While his fellow animals appear to have accepted their imprisoned reality in a zoo as being comfortable and safe, a jaguar rushes through his cage with restlessness and rage. It is not his restlessness and rage alone that mesmerize the human spectators who gather with awe in front of his cell. Rather it is the amazing contrast to the other animals' behaviour that makes them turn towards the jaguars' cage in a state of fascination. Something is bodily captured that is spiritually free.
The difference between vitality and lethargy cannot be shown more drastically than in Ted Hughes' "The Jaguar", the second poem of his first anthology The Hawk in the Rain (1957). Indeed, Hughes was obsessed with the struggle between these two concepts, which he equated with life and death. Both vitality and lethargy manifest themselves, at the extreme, in the fundamentally different reactions of the animals to their confinement. Deeply connected with this contrast is Hughes' criticism of modern western civilization, which he poetically formulates in his poem: by his sympathising with the enraged jaguar, he turns strictly against the apathetic cosiness of modern civilizations, the most blatant failure of which he identifies in the loss of humans' animality. This animality, the magical closeness and return to the instincts and the primordial, inherent strength in human beings, is not only respected, but passionately emphasized by Hughes as a prerequisite for any vital humane existence. Modern societies that live in disregard for their animality and replace it completely with science and rationality lose their inner vital power and must eventually expire into lethal stagnation. That is why Ted Hughes depicts civilization and animality as diametrically excluding each other.
The following analysis aims at elucidating the thesis of a metaphorical allusion to the dichotomy of civilization and animality in "The Jaguar". Therefore, it is indispensable to point out at first which images Ted Hughes creates to depict the relation between civilization and lethargy. In a second step, his imagination of what animality actually is has to be presented, before it must be portrayed finally to what extent, according to Hughes, the oppositeness of modern civilization and animality manifests itself and whether or not it may be resolved.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- I "breathing straw" ... civilisational lethargy
- II "short fierce fuse" ... animality
- III "wilderness of freedom" ... the dichotomy of civilization and animality
Objectives and Key Themes
This analysis aims to elucidate the metaphorical allusion to the dichotomy of civilization and animality in Ted Hughes' poem "The Jaguar." It explores how Hughes uses imagery to depict the relationship between civilization and lethargy, examines his portrayal of animality, and ultimately analyzes the extent to which the poem presents civilization and animality as diametrically opposed forces, and whether any resolution is suggested.
- The lethargy of modern Western civilization.
- The contrast between vitality and lethargy.
- Hughes' concept of animality and its importance.
- The metaphorical representation of the zoo as a symbol of societal stagnation.
- The dichotomy between civilization and animality.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: The introduction sets the stage by describing the contrasting behaviors of animals in a zoo, focusing on a jaguar's restless energy against the backdrop of other animals' apathy. This contrast highlights the poem's central theme: the conflict between vitality and lethargy, which Hughes equates with life and death. The introduction establishes the poem's critique of modern Western civilization, suggesting its prioritization of rationality and science over animality leads to spiritual stagnation. The analysis will explore Hughes' metaphorical use of the zoo and the animals' reactions to captivity to illustrate this critique.
I "breathing straw" ... civilisational lethargy: This section analyzes the portrayal of the zoo and its inhabitants as a metaphor for the lethargy of modern Western civilization. Using Richards' theory of metaphor, the analysis identifies the zoo as the "vehicle" and modern civilization as the "tenor," exploring common attributes like monotony, lack of vitality, and apathy. The descriptions of the apes, tiger, lion, and constrictor emphasize their inactivity and stillness, reflecting a life devoid of excitement or purpose. The parrots' behavior is presented as distorted and unnatural, further highlighting the artificiality and sterility of the zoo environment. The overall effect is a depiction of a bleak, lifeless existence where individual expression and vital energy are absent.
Keywords
Ted Hughes, The Jaguar, animality, civilization, lethargy, vitality, metaphor, modernism, zoo, captivity, spiritual stagnation.
Ted Hughes' "The Jaguar": A Comprehensive Analysis - FAQ
What is the main focus of this analysis?
This analysis focuses on the metaphorical depiction of the dichotomy between civilization and animality in Ted Hughes' poem "The Jaguar." It explores how Hughes uses imagery to represent this conflict and whether the poem suggests any resolution.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
The key themes include the lethargy of modern Western civilization, the contrast between vitality and lethargy, Hughes' concept of animality and its importance, the metaphorical representation of the zoo as a symbol of societal stagnation, and the central dichotomy between civilization and animality itself.
What is the structure of the analysis?
The analysis is structured into chapters: an introduction, followed by sections focusing on "breathing straw" (civilizational lethargy), "short fierce fuse" (animality), and "wilderness of freedom" (the dichotomy of civilization and animality). It also includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
How does the analysis interpret the poem's use of the zoo?
The analysis interprets the zoo as a powerful metaphor for the stagnation and lifelessness of modern Western civilization. The animals' apathy and lack of vitality within the artificial confines of the zoo reflect the poem's critique of a society prioritizing rationality over animality.
What literary theories are used in the analysis?
The analysis employs I.A. Richards' theory of metaphor to analyze the symbolic representation of the zoo as a vehicle for the tenor of modern civilization, highlighting shared characteristics like monotony and lack of vitality.
What specific aspects of the poem are analyzed in each chapter?
The introduction establishes the poem's central theme and its critique of modern society. Chapter I analyzes the portrayal of civilizational lethargy through the imagery of the zoo and its inhabitants. Subsequent chapters delve deeper into the representation of animality and the poem's exploration of the conflict between these two forces.
What are the key takeaways from this analysis?
The analysis reveals how Hughes uses vivid imagery and metaphor to critique the perceived spiritual stagnation of modern Western civilization, contrasting it with the raw vitality and energy of the animal world. It highlights the poem's exploration of a fundamental conflict and invites reflection on the relationship between humanity and nature.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
The keywords include Ted Hughes, The Jaguar, animality, civilization, lethargy, vitality, metaphor, modernism, zoo, captivity, and spiritual stagnation.
- Citation du texte
- Magister Artium Dominik Jesse (Auteur), 2017, Wilderness of Freedom behind Bars. The Dichotomy of Civilization and Animality in Ted Hughes' Poem "The Jaguar", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/366046
