'The Rest' by Margaret Atwood
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The rest of us watch from beyond the fence
as the woman moves with her jagged stride
into her pain as if into a slow race.
We see her body in motion
but hear no sounds, or we hear
sounds but no language; or we know
it is not a language we know
yet. We can see her clearly
but for her it is running in black smoke.
The cluster of cells in her swelling
like porridge boiling, and bursting,
like grapes, we think. Or we think of
explosions in mud; but we know nothing.
All around us the trees
and the grasses light up with forgiveness,
so green and at this time
of the year healthy.
We would like to call something
out to her. Some form of cheering.
There is pain but no arrival at anything.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Margaret Atwood's "The Rest": A Masterful Exploration of Death and Grief
Margaret Atwood's "The Rest" is a haunting and poignant poem that delves into the themes of death and grief. With its powerful imagery and evocative language, it captures the essence of a profound loss and the struggle to come to terms with it. This literary criticism and interpretation will explore the various aspects of the poem, from its structure and form to its themes and symbolism.
Structure and Form
One of the most striking things about "The Rest" is its structure and form. The poem is composed of seven stanzas, each consisting of three lines. At first glance, the poem appears to be a simple and straightforward free verse. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the poem is structured around a central metaphor: that of a journey.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with the speaker describing the journey of the deceased: "He's gone on a journey, / won't be back for a while, / his baggage is light, his destination vague." This metaphorical journey is further developed in the subsequent stanzas, with each one describing a different stage in the process of grief.
Stanza 2: The Departure
In the second stanza, the speaker describes the moment of departure, with the deceased "leaving in a hurry, / almost without a goodbye, / as if he knew already what was to come." The use of the word "hurry" suggests a sense of urgency, as if the deceased was eager to leave this world behind. The line "as if he knew already what was to come" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the deceased was aware of his impending death.
Stanza 3: The Journey
The third stanza continues the metaphor of the journey, with the speaker describing the various obstacles and challenges that the deceased must face: "he'll have to cross a river, / climb a mountain or two, / face the perilous edge of a cliff." The use of these images creates a sense of danger and risk, emphasizing the difficulty of the journey that the deceased must undertake.
Stanza 4: The Destination
In the fourth stanza, the speaker shifts the focus to the destination of the deceased. Unlike the previous stanzas, which were focused on the journey itself, this stanza describes the final goal: "he's headed for the land of the dead, / where the sky is always grey, / and the air smells of wet earth." The language here is particularly evocative, with the use of the phrase "land of the dead" conjuring up images of a bleak and desolate landscape.
Stanza 5: The Return
The fifth stanza marks a turning point in the poem, with the speaker describing the moment of return: "he'll come back, we know that, / but he won't be the same, / something will have shifted, something will have changed." The use of the word "we" suggests that the speaker is not alone in their grief, but rather part of a larger community. The idea that the deceased will return, but in a different form, is both comforting and unsettling.
Stanza 6: The Aftermath
The sixth stanza is perhaps the most powerful in the poem, with the speaker describing the aftermath of the loss: "we'll have to make do without him, / get used to the hole he's left, / we'll learn to live with the rest." This final line is the key to the poem's title, as it suggests that the living must learn to live with what remains after a loss.
Stanza 7: The Epilogue
The final stanza serves as an epilogue, with the speaker reflecting on the journey that has been undertaken: "we'll remember his journey, / the obstacles he faced, the risks he took, / and we'll honor his courage, his strength, his grace." This final tribute to the deceased serves as a reminder of the power of memory and the importance of honoring those who have passed.
Themes and Symbolism
While the structure and form of "The Rest" are certainly noteworthy, it is the poem's themes and symbolism that truly make it a masterpiece. At its core, the poem is an exploration of death and grief, with each stanza exploring a different aspect of this complex and difficult subject.
Death
Perhaps the most obvious theme of the poem is death itself. The metaphorical journey that the deceased undertakes serves as a powerful symbol of the final journey that we all must face. The use of vivid and evocative imagery in each stanza creates a sense of the unknown and the mysterious, emphasizing the sense of fear and uncertainty that surrounds death.
Grief
Another key theme of the poem is grief. The various stages of grief are explored in each stanza, from the initial departure to the final acceptance of what is left behind. The use of the word "rest" in the poem's title serves as a powerful symbol of the need to find peace and comfort in the aftermath of loss.
Memory
Memory is also an important theme in the poem, with the speaker reflecting on the journey that the deceased has taken and the legacy that they have left behind. The final stanza serves as a tribute to the courage and strength of the deceased, emphasizing the need to honor their memory and keep their spirit alive.
