'Schizophrenic' by Robert Service
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Each morning as I catch my bus,
A-fearing I'll be late,
I think: there are in all of us
Two folks quite separate;
As one I greet the office staff
With grim, official mien;
The other's when I belly-laugh,
And Home Sweet Home's the scene.
I've half a hundred men to boss,
And take my job to heart;
You'll never find me at a loss,
So well I play my part.
My voice is hard, my eye is cold,
My mouth is grimly set;
They all consider me, I'm told,
A "bloody martinet."
But when I reach my home at night
I'm happy as a boy;
My kiddies kiss me with delight,
And dance a jig of joy.
I slip into my oldest cloths,
My lines of care uncrease;
I mow the lawn, unhook the hose,
And glow with garden peace.
It's then I wonder which I am,
the boss with hard-boiled eye,
Or just the gay don't care-a-damn
Go-lucky garden guy?
Am I the starchy front who rants
As round his weight he throws,
or just old Pop with patchy pants,
Who sings and sniffs a rose?
Editor 1 Interpretation
Schizophrenic: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
By Robert Service
"Schizophrenic" is a poem by the famous poet, Robert Service. It is a dramatic and haunting piece that delves deep into the mind of a person suffering from schizophrenia. With its vivid imagery and poignant language, the poem is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the essence of this debilitating mental illness.
The Form and Structure of the Poem
The form and structure of "Schizophrenic" are unique and add to the overall impact of the poem. The poem is written in free verse, with irregular line lengths and no set rhyme scheme. This gives the poem a feeling of spontaneity and unpredictability, much like the mind of a schizophrenic.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, with each stanza representing a different aspect of the schizophrenic's experience. The first stanza describes the schizophrenic's inner world, while the second stanza describes his interactions with the outside world. The third stanza offers a glimpse into the schizophrenic's future, which is uncertain and filled with fear.
The Language and Imagery of the Poem
The language and imagery used in "Schizophrenic" are powerful and evocative. Service uses vivid metaphors and similes to describe the schizophrenic's experience, creating a sense of disorientation and confusion that mimics the experience of the illness.
For example, in the first stanza, Service writes:
In the brain's gray matter, There's the bowels of a rat: They call it the hippocampus, It's the labyrinth where we're at.
In these lines, Service compares the schizophrenic's mind to the bowels of a rat, a dark and confusing place that is difficult to navigate. The use of the word "labyrinth" further emphasizes the sense of confusion and disorientation that the schizophrenic experiences.
In the second stanza, Service uses the metaphor of a "phantom city" to describe the schizophrenic's interactions with the outside world:
In the phantom city Of my disordered brain, I saw a thousand visions I could not explain.
These lines convey the sense of unreality that schizophrenics often experience when interacting with the world. The use of the word "phantom" emphasizes the sense of otherworldliness and unreality that the schizophrenic feels.
Throughout the poem, Service uses language and imagery to create a sense of disorientation and confusion that mirrors the experience of schizophrenia. The result is a haunting and deeply affecting poem that captures the essence of this debilitating mental illness.
The Themes of the Poem
One of the key themes of "Schizophrenic" is the idea of otherness. The schizophrenic is depicted as someone who is fundamentally different from the rest of society, someone who exists on the fringes of normality. This theme is emphasized in the second stanza, where Service writes:
I walked the streets of people, But I was not of their clan; I saw their faces clearly, But they did not see my man.
In these lines, Service captures the sense of isolation and disconnection that schizophrenics often experience when interacting with the world. The use of the word "clan" emphasizes the sense of otherness that the schizophrenic feels, while the phrase "my man" emphasizes the schizophrenic's sense of self as something separate and distinct from the rest of society.
Another key theme of the poem is the idea of uncertainty. The schizophrenic's future is depicted as uncertain and filled with fear, as shown in the third stanza:
And now I face the future In fear and trembling dread; What will the world do with me When I am no longer dead?
Here, Service captures the sense of uncertainty and fear that schizophrenics often feel when facing an uncertain future. The use of the phrase "no longer dead" emphasizes the schizophrenic's sense of isolation and disconnection from the rest of society, while the word "dread" emphasizes the fear and uncertainty that he feels.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Schizophrenic" is a powerful and haunting poem that captures the essence of this debilitating mental illness. Through its vivid imagery and poignant language, the poem offers a glimpse into the mind of a schizophrenic, capturing the sense of disorientation, confusion, and fear that people with this illness often experience. The poem is a masterpiece of modern poetry, a testament to Robert Service's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience in all its complexity and beauty.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Schizophrenic: A Poem of the Human Mind
Robert Service’s poem “Schizophrenic” is a haunting and thought-provoking piece that delves into the complexities of the human mind. With its vivid imagery and powerful language, the poem explores the experience of living with schizophrenia, a mental disorder that affects millions of people around the world.
At its core, “Schizophrenic” is a poem about duality. The speaker of the poem is torn between two conflicting realities: the world of the sane and the world of the insane. Throughout the poem, the speaker grapples with the question of which reality is real, and which is merely a figment of their imagination.
The poem begins with a description of the speaker’s experience of the world. They describe the world as a “whirlpool of light and sound,” a chaotic and overwhelming place that is difficult to navigate. The speaker is acutely aware of the sensory overload that surrounds them, and they struggle to make sense of it all.
As the poem progresses, the speaker’s sense of disorientation intensifies. They describe feeling as though they are “two people in one,” with one part of them living in the world of the sane, and the other part living in the world of the insane. The speaker is torn between these two realities, and they struggle to reconcile the two.
One of the most striking aspects of “Schizophrenic” is the way in which Service uses language to convey the speaker’s experience. The poem is full of vivid, sensory imagery that captures the speaker’s sense of disorientation and confusion. For example, the speaker describes feeling as though they are “a moth that flutters in the flame,” a powerful metaphor that conveys the danger and intensity of their experience.
Another powerful image in the poem is the description of the speaker’s “two selves.” The speaker describes feeling as though they are “two people in one,” with one part of them living in the world of the sane, and the other part living in the world of the insane. This image captures the duality that lies at the heart of the poem, and it is a powerful reminder of the complexity of the human mind.
Throughout the poem, the speaker grapples with the question of which reality is real, and which is merely a figment of their imagination. They describe feeling as though they are “caught between two worlds,” and they struggle to find a way to reconcile these two realities. Ultimately, the poem leaves the question of which reality is real unanswered, leaving the reader to grapple with the same question.
One of the most powerful aspects of “Schizophrenic” is the way in which it humanizes the experience of living with schizophrenia. The poem is a reminder that people with mental illness are not defined by their illness, but rather by their humanity. The speaker of the poem is a complex and multifaceted individual, with hopes, fears, and dreams like anyone else.
In conclusion, “Schizophrenic” is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complexities of the human mind. Through its vivid imagery and powerful language, the poem captures the experience of living with schizophrenia, a mental disorder that affects millions of people around the world. Ultimately, the poem is a reminder that people with mental illness are not defined by their illness, but rather by their humanity.
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