Symbolism in the poem "the Walrus and the Carpenter"

Lewis Carroll?s ?The sea horse and the work? could possibly be merely a wonky rhyme meant purely for amusement value. The steadyt that this is a hokum metrical composition in spite of appearance a nonsense story makes it square the more(prenominal) concentrated to decipher a deeper kernel. Like the author, who had a darker side to him, so too baron his work. Carroll made this statement in a letter to an Ameri mickle friend,Im very ofttimes afraid I didnt mean anything al oneness and except(a) nonsense. Still, you know, delivery mean more than we mean to express when we practise them; so a whole book ought to mean a great deal more than the writer means. So, some(prenominal) fair kernels be in the book, Im glad to get hold of as the meaning of the book. (Shaw)This passage almost defines the relationship between the author and what he or she pens. Even though it is a statement regarding ?The hunting of the Snark?, he could arrest state it ab distinguis h any one of his works. Meaning is in the chief of the reader and this is the beauty ill-advised literature. Every reader can interpret a erratic hidden behind the words on the page. Many editions opine that the metrical composition could be biting keys at religion and it?s binders. The main tune towards that theory is that Jesus Christ was a carpenter by trade and so the carpenter in the meter could p in all toldiate Christianity. The trouble with this is that Carroll had told the illustrator that he could choose from a carpenter, a grind or a baronet, which is a atom of the lowest highborn social order the English had at the time. Carroll gave the artist these trine choices exactly because any of them would fit the poem?s meter. The illustrator valued to sketch a carpenter and early(a) then this there is no real reason for the f roost choice of the character. Could ?The seahorse and The carpenter?, then be a governmental chaff written to shed lei surely on the atrocities occurring in the po! litical realm at the time? ar the characters are emblematic of Capitalistic politicians and the unquestioning lackeys that conform to them? This interpretation is popular and one to be examined in greater depth. Carroll begins the poem with a cheer rendering with all told his competency to luff light by dint of the darkness. The insolate constitute Carroll himself (De Rooy). The sun sparkle brightly is Carroll informatory the reader and showing light on the corruption and good lucks of the world. The item that the sun is showing at wickedness is significant of how Carroll cypher society. They are in darkness and his light is trying to disseminate the night. In the conterminous stanza, the bootleg is sick by the sun?s presence. This is her nighttime and it is very unmannered of the sun to be hanging around. It is no coincidence that the moon is female. Government in England at the time and to present day is headed by a woman, the poof. She expositio ns that it goes against his manners to ruin her good time. Surely, the Queen is benefiting from ignorance of her subjects. The two make do heedmingly unrelated characters that make of the title of the poem enter in line 19. The walrus and the work symbolize the verbose, dishonest politicians that plagued British government. They walk down the shoreline and are get the lift pop tabu with emotion. Carroll is referencing the politicians consume for forward progress (De Rooy). ?They wept like anything to represent ?such(prenominal) quantities of sand:??If this were further cleared a appearance,? ?They utter, it WOULD be grand!?? (Carroll 21-24 qtd. in Shaw)They want to try to accomplish the impossible feat of alter away all the sand on the margin. Politicians often do non see what they are doing when they look for advancements in the frugality to be made. They even try to devise a broadcast in the next stanza in which seven maids with seven mops might be adapted t o clear the sand if they swept interminably for six ! months. Luckily, they readily forget around their excavation when they see something they want outlying(prenominal) more. The rotund Walrus invites oysters from an oyster manage to come and concur a pleasant walk with him and the Carpenter. The oysters represent the common British countrymen seduced by the words of the politicians. Only the hoary oyster knows to be wary of walking with these shifty characters. by dint of his wise eld and possible lampoons in the past he knows enough not to budge from the mud. ?The eldest gather looked at him,?But neer a word he utter:?The eldest Oyster winked his eye,?And shook his heavy head--?Meaning to study he did not choose?To leave the oyster-bed.? (Carroll 37-42 qtd. in Shaw)The recent oysters, who have not yet dealt with such persons, agree to pretend out on a jaunt. The trip down the coast symbolizes the blind way the common man will follow the politician to his steep demise. The oysters gather and more and more foll ow the two leading down the length of the beach. The Walrus and the Carpenter lead the oysters a great distance until the oysters are worn out from the journey. tenia on a rock that is ?conveniently? low, the Walrus gathers up his followers, who stand in neat rows close by, and begins a address with the most remembered portion of Carroll?s poem. The time has come, the Walrus said,?To verbalize of many things:?Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--?Of cabbages--and kings--?And why the sea is turn hot--?And whether pigs have wings. (Carroll 61-66 qtd. in Shaw)The Walrus?s speech is a remark on politicians gathering listeners and mesmerizing them into thinking that everything they say is apt to them when in truth it is all nonsense (De Rooy). Oysters do not billing near shoes, they do not even have feet, which Carroll points out in a previous line. in the lead the walk, the oysters did make cowcatcher that their shoes were clean and neat unless they have no need for them.

Carroll is saying even though the oysters do not need a product like shoes, it has been driven into their heads by politicians and solicitors that they not only need but want whatsoever item is being peddled. The Walrus asks why the sea is boiling hot when it clearly is not. The Walrus is just trying to prance the oysters and grab their attention with something that would supplication to them if it in truth was true. The comment about pigs having wings is Carroll pointing out the ridiculous discussion press release on in government that just do not relate to anything. Nonsense within the nonsense poem. While all are gathered at the rock, the oysters as ks if they can rest in the beginning they pour down doing anything else. The Carpenter agrees and the oysters actually thank him for his kindness. barbarous irony in regards to what the Carpenter then does to the innocent oysters. Carroll is remarking on the way that mountain believe their politicians are doing what is best for them when in actuality, the politicians are only acting in their own best interests. The Walrus comments on how it would be a terrible trick to play on the oysters, to bring them all the way out on the beach to their demise after promising them a pleasant walk. The Carpenter offers no reply to this statement and only mentions the butter on his bread is spread too thick. The Walrus and the Carpenter predate one by one the horror-struck oysters, leaving no survivors to warn others of the tragic event that has taken place. The Walrus seems to savor bad about what happened to the oysters without considering he caused it. He sheds meaningless ruptu re and sobs uncontrollably. I weep for you, the Walru! s said:?I deep sympathize.?With sobs and tears he sorted out?Those of the largest size,?Holding his pocket-handkerchief?Before his streaming eyes. (Carroll 97-102 qtd. in Shaw)After all was said and done, the Walrus and the Carpenter did what would make them happy regardless of how it touch others. They can tell themselves they cared for the oysters and shed morose tears but they ate them all without even realizing it. Carroll?s seemingly nonsensical poem is actually a criticism of government and those governed. It is a warning to all who read and interpret it?s meaning to beware false promises. The politicians drive for forward progress and political advancement is set apart in front of the need of the people. It is just as much the people?s fault for letting it take place without question. Carroll wrote the poem to shine light on the issue of unsporting government at the time. Or possibly, he was just paper an amusing, nonsensical poem that would appeal to little gir ls. Works CitedDe Rooy, Lenny. Lennys Alice in Wonderland Site. 7 Apr. 2007 . Shaw, David. The Walrus and the Carpenter. Jabberwocky. 7 Apr. 2007 . If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: OrderCustomPaper.com

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