Analyzing "All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace" by Richard Brautigan

In Richard Brautigan's poem "All Watched over by Machines of Loving Grace” Brautigan illustrated his anti-technology tone and message through the means of parenthesized statements. The parenthesized statements were worked into the poem after the words “I like to think” (lines 1, 9, 17), which were used to drew attention to the statements by hinting to the readers that these statements held the poet’s belief. The statements “(and the sooner the better!), (line 1)” “(right now, please!), (line 10)” and “(it has to be!) (line 18)” gave off a sense of anticipation that is geared towards technological advancements. However, the overly use of the anticipation and excitement in the statements brought about sarcastic connotations to the statements, meaning that Brautigan, through the use of literary sarcasm meant the exact opposite of the statements.

The pro-technology tone and message were worked more subtly into the poem. The mentioning of “mammals and computers liv[ing] in mutually programming harmony,” (lines 4-6) and the simple co-existence between the animals and technology that is worked subtly into the poem goes to show that Brautigan believes technology brings the world closer together and is good for the world. The co-existence of animals and technology as well as the benefits of technology that brings the nature and man together is shown by the phrase: “our mammal brothers and sisters.” Thus, since computers are to become so much a part of the world that deer can walk “past computers as if they were flowers” it goes to say that technology is significant and that it should become a sure and irreplaceable part of our world.

I believe the pro-technological tone and message is more convincing, because of the relationships mentioned in the poem. The co-existence of nature and technology and the prevalence as well as the assistance provided by technology show by the fact that the “machines watch over” (line 24) and provide “loving grace” (line 25) to the humans showed just how much technology means to us and how important it is to nature and humans. Thus, I believe through the imagery and connections between the prevalence of technology in nature the pro-technology tone and message is more convincing.

Poetry Interpretation: CASABIANCA

Images:
- a lone boy stands on a burning ship deck, his head high and body straight
- fire grows and moves around the boy crowning him in light
- fire creeps along the deck
- dead bodies litter the ship and waters below
- the boy's father's dead body floating below in the water
- the boy speaks to the silence asking for his father's permission to leave ship
-the boy calls out to the father again
- the sound of gun and cannon fire answers the boy 
- the wind from the flames blows through the boy's hair and touches his brow
- the boy looking straight out into the dark and smoky air, silent and still in his death
- shouts burst from the boy once again asking the father if he may leave
- the fires crept up the mast and lights the flag on fire, waves in the wind
- a loud explosion, and the boy can no longer be seen
- pieces of the ship litters the water, including the mast, helm, and pennon fair
- the death of the boy

Interpretation:

The images of the lone boy standing amongst the dead while being surrounded by fire, the sincere questioning from the boy to his father, and finally the explosion of the ship are all images linked together by the noble spirit of the boy. The boy in the poem was mostly likely ordered by his father to stay on ship and guard the ship, because the boy questioned his father if he may leave and if his task is complete. However, the boy stayed on ship and adhered to his father’s order even amongst death and fire, which showed the loyalty and noble spirit of the boy.

The fire that moved around the boy surrounded him and crowned him in his glory of his nobility and shining spirit. The noble act of staying and adhering to his father’s words while facing the certainty of his own death shown in the line "lone post of death" showed the gallant spirit of the boy which the surrounding fire enhanced as a symbol of the boy’s fierce and brightly burning spirit. The fire served as the symbol of the boy’s nobility by waving above the boy “banners in the sky” as if the fire is trying to tell the world of the boy’s bravery and noble spirit. The final explosion of the ship that litters the sea with fragments of the ship served as a physical signal and reminder of the existence of the boy. The explosion instead of diminishing the presence of the boy further heightened it by asserting the boy’s existence with noise and signaled to the surroundings that there was a boy, a light, that existed among the chaos of death. The explosion also further proved that the boy was a fragment of light and his existence belongs in the light of which the explosion is. After all, explosions are made up of light and sound. Thus, the light of the explosion signified the light of the boy and the noble spirit of the boy.

So, through the images of the poem one can interpret the message that even among the darkness of death, light will still shine. Through the presence of the boy among the dead and the fierce fire upon the ship, the nobility which served as a beacon of light among the darkness of death shone through with the boy as the symbol.

               

Warm Sunshine

Sunshine gives off warmth and chases away the cold. During the winter season up here at northern California, the sun still shines but there is no warmth. I chose the title I did because I miss the warmth and the heat of southern California. Even though the heat seemed to be blistering at times, I would still prefer the heat to the cold that seems to be seeping into my bones, because the heat does not pain me as the cold does. The shivering and the muscle contractions due to the shivering make it feel as if my body is being shaken apart. Thus, the stressing of the warm sunshine in the title is an expression of my longing for the warmth the sun provides. Of course, the longing for the heat is most likely because I am not use to the cold that seems to be dominating the temperature during this time of year up here. After all, southern California does not really have a winter season, because the sun always shines. Of course, I have nothing against winter as a season. I love the snow, but up here the winter only contains the blistering cold and pelting rain. The cold is tolerable as well but if occasionally there is to be warm weather during this time of year up here in northern California, it would be much appreciated. I suppose the main reason for the longing of sunshine and warmth is because the cold can be biting and because one does not know how precious something is, such as the warm sunshine, until it is gone.