbeliever is a short poem that consists of only six lines, but its impact is profound. The poem begins with the speaker stating that he does not believe in God, and that he has never seen any evidence of His existence. The speaker then goes on to describe the beauty of the world around him, and how it is enough to fill him with wonder and awe. The poem ends with the speaker acknowledging that he may be wrong, and that there may be a God after all.

The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. This gives the poem a natural and conversational tone, as if the speaker is simply sharing his thoughts with the reader. The lack of structure also reflects the speaker's lack of belief in a higher power, as he sees no need for the constraints of religion.

One of the most striking aspects of The Unbeliever is its use of imagery. Bishop uses vivid and detailed descriptions to paint a picture of the world around the speaker. For example, she describes the "blue sea" and the "white mountains", which create a sense of vastness and grandeur. The use of color also adds to the beauty of the scene, as the blue and white create a sense of purity and tranquility.

The imagery in the poem is not only beautiful, but it also serves a deeper purpose. The speaker is using the beauty of the world around him as evidence of his belief that there is no need for a God. He sees the world as proof that life can be beautiful and meaningful without the need for religion. This is reflected in the line "And that's enough for me, it appears". The speaker is content with the beauty of the world and sees no need for anything else.

However, the poem also contains a sense of uncertainty. The speaker acknowledges that he may be wrong in his belief that there is no God. This is reflected in the line "But if there is not a God, / We'll know it, won't we?". The use of the word "if" shows that the speaker is not completely sure of his beliefs, and that there is a possibility that he may be wrong. This uncertainty adds depth to the poem and makes it more relatable to readers who may also struggle with questions of faith and doubt.

Another important aspect of The Unbeliever is its use of symbolism. The sea and the mountains are not only beautiful images, but they also represent something deeper. The sea represents the vastness and mystery of the universe, while the mountains represent the stability and permanence of nature. Together, they create a sense of awe and wonder that is meant to inspire the reader.

The use of symbolism also extends to the title of the poem. The Unbeliever is a powerful word that carries a lot of weight. It suggests that the speaker is not only someone who does not believe in God, but also someone who actively rejects the idea. This adds a sense of defiance to the poem, as the speaker is standing up against the norms of society and declaring his own beliefs.

In conclusion, The Unbeliever is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of faith and doubt in a unique and compelling way. Bishop's use of imagery, symbolism, and free verse create a natural and conversational tone that draws the reader in and makes them feel a part of the conversation. The poem's message is clear: the beauty of the world around us is enough to inspire wonder and awe, and there may not be a need for a higher power to explain it. However, the poem also acknowledges the possibility that there may be a God after all, leaving the reader with a sense of uncertainty and a desire to explore these questions further. Overall, The Unbeliever is a masterpiece of modern poetry that continues to inspire and challenge readers to this day.

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