Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Randall Jarrell's "Jonah" delves into the biblical story of Jonah with a contemplative and introspective lens, focusing on themes of mercy, divine will, and human resentment. The poem offers a nuanced exploration of Jonah's internal struggle, his relationship with God, and his ultimate realization of the broader scope of divine compassion.

The poem begins with Jonah lying in the sun, reflecting on his past journey to Nineveh. This setting establishes a contemplative tone as Jonah recalls the sailors’ desperate cries for him to pray and save them from the storm. The imagery of the sea's turmoil and Jonah's descent into the belly of the whale evokes a sense of overwhelming despair and helplessness. The lines "The waters compassed me, the weeds were wrapped about my head; / The earth with her bars was about me forever" vividly capture Jonah's feeling of entrapment and the weight of his ordeal.

However, this despair is countered by Jonah’s recognition of God's mercy. He recalls how, even in his darkest moments, he remembered God and cried out from the depths. This moment of divine intervention, where God brings Jonah's life up from corruption, underscores the central theme of mercy. Jarrell emphasizes God's compassion and willingness to save, despite human failings, with the repeated affirmation: "For thou art merciful."

As the poem transitions to Jonah’s mission in Nineveh, his internal conflict becomes more apparent. The king’s hopeful plea that God may relent and spare the city is met with Jonah's bitterness. Jonah’s frustration stems from his knowledge of God’s merciful nature, which he had previously acknowledged in his own deliverance. The line "My heart fell; for I knew thy grace of old" reveals Jonah's resentment towards God’s leniency, a stark contrast to his earlier gratitude.

Jonah's plea for death and his subsequent silence in response to God's question about his anger further illustrate his inner turmoil. The young gourd that grows over Jonah, providing temporary relief, symbolizes fleeting comfort and the transient nature of worldly attachments. When the gourd is destroyed, Jonah's grief and anger are reignited, prompting another divine question: "Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd?" Jonah's vehement affirmation of his right to be angry "even unto death" highlights his persistent struggle with accepting God's will.

The Lord's final response to Jonah serves as the poem's moral and emotional climax. By comparing Jonah’s pity for the ephemeral gourd to God’s compassion for the people of Nineveh, God underscores the value of all life and the vastness of divine mercy. The rhetorical question about sparing Nineveh, with its "more than six-score thousand persons / Who cannot tell their left from their right; / And also much cattle," broadens the scope of mercy to include not only humans but all living creatures.

Jarrell's portrayal of Jonah is deeply human, capturing his complexity and vulnerability. Jonah's journey from despair to grudging acceptance and his ultimate confrontation with divine mercy is rendered with empathy and insight. The poem’s structure, moving from recollection to present reflection, allows readers to experience Jonah’s transformation and understand his conflicted emotions.

In "Jonah," Jarrell masterfully weaves biblical narrative with poetic introspection, creating a rich tapestry that explores the interplay between human frailty and divine grace. The poem invites readers to consider the limits of their own understanding and the boundless nature of mercy, urging a recognition of the broader, often inscrutable, workings of compassion in the world. Through Jonah's story, Jarrell emphasizes that divine mercy transcends human anger and bitterness, offering a vision of hope and redemption that is as challenging as it is profound.

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