'A Rabbit As King Of The Ghosts' by Wallace Stevens
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The difficulty to think at the end of day,
When the shapeless shadow covers the sun
And nothing is left except light on your fur-There was the cat slopping its milk all day,
Fat cat, red tongue, green mind, white milk
And August the most peaceful month.To be, in the grass, in the peacefullest time,
Without that monument of cat,The cat forgotten on the moon;And to feel that the light is a rabbit-light
In which everything is meant for you
And nothing need be explained;Then there is nothing to think of. It comes of it-
self;
And east rushes west and west rushes down,
No matter. The grass is fullAnd full of yourself. The trees around are for you,
The whole of the wideness of night is for you,
A self that touches all edges,You become a self that fills the four corners ofnight.
The red cat hides away in the fur-light
And there you are humped high, humped up,You are humped higher and higher, black asstone-
You sit with your head like a carving in space
And the little green cat is a bug in the grass.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Majesty of A Rabbit As King Of The Ghosts by Wallace Stevens: A Literary Critique
Introduction
Wallace Stevens, a master of American modernist poetry, wrote "A Rabbit as King of the Ghosts" in 1942, a time when the world was at war and the future was uncertain. In this poem, Stevens presents a surreal world where a rabbit reigns over ghosts, and through this bizarre imagery, he explores the themes of power, imagination, and the nature of reality.
Analysis
The poem opens with the line, "The difficulty to think at the end of day." This sets the tone for the entire poem, as Stevens creates a world where reality is blurred and the imagination is free to roam. The rabbit, a symbol of innocence and vulnerability, is given an unlikely role as the king of ghosts. The ghosts themselves are ambiguous, neither malevolent nor benevolent, but simply present.
The rabbit king is described in a way that makes him seem more like a human monarch than an animal. Stevens writes, "He has the dignity of princes erect." This language adds to the surreal nature of the poem and emphasizes the power that the rabbit holds over the ghosts.
The rabbit king is also described as having "the purity of a new continent." This line suggests that the rabbit king is a symbol of a new beginning, a fresh start. It could be argued that Stevens is using the rabbit king to represent hope in the midst of darkness and uncertainty.
Throughout the poem, Stevens uses vivid imagery to create a dreamlike world. For example, he writes, "The stones of the wall are hot as a live frog." This line creates a sensory experience for the reader and adds to the surreal nature of the poem. The use of the word "live" also adds to the sense of the uncanny, as it is unexpected to encounter a living frog in a wall.
The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most significant. Stevens writes, "The rabbit has a dignity of motion as he swims." This line suggests that the rabbit king is not bound by the laws of nature, but is free to move in any way he chooses. It is a fitting end to a poem that is all about the power of the imagination and the freedom it can bring.
Interpretation
So what does it all mean? At its core, "A Rabbit as King of the Ghosts" is a poem about power and imagination. The rabbit king represents the power of the imagination, which is able to create new worlds and new possibilities. The ghosts represent the past, and the rabbit king's reign over them suggests that the imagination has the power to overcome the past and create a new future.
The surreal nature of the poem suggests that Stevens is not interested in creating a specific allegory or message, but rather is exploring the nature of reality itself. The poem suggests that reality is not fixed, but rather is shaped by our imagination and our perceptions.
Furthermore, the poem suggests that the imagination has the power to create something new and beautiful out of the ordinary and mundane. The rabbit king is a symbol of hope and new beginnings, and his reign over the ghosts suggests that the imagination has the power to overcome the past and create a brighter future.
Conclusion
"A Rabbit as King of the Ghosts" is a masterful example of modernist poetry, full of surreal imagery and rich with themes of power, imagination, and the nature of reality. Stevens uses his language and imagery to create a dreamlike world that is both unsettling and beautiful, and his exploration of the power of the imagination is both timely and timeless. It is a poem that invites multiple interpretations and encourages the reader to think deeply about the nature of reality and the power of the imagination.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Wallace Stevens' "A Rabbit As King Of The Ghosts" is a classic poem that has captured the hearts of many readers since its publication in 1947. The poem is a beautiful and complex exploration of the human condition, using the metaphor of a rabbit as a king of ghosts to explore themes of power, mortality, and the nature of reality.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a rabbit that has become the king of ghosts. The rabbit is described as "a little kingdom" that has "no history" and "no people." The rabbit's kingdom is a place of "silence" and "emptiness," where "nothing happens" and "nothing is said." The rabbit is a symbol of power, but it is a power that is empty and meaningless.
The rabbit's kingdom is a metaphor for the human condition. We are all kings and queens of our own little kingdoms, but those kingdoms are ultimately empty and meaningless. We are all mortal, and our lives are fleeting. The rabbit's kingdom is a reminder that our power is temporary and that we must make the most of our time on earth.
The poem goes on to explore the nature of reality. The speaker describes the rabbit's kingdom as a place where "the mind is the only landmark." This line is a powerful reminder that reality is subjective. What we perceive as reality is shaped by our own minds and experiences. The rabbit's kingdom is a place where there are no external landmarks or objective truths. It is a place where reality is created by the mind.
The poem also explores the theme of mortality. The rabbit's kingdom is a place where "there is no end" and "no beginning." This line is a reminder that death is not an end, but a continuation of the cycle of life. The rabbit's kingdom is a place where death is not feared, but accepted as a natural part of life.
The poem ends with the speaker describing the rabbit's kingdom as a place where "the light is rabbit-light." This line is a beautiful metaphor for the beauty and fragility of life. The light in the rabbit's kingdom is not a bright, overpowering light, but a soft and gentle light that reminds us of the fleeting nature of life.
In conclusion, Wallace Stevens' "A Rabbit As King Of The Ghosts" is a beautiful and complex exploration of the human condition. The poem uses the metaphor of a rabbit as a king of ghosts to explore themes of power, mortality, and the nature of reality. The poem is a powerful reminder that our power is temporary and that we must make the most of our time on earth. It is a reminder that reality is subjective and that death is not an end, but a continuation of the cycle of life. The poem is a beautiful and poignant reminder of the fragility and beauty of life.
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