Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Tools" by John Updike is a contemplative poem that delves into the longevity and steadfastness of hand tools, contrasting their durable nature with human transience and the consumerism of modern life. Updike uses the enduring quality of these tools as a metaphor for reliability and permanence, reflecting on the passage of time and the changes in human life against the unchanging utility and structure of these implements.

The poem opens with a rhetorical question that sets the tone for a reflection on the economics of tool manufacturing versus their longevity: "Tell me, how do the manufacturers of tools turn a profit?" This question immediately highlights the paradox of a business model that sells items designed to last a lifetime, contrasting sharply with a contemporary culture that often values disposability and frequent replacement.

Updike then shifts to a more personal perspective, noting that he has used the "same clawed hammer for forty years" and a screwdriver "misted with rust" that was once new in his hands. These tools not only serve their functional purposes but also act as markers of time and milestones in his life, accumulating personal and historical value as they age alongside him. The description of the screwdriver that "once slipped into my young hand, a new householder's" invokes a sense of nostalgia, underscoring how these tools have been constant companions through various phases of his life.

The poet personifies the tools, giving them characteristics that imbue them with life and personality: pliers with a "notched mouth agape like a cartoon shark's," a wrench, a plane, a brace and bit, and others. Each tool is described vividly, highlighting its unique features and the specific, unchanging role it plays: "the plane still sharp enough to take its fragrant, curling bite; the brace and bit still fit to chew a hole in pine like a patient thought." These descriptions celebrate the craftsmanship and functional beauty of the tools, suggesting a form of artistry in their design and utility.

As Updike recounts these tools, he notes the tape rule whose "inches [are] unaltered though I have shrunk; the carpenter's angle, still absolutely right though I have strayed." These lines poignantly reflect on personal changes and perhaps moral or existential deviations, contrasting them with the immutable precision of the tools. The "wooden bubble level from my father's meagre horde" adds a generational dimension, linking the tools to heritage and lineage, suggesting the passing down of values and crafts from one generation to another.

The poem concludes with a reflection on the "stubborn shapes" that "pervade the cellar," enduring with a thrift that "shames our wastrel lives." This final comparison between the lasting utility of the tools and the often wasteful, transient nature of human activities serves as a critique of modern consumerism and a reminder of the value of simplicity and durability.

In "Tools," Updike crafts a rich tapestry of imagery and metaphor that celebrates the humble, often overlooked objects that serve us faithfully. Through this ode to tools, he invites readers to reflect on broader themes of utility, time, change, and the enduring values embedded in our everyday lives.

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