Paradox in Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird Essay Example

writer, the Spring in All article of William Carlos Williams indicates the same message in its own way.It spoke of how poetry can be anti-poetry at the same time. It does not suggest however, that in order for a poem to be artistic, it needs to be utilizing irony, anti-thesis, paradox , as well as other literary devices that shows the opposite of what the poet truly means. The text merely implies that there is something more to take into consideration when it comes to explaining poetry.

For instance, the poem by “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird”, has more meaning than what it seems.It is a thirteen stanza poem, each stanza describes the ways with which a person may look at a blackbird. Carefully studying it, however, it may be found that it is not actually the blackbird which is being looked at. Instead it is the blackbird which is looking at the surroundings.

The first stanza indicates the blackbird being alone in a group of snow capped mountains. It is the lone observer, that one element at work. The blackbird in the first stanza may also be interpreted as a man's mind which is alone in his head.It is constantly at work and observing the different phenomena in the surroundings. The mind works like the blackbird, on its own and minding not much in the scenery. The snow capped mountains symbolize gloom and being far away or distant.

Moving further, the second stanza indicates the blackbird becoming three. From one blackbird with eyes constantly moving, the second stanza points having the mind divided into three major parts. These parts are of different

nature yet moving as one machinery and within one premise.In the third stanza, the author spoke of how little the role of the mind in the world, that one mind is merely a speck in the business of the universe.

The first line, the blackbird was whirled in the autumn wind, says that there exists a force greater than the mind and that supporting line indicates that it is merely part of a bigger picture and not the picture on its own. The fourth stanza is when the writer showed how the mind is a part of the universe. The man and woman being one symbolizes the oneness of all creatures and beings in the world.The blackbird stands for the oneness, just like the mind being one despite three divisions.

The fifth stanza is merely reinforcement of how the blackbird should be looked at. It is not only a bird, a lone bird. It can be other things representing the meaning of the poet. Furthermore, the sixth stanza spoke of how powerful the mind is. The first line of this stanza told of windows which means that one aspect of humanity is trying to surpass the universe.

However, only the blackbird, with its shadow can make the universe one. There is no other nature of man which can make the unity work as the mind.The seventh stanza reinforces the idea of the sixth. It tells of man and woman's roles in the universe and the blackbird the mind of each persona. Men and women are should be meek and humble. They must not struggle too much for too lofty aspects of life as this can

be their downfall.

The mind teaches the men and women how to accept the universe and what it has to offer to them. Those who ignore the call of the universe is being foolish and blind as it is disturbing the unity. The 8th stanza, refers to the mind being part of the noblest of the noble acts.It is constant and it can never be eluded no matter how a person may try. The blackbird is involved, the mind is always there to dictate and be used for the whatever the situation a person is. The effect of the mind in a person's life is further stated on stanza number nine in which the poet wrote, when the blackbird flew out of sight, it marked the edge of one of the many circles.

This points that as the mind works, it change what is already existing and what is present. Thus, the thought of stanza eight has been reinforced. The tenth stanza also does the same.This goes on until the 12th stanza where the line the river is moving the blackbird must be flying, indicates that actions done with the mind has great force to the point of getting the river moved. It shows how powerful the mind is. The 13th stanza as the first stanza serves as the curtains of the poem.

It is the closing remark of the poet. It is in this part that the poem where the blackbird or the mind relaxes. It stopped its observation and is taking time alone. It may be remembered that in the first stanza, the eyes of the blackbird kept moving. It means the mind

started working.However, in the last stanza, the mind is relaxing and going back to a pause.

Conclusion It may thus be concluded that the poem by Wallace Stevens is a big paradox. Carefully reading how paradox is described in the article of Brooks there are many aspects of the poem that corresponds. First is the fact that the mind which is something caged in the human skull has a bird for a metaphor. It seems as though the mind is encompassing. While this maybe true given that the mind is a powerful organ, it is still an irony that it can be like a blackbird which can travel past twenty snow capped mountains.The poem further passes the ideas pointed in William's work.

The poem is in a way an anti poem. If not for the graphic and vivid description of the stanzas the poem may not be taken as artistic. Thus, it may be said that to trap in a standard style, is not giving it justice. A poem has to flourish, even utilized paradox, ironies, and other literary devices to take effect and for the poem to convey the true message of the poet who wrote it. It is also so that the poem will serve its purpose not only as an art piece but a significant literary piece.