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Back to Subjects - Poetry

fish

fish Elizabeth Bishop’s use of imagery and diction in the poem “The Fish,” is meant to support the themes of observation and the deceptive nature of surface appearance which, through the course of the poem, lead the speaker to the important realization that age is not a negative Imagery and diction are the cornerstone methods implemented in this poem. The title of the poem itself dictates the main message Bishop wishes to convey regarding the process of age. A fish is a creature that has preceded the creation of man on this planet. Therefore, Bishop supplies the reader with a subject that is essentially constant and eternal, like life itself. In further examination of this idea, the speaker is in relation to the fish, very young which helps introduce the theme of deceptive appearances in conjunction with age by building off the notion that youth is ignorant and quick to judge. Bishop’s initial description of the fish is meant to further develop this theme by presenting the reader with a fish that is "battered," "venerable," and "homely." Bishop compares the fish to “ancient wallpaper.” Even without the word ancient preceding it, the general conception of wallpaper is something that fades into the background. One doesn’t take much notice of it. To add to this impartial picture, the fish is brown, the signature color for dullness. “Shapes like full-blown roses stained and lost through age” (lines 14-15,) further cement the image of something with little time left. Full blown roses conjure the image of a flower whose petals are at the stage of falling off. This image isn’t even afforded the color and vibrancy usually associated with flowers for Bishop uses the words “stained” and “lost” which imply and absence of color. She even names the culprit in line 15 with the phrase, “lost through age.” With this phrase it is made clear that the reader associates vivaciousness with youth. Through Bishop’s imagery, the fish is portrayed as something archaic. This serves to create a distance between the speaker and the subject as it stresses the gap between youth The second half of the poem is marked by a bridge in this gap as the speaker engages in a more empirical study of the fish, thus heightening the sense of epiphany that the speaker reaches by the end of the poem. This idea is supported by the frequented use of self-address implemented in the second half. The speaker becomes more involved. “I thought,” “I looked,” “I admired,” all produce a more active role on the part of the speaker. The turning point in the poem that triggers this alteration seems to be when the reader realizes that the fish is in fact still alive. “While his gills were breathing” (line 22) is the first action given to the fish and the first time he is addressed as a living thing. Prior to this moment in the poem, movement had never been addressed. This triggering point changes the focus of the observation from the external body of the fish to his internal self. The change in focus illustrates the need to look below the surface to gain an accurate and complete picture. Bishop commemorates this progress with the addition of color, dimension, and life. These three additives had been missing in the previous description. Suddenly the gills are “crisp,” the flesh is “coarse.” These words have more substance and vitality. This focus is proof that the speaker is in the process of realizing that while the fish may appear old on the outside, he is still alive on the inside. The previous language of the poem, such as line 10, “his brown skin hung in strips” now stresses a more active tone as is evident in lines 30-31, “the dramatic reds and blacks of his shiny entrails.” Bishop then turns her attention to the other life pulses of the fish such as the eyes and mouth. She described the fish’s stare "like the tipping of an object towards the light;" this very astute observation shows the reader that the poet is thinking deeply about the fish, and there is a connection made on the part of the poet. The size of the gap is decreasing and the realization of the speaker is coming into focus. The lip "if you could call it a lip" is the next part observed. It is described as "grim," "wet," and "weapon-like," giving the reader an impression of a weathered veteran of the sea, which challenges the portrayal of the submissive victim he was made out to be in the beginning of the poem. As she explains the hooks and lines caught in his lip, the reader learns that his lip has grown around the hooks, thus becoming part of the fish. This can be seen as symbolic of the manner in which life experiences change and strengthen the person. These appendages hang "like medals with their ribbons frayed and wavering," creating the image of a hero winning many battles. This simile creates another level of respect for the fish on the part of the narrator, and following the simile is a metaphor which emphasizes the narrator’s ensuing admiration for the fish. The fish is now considered "wise" with his "five-haired beard of wisdom trailing behind his aching jaw;" where as before he was simply a floating entity for sea-lice to feast upon. Having broken through the initial theme of deceptive appearances, and bridged the gap originally created between herself and the fish, the speaker now adopts a new perspective. This perspective is made apparent when the speaker addresses her boat as it symbolizes her ability to expand and take in all of her surroundings. This "rented boat" "leaking oil" from its "rusted engine" created a rainbow so beautiful that she became overwhelmed and released the fish. Here, the boat can be compared to the fish, in it’s initial imperfection, then to its final magnificence. The descriptive words allow the reader to, again, visualize the moment vividly through the eyes of the narrator. Bishop does an outstanding job in describing every moment in her growing relationship with the fish. She creates, first, an image of a helpless captive and the reader is allowed to feel sorry for the fish and even pity his situation as the speaker does. The narrator’s relationship with the fish then grows to one of personal regard as she engages in further study and is able to look past her initial observation. The parting image of the rainbow offers a perfect way to drive home the process of aging as a dignified and even celebratory act. Not only is it a very optimistic image of color and gaiety, but the rainbow is traditionally paired with the concept of treasure once the end of it is reached. When applied to the intended message of the poem, it may be interpreted that Bishop is implying that nearing the end of one’s life is like nearing the end of the rainbow and accepting a reward Bibliography:

Word Count: 1179