Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton’s "Bestiary U.S.A.: Whale" is a vivid exploration of human dissatisfaction, the search for meaning, and the complex relationship between humanity and nature. The whale, a majestic and ancient creature, becomes a symbol for humanity's longing for something larger, more profound, and more meaningful than the mundane routines of everyday life. Through powerful imagery and reflective questioning, Sexton delves into themes of existential angst, the desire for transcendence, and the paradoxical nature of human civilization.

The poem begins with an arresting image: "Whale on the beach, you dinosaur," immediately situating the whale as a creature from another time, a relic of an ancient past that has somehow found itself stranded in the modern world. The comparison to a dinosaur underscores the whale’s immense size and prehistoric origins, while also suggesting a sense of displacement—this great creature is out of place in the contemporary world, just as a dinosaur would be. The "dead harbor" where the whale has found itself evokes a sense of finality and desolation, a place where life and vitality have ebbed away. The speaker's question, "what brought you smoothing into this dead harbor?" reflects a curiosity tinged with sadness, as if trying to understand why such a magnificent being would end up in a place of death and decay.

Sexton imagines the whale as having had the potential to grow "as big as the Empire State" if it had remained in the ocean. This comparison to the iconic skyscraper highlights the whale's potential for greatness and the limitless possibilities that the ocean—its natural habitat—represents. However, the whale’s presence on land, where it is clearly out of its element, raises questions about its motivations and desires. The speaker muses, "perhaps you like the land, you'd had enough of / holding your breath under water," suggesting that the whale might have been seeking something different, perhaps tired of its life in the sea. This line could be interpreted as a reflection on human desires as well—the constant search for something new, the urge to escape from one's natural environment in pursuit of a different experience, even if it ultimately leads to downfall.

The poem then shifts to the speaker’s broader reflections on humanity's desires: "What is it we want / of you?" The whale, in this context, becomes a repository for human hopes and fears. The speaker imagines that by taking "our warm blood into the great sea," the whale could somehow alleviate humanity's suffering, proving that "we are not the sufferers of God." This line touches on profound theological and existential questions, suggesting that humans seek to transcend their suffering, to find proof that they are not alone in their pain, or that they are not the only beings subject to the whims of a higher power.

The speaker expresses a deep weariness with the trivialities of life: "We are sick of babies crying and the birds flapping / loose in the air." These everyday occurrences, which might typically be seen as signs of life and vitality, are instead depicted as burdensome, further emphasizing the speaker’s longing for something more substantial and significant. The desire for "the double to be big, / and ominous" speaks to a yearning for the monumental, the awe-inspiring—a stark contrast to the mundane realities of daily existence. The whale, once a creature of mythic proportions, "money in Massachusetts," is remembered for its wildness, its capacity to be both "rude / and killers," embodying a raw, untamed force that modern life lacks.

Sexton’s imagery of "killers dressed in black / like grease" juxtaposes the violent, primal nature of the whale with the sterile, monotonous world of modernity, where people are "sick of writing checks, / putting on our socks and working in the little boxes / we call the office." This contrast highlights the disconnect between the vast, powerful forces of nature and the constrained, routine-bound lives that many people lead. The whale, as a symbol, represents a connection to a more elemental and untamed world, a world that modern humans have largely lost touch with.

In "Bestiary U.S.A.: Whale," Anne Sexton uses the image of the beached whale to explore deep-seated human desires for transcendence, meaning, and a connection to something greater than the self. The poem reflects on the paradox of human existence: the longing for the wild, the untamed, and the profound, even as we are trapped in the confines of our own creation—society, routine, and the banality of daily life. The whale’s tragic fate on the beach serves as a metaphor for the consequences of straying too far from one’s natural environment in search of something more, only to find that what was sought leads to ruin. Through this poignant exploration, Sexton invites readers to consider the costs of modernity and the enduring human need for connection to the vast, mysterious forces that lie beyond the limits of our everyday experience.

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