Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"In Animals in That Country," Margaret Atwood presents a striking contrast between the anthropomorphized animals of a mythical or idealized country and the unromanticized, brutal reality of animals in our contemporary world. This poem, through its vivid imagery and thought-provoking juxtapositions, delves into themes of identity, nature, and the human tendency to impose our own narratives and values on the animal kingdom. Atwood, a Canadian poet known for her incisive exploration of gender, identity, and humanity's relationship with nature, uses this poem to critique how cultural constructs and human egocentrism distort our perception of the natural world.

The poem opens with a description of animals in a metaphorical country where they bear the faces of people, immediately introducing a fantastical element that suggests a deep intertwining of human and animal characteristics. This anthropomorphism serves to blur the lines between human and animal, challenging the reader to consider the implications of such a world. The ceremonial cats, the fox hunted with a veneer of politeness, and the bull given an "elegant death" are all endowed with human attributes, reflecting how humans often romanticize and project their own social rituals and hierarchies onto animals. The mention of the bull, "embroidered with blood" and bearing a "heraldic brand," evokes the tradition of bullfighting, a spectacle that marries violence with ceremony and thereby critiques how human society glorifies and legitimizes animal suffering through cultural practices.

However, the poem shifts dramatically in tone and setting in the latter part, starkly contrasting the initial fantastical imagery with the harsh reality of animal life "in this country" – presumably a reference to the contemporary, real world. Here, animals are stripped of any humanizing characteristics; their eyes merely "flash once in car headlights and are gone." This abrupt transition highlights the disposability and invisibility of animals in modern society, where their deaths are "not elegant" but rather, brutal and unnoticed, emphasizing their marginalization and the lack of empathy they receive.

Atwood's use of the phrase "the faces of no-one" is particularly poignant, suggesting a profound anonymity and lack of identity attributed to animals in our reality. This dehumanization (or de-animalization, to invert the poem's anthropomorphism) serves as a critique of human indifference to the suffering of non-human beings and a commentary on the loss of connection between humans and the natural world. It reflects a society where animals are seen not as beings with their own intrinsic value or narratives but as background characters in the human story, if they are considered at all.

The poem also engages with themes of perception and reality, questioning the validity of our constructed narratives about the natural world. By presenting two vastly different "countries" — one where animals are ascribed human qualities and another where they are seen as devoid of any identity — Atwood challenges the reader to reconsider their own perceptions of animals and the natural world. The anthropomorphism of the first part can be seen as a reflection of human narcissism, a desire to see ourselves even in places where we are not, while the second part serves as a somber reminder of what happens when we strip away these projections: a world where animals are viewed through a lens of utility and disposability.

In conclusion, Margaret Atwood's "Animals in That Country" serves as a powerful critique of human attitudes towards animals and the natural world. Through its vivid imagery, contrasting settings, and thoughtful exploration of themes such as identity, perception, and the human-animal divide, the poem invites readers to reflect on the consequences of our anthropocentric worldview. It asks us to consider a more empathetic and respectful relationship with the natural world, one that recognizes the intrinsic value of all beings beyond the human narratives we impose upon them.

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