Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Carol Frost's poem "Envy" provides a compelling depiction of the emotion through the behavior of two cats. The poem uses the interaction between the cats to explore themes of rivalry, mistrust, and the nature of envy, revealing how such feelings manifest in subtle yet profound ways.

The poem opens with a vivid image: "Look: the cat lifts its head, switching its tail, and to the other cat says in a voice almost too low to hear, something angry, interrupting their shared meal." This sets the scene with an immediate sense of tension and conflict. The subtle communication between the cats—a low, almost inaudible angry remark—introduces the undercurrent of envy disrupting their moment of shared enjoyment.

As the scene unfolds, the intensity of their emotions becomes clear: "Hissing, they both stand absolutely still-quivering, full of mistrust-equally, it seems, over the bowl with its sweet morsels of flesh." The use of "quivering" and "full of mistrust" captures the heightened sensitivity and readiness to confront, indicative of envy and rivalry. The shared bowl of "sweet morsels of flesh" symbolizes the object of their contention, the source of their envy.

The poem then delves into the internal dynamics of envy: "though one must start to feel the other's resolve greater than her own; or the other fetches from within a hardness like a beautiful blade from a locked cabinet." This line suggests that envy and rivalry are not just about the immediate object but also involve an internal assessment of strength and resolve. The metaphor of a "beautiful blade from a locked cabinet" implies a hidden, sharp determination that one cat possesses, leading to the other cat's realization of her relative weakness.

This realization leads to a resolution of sorts: "because the first breaks away and walks to the other side of the room." The act of breaking away signifies a surrender or retreat in the face of stronger resolve. The retreating cat's subsequent actions—springing "onto the pampered chair and sits looking out the window at the birds flitting by"—reflect a shift in focus from the immediate source of envy to an external, possibly calming distraction.

However, the poem's exploration of envy does not end with this physical retreat. The final lines capture a deeper, more personal response: "if cat eyes don't blur at that distance, then suddenly turns her head down to her chest in a burst of envy to lick and lick her own fur." The act of licking her own fur repeatedly is a manifestation of self-soothing behavior, yet it is tinged with the "burst of envy." This self-directed action suggests a complex mix of resignation, self-comfort, and continued internalized envy.

"Envy" by Carol Frost is a nuanced and insightful examination of the emotion through the lens of animal behavior. The poem's rich imagery and attention to detail vividly portray how envy can disrupt harmony and lead to a complex interplay of surrender and self-soothing. Through the actions and reactions of the two cats, Frost captures the essence of envy, making it a universal experience that resonates beyond the immediate setting. The poem invites readers to reflect on their own encounters with envy and the subtle ways it shapes interactions and self-perception.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Venus_and_Don_Juan/SMw6m_pC274C?q=&gbpv=1&bsq=ENVY#f=false

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