Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Gwendolyn Brooks' poem, drawing inspiration from Edward Young's observation, "pygmies are pygmies still, though percht on Alps," crafts a vivid metaphorical landscape that explores themes of ambition, perspective, and the relative nature of success and stature. Through her interpretation, Brooks delves into the complexities of human aspiration and the illusion of greatness, juxtaposing the figurative pygmies and giants to comment on societal and personal measures of achievement and worth.

The poem begins with an acknowledgment of the pygmies' elevated position, not just in a literal sense but metaphorically, suggesting that achieving heights or ambitions allows for a broader perspective on life. The pygmies, though small in stature, gain a unique vantage point from their position "on Alps," from which they can see more clearly and even pity the giants below. This inversion of expectations challenges conventional wisdom about power, success, and visibility in society. It suggests that true insight and enlightenment may come not from physical dominance or traditional notions of success but from the perspectives gained through overcoming obstacles and reaching new heights against the odds.

Brooks uses the imagery of giants "wallowing on the plain" to represent those who, despite their inherent advantages and size (suggestive of power or status), remain confined to their limited perspectives. These giants, frustrated and restricted within their own small patches of grass, symbolize individuals or societies that are complacent, trapped by their own narrow viewpoints, unable to see beyond their immediate surroundings or to reach their full potential.

The poem contrasts the physical expansion of pygmies in the "cold impossible air" with the metaphorical stagnation of the giants. This expansion is not just a growth in physical space but an enlargement of spirit, ambition, and perspective. The pygmies' ability to "expand" in such conditions speaks to the resilience and adaptability of those who might be underestimated by others. They reject the "giantshine," the false glory that fails to achieve true greatness or to understand the heights that exist beyond its reach.

Brooks' mention of the pygmies' laughter and pity towards the giants introduces a tone of ironic detachment, suggesting that true understanding and fulfillment come from recognizing and transcending one's limitations, rather than from mere physical or superficial achievements. The giants, with their "poor glory," are depicted as pitiable figures, enslaved by their own delusions of grandeur, unable to achieve the metaphorical heights that the pygmies have reached through their perseverance and perspective.

The poem's final lines, "Or, knows no Alps to reach," serve as a poignant commentary on the nature of ambition and the pursuit of greatness. Brooks suggests that the greatest tragedy is not failing to reach one's goals but failing to aspire to them at all. The giants, for all their physical might, lack the ambition or the vision to seek their own Alps, their own peaks of achievement and understanding.

In "pygmies are pygmies still, though percht on Alps," Gwendolyn Brooks crafts a nuanced meditation on the nature of achievement, the value of perspective, and the irony of perceived greatness. Through her skillful use of metaphor and imagery, Brooks invites readers to reconsider their own measures of success and the ways in which true greatness is achieved, not through physical stature or conventional achievements, but through the resilience, perspective, and understanding gained along the journey.

POEM TEXT: https://www.poetrypedagogy.com/uploads/8/9/3/8/89385582/brooks_annie_allen.pdf

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