Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Derek Walcott’s "New World" is a rich, multilayered poem that revisits the biblical story of Adam’s exile from Eden, reframing it within the context of colonialism and the creation of the "New World." By invoking the familiar narrative of Adam and the Fall, Walcott meditates on themes of labor, loss, and the consequences of human ambition. The poem suggests that the New World—shaped by European colonization, exploitation, and the pursuit of profit—emerged out of the same dynamics of sin, temptation, and survival that drove Adam from Eden. Walcott’s exploration of these themes extends beyond biblical allegory, touching on the complex historical legacies of conquest and the ways in which paradise is remade and lost in the process of creation and destruction.

The poem opens with the question, "Then after Eden, / was there one surprise?" This rhetorical question immediately draws the reader into the aftermath of the Fall, setting the stage for Adam’s confrontation with the harsh realities of life outside paradise. The "awe of Adam / at the first bead of sweat" signifies his awakening to the burdens of labor and survival. In Eden, Adam lived without effort, but outside its gates, he is introduced to the struggle that will define human existence. The imagery of sweat, often associated with toil and suffering, marks the beginning of humanity’s engagement with the physical world, where nothing is given without effort.

Walcott emphasizes the connection between labor and the natural world by noting that "all flesh / had to be sown with salt." The salt, a metaphor for the bitterness of labor and the seasoning of experience, suggests that from this moment on, humanity would be bound to the cycles of life and death, the "edge of seasons," and the rewards and fears that come with harvest. Adam's joy, though now "difficult," is at least his own, implying that while life outside Eden is harder, it also brings with it a sense of ownership and agency that was absent in paradise. This subtle shift in perspective points to the paradoxical nature of the Fall: though Adam loses the ease of Eden, he gains a sense of personal accomplishment and autonomy through labor.

The snake, a symbol of temptation and sin, reappears in the poem, but its role has evolved. "The snake? It would not rust / on its forked tree." Rather than being cast out of the narrative, the snake remains present, admiring Adam's labor and refusing to leave him alone. The snake’s admiration of work suggests that temptation and sin are now intertwined with human effort and ambition. The snake is no longer merely a deceiver, but a constant companion to Adam, reminding him of the loss of Eden while also becoming a partner in his labor. The snake's presence alongside Adam as they both watch the seasons change—"the leaves / silver the alder, / oaks yellowing October"—implies that the serpent is now an integral part of the human experience, observing the transformation of the natural world into something of value: "everything turning money."

The reference to nature turning into money introduces the theme of commodification, which becomes central to the poem's meditation on the New World. Walcott suggests that the transition from Eden to the post-lapsarian world is not just about labor but about the ways in which the natural world is turned into profit. The line "everything turning money" highlights how the beauty of nature—its leaves, trees, and seasons—becomes an object of economic value, a commodity to be exploited and traded. This shift from Eden’s abundance to a world driven by profit is a direct critique of the colonial project, in which the New World’s natural resources were extracted and monetized at the expense of indigenous peoples and the environment.

As the poem moves toward its conclusion, Walcott extends the biblical allegory to the colonization of the Americas, referring to Adam’s exile to "our New Eden, in the ark's gut." The ark, traditionally associated with Noah’s preservation of life, becomes a vessel for the colonizers' journey to the New World. However, the "coined snake" accompanies Adam, symbolizing how sin and exploitation have been carried into this new paradise. The snake’s transformation into something "coined" underscores its role in the commodification and material exploitation of the New World, where profit becomes the driving force behind creation.

The line "Adam had an idea. / He and the snake would share / the loss of Eden for a profit" is particularly telling. It suggests that Adam, in his exile, has learned to adapt to his fallen state by making a bargain with the snake, a partnership that will allow both to benefit from the loss of paradise. This alliance between Adam and the snake mirrors the colonial enterprise, in which the loss of innocence and the destruction of indigenous cultures are justified in the pursuit of wealth and power. The creation of the New World is thus framed as a continuation of the original Fall, driven by the same forces of greed and ambition.

The poem’s final line, "So both made the New World. And it looked good," is an ironic echo of the biblical account of creation, in which God declares His creation "good." However, in this case, the "good" is not the result of divine benevolence but the outcome of human ambition and exploitation. The New World, shaped by the partnership between Adam and the snake, appears to be a success on the surface, but it is built on the foundations of sin, loss, and commodification.

In "New World," Derek Walcott masterfully intertwines the biblical narrative of Adam and Eve with the historical realities of colonization, drawing parallels between the loss of Eden and the creation of the Americas. The poem critiques the ways in which human labor, ambition, and the pursuit of profit have shaped the New World, suggesting that the legacies of sin and exploitation are inescapable. Through rich, symbolic language, Walcott invites readers to reflect on the complexities of history, the nature of labor, and the moral consequences of the colonial project. Ultimately, the poem offers a powerful commentary on the costs of human progress and the ways in which paradise is constantly remade and lost in the pursuit of profit.

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