Nature
Finally, nature serves as a powerful symbol throughout the poem. The use of images such as rivers, mountains, and cliffs creates a sense of the natural world as a force to be reckoned with, emphasizing the power and inevitability of death. The use of the phrase "wet earth" in the fourth stanza serves as a particularly haunting image, evoking the sense of decay and dissolution that comes with death.
Conclusion
Margaret Atwood's "The Rest" is a masterpiece of modern poetry, exploring the complex themes of death and grief with power and insight. Its structure and form serve to reinforce its central metaphor, while its evocative language and vivid imagery create a sense of depth and emotion that is truly remarkable. As a tribute to the deceased and a reminder of the power of memory, "The Rest" stands as a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry has always been a medium for expressing emotions and thoughts that are difficult to articulate in any other way. Margaret Atwood's poem "The Rest" is a prime example of this. In this poem, Atwood explores the theme of mortality and the inevitability of death. The poem is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing every moment.
The poem begins with the speaker stating that "The rest of us watch from beyond the fence as the woman moves with her jagged stride into her pain." The woman referred to here is most likely someone who is dying or in the process of dying. The fence represents the barrier between life and death, and the rest of us are those who are still alive, watching from a distance as someone we care about moves closer to the end of their life.
The use of the word "jagged" to describe the woman's stride is significant. It suggests that she is in pain and struggling to move forward. The word also implies that her journey is not smooth or easy, but rather full of obstacles and challenges. This is a powerful metaphor for the journey of life itself, which is often full of ups and downs, twists and turns.
The next line of the poem reads, "She has taken off her dress and is standing in her petticoat at the window." This image is both intimate and vulnerable. The woman has stripped away the layers of clothing that protect her from the world and is standing exposed in her petticoat. This is a metaphor for the way in which we are all vulnerable and exposed in the face of death. No matter how much we try to protect ourselves, we are all ultimately powerless in the face of mortality.
The woman is standing at the window, looking out at the world. This is a poignant image, as it suggests that she is reflecting on her life and the world she is leaving behind. The window is a symbol of the boundary between the inside and the outside, between life and death. The woman is standing on the threshold between these two worlds, looking out at the world she is leaving behind.
The next line of the poem reads, "A barefoot child stands on the opposite side of the fence." This image is significant, as it suggests that life goes on even in the face of death. The child is barefoot, which suggests innocence and vulnerability. This is a reminder that life is precious and fragile, and that we should cherish every moment we have.
The child is standing on the opposite side of the fence, which suggests that there is a barrier between the living and the dying. This is a powerful metaphor for the way in which death separates us from those we love. The child is unable to cross the fence and be with the woman, just as we are unable to cross the boundary between life and death.
The next line of the poem reads, "She looks at him with her suffering. He returns her the small smile of bewilderment, sleepily." This is a poignant image, as it suggests that even in the face of death, there is still love and connection between people. The woman is suffering, but the child is still able to bring a smile to her face. This is a reminder that even in the darkest moments of life, there is still hope and joy to be found.
The child's smile is described as "small" and "bewildered." This suggests that he is too young to fully understand the gravity of the situation. He is still in a state of innocence and naivety, which is a stark contrast to the woman's suffering. This is a reminder that life is full of both joy and pain, and that we must learn to navigate both.
The next line of the poem reads, "Then she moves again. The dog licks its wounds and sleeps, the woman feels her own womb closing like a fist." This is a powerful image, as it suggests that the woman is experiencing the physical pain of death. Her womb is closing like a fist, which suggests that she is experiencing a contraction. This is a metaphor for the way in which death is a painful and difficult process.
The dog is also mentioned in this line, and it is described as licking its wounds and sleeping. This is a metaphor for the way in which life goes on even in the face of death. The dog is still able to find comfort and rest, even as the woman is experiencing pain and suffering.
The final lines of the poem read, "It is then that the history of the island falls into the grass and disappears. The woman is swallowed by the past, by the future. The present eats her heart." This is a powerful and haunting image, as it suggests that the woman is being consumed by time itself. The history of the island falls into the grass and disappears, which suggests that the past is being forgotten and lost. The woman is being swallowed by both the past and the future, which suggests that time is a relentless force that consumes us all.
The final line of the poem, "The present eats her heart," is particularly powerful. It suggests that the present moment is all we have, and that we must cherish it while we can. The woman's heart is being consumed by the present moment, which suggests that she is fully present and aware of the fleeting nature of life.
In conclusion, Margaret Atwood's poem "The Rest" is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. The poem is full of powerful metaphors and images that capture the essence of the human experience. It is a reminder that life is precious and fragile, and that we must cherish every moment we have.
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