Line by Line Explanation of Ted Hughes' Poem 'The Jaguar'

 

{In this line-by-line explanation of Ted Hughes' poem 'The Jaguar', we explore the symbolism, themes, and animal imagery that make this poem a powerful piece of modern literature}

Ted Hughes is a modern poet much famous for his love for nature particularly the animals. As a routine, he went to a zoo and visited the animals kept captivated in their respective cages. His soft heart went wild and he wrote this poem to show different activities of the animals living in their cages. All the animals were in resting mode except for the jaguar which keeps moving round the cage and looks for freedom from captivity one day.

 

In this poem, the poet deals with the theme of captivity verses freedom and the power of mind and imagination. This poem has been divided into five quatrains (a stanza of four lines) and is heavily loaded with enjambments (the continuation of a sentence beyond the end of a line).

 

Stanza 1

Line 1

The apes yawn and adore their fleas in the sun.

 

The poet visits a zoo and finds some of the apes sleeping and some others picking fleas (small wingless jumping insects) from the bodies of each other. Their business shows that they have never realized that they are in captivity.

 

Stanza 1

Line 2 - 3

The parrots shriek as if they were on fire, or strut

Like cheap tarts to attract the stroller with the nut.

 

The parrots make much noise to show anger on being encaged and often walk so arrogantly that they look like a prostitute who calls out her wealthy clients.

 

Stanza 1

Line 4 - 5

Fatigued with indolence, tiger and lion

Lie still as the sun …………

 

Similarly, the tiger and the lion seem tired of lethargy as opposed to their vibrancy in their natural habitat. They lay inert like the sun.

 1.1 Symbolic Interpretation of Stanza 1

The illiterate and dumb people (The Apes) don’t understand the meaning of subjugation (Cage). So, they have nothing to do with freedom or slavery. Therefore, they keep busy in their daily routine jobs (Picking the fleas). Unlike the dumbs, the educated and sensible people (The Parrots) raise voice against slavery to show their zest for freedom and feel proud of being (so-called) freedom fighters. In fact, their hollow screaming (Shrieks) brings nothing but invites the rage of invaders (Stroller) just like a prostitute’s calls attract her passionate seducers. On the other hand, the ruling class (Tigers and lions) better understands the meanings of slavery. It is they who are affected to the utmost by invasion. Despite their regnancy, they stand powerless. In fact, they can do nothing inasmuch as everything remains in control of the invaders.

Stanza 2

Line 5 - 6

……………… The boa-constrictor’s coil

Is a fossil……………

 

Like the other animals of the zoo, the bold and scaring boa snake keeps sitting coiled and motionless.

 

Stanza 2

Line 6

 

………..Cage after cage seems empty, or

 

Hence, the collective sleepy state of all the animals makes cages feel empty.

 

Stanza 2

Line 7

 

Stinks of sleepers from the breathing straw.

 

Nevertheless, the stinky smell arising from the filthy chaff, on which they lay calm breathing, speaks loud of their presence.

 

Stanza 2

Line 8

 

It might be painted on a nursery wall.

 

 This picture of stock-still animals seems befitting to be hanged on the wall to amuse the young learners of a nursery class.

 

2.1 Symbolic Interpretation of Stanza 2

Similarly, the armed forces (Boa Constrictor) seem large and well organized (Coiled) yet, colonized, they remain unfunctional (Fossil) and lose power. People from almost every walk of life give gesture as if they were not living in subjugation (Cage after cage). Perhaps, they have embraced this life of slavery. However, anyone who observes deep can easily foresee their bad attitude (Breathing straw) towards life. Perhaps, this attitude will be more amusing for the generations to come (Nursery class).

Stanza 3

Line 9

 

But who runs like the rest past these arrives

 

If a man of insight, just as the other visitors of the zoo do, visits the cages one after another, he possibly arrives

 

Stanza 3

Line 10

 

At a cage where the crowd stands, stares, mesmerized,

 

at the one where a crowd already stands staring with delight

 

Stanza 3

Line 11

 

As a child at a dream, at a jaguar hurrying enraged

 

(Just as a child does mesmerize at a delightful dream during his sleep) at a jaguar who is fully enraged at being enthralled.

Stanza 3

Line 12 - 13

 

Through prison darkness after the drills of his eyes

On a short fierce fuse…………

 

The jaguar moves to and fro throughout the prison furiously and in fury, his eyes discover nothing but the darkness of the prison.

 

3.1 Symbolic Interpretation of Stanza 3

Yet, out of the legions of servitude, suddenly a true freedom fighter (The Jaguar) steps forward and becomes the apple of eye of beholders with the truth and holiness of his enthusiasm, zeal and zest for actual manumission. He is in pursuit of his irreducible ideals. Nevertheless, he is furious and enraged at the present state (The prison darkness) of his fellow beings.

Stanza 4

Line 13

 

…………… Not in boredom—

 

As compared to the other animals of the zoo, he (Jaguar) is not bored and motionless

 

Stanza 4

Line 14

 

The eye satisfied to be blind in fire,

 

His eyes remain cool in the fire of anger

 

Stanza 4

Line 15

 

By the bang of blood in the brain deaf the ear—

 

And the resultant built-up pressure of blood in his brain keeps his ears deaf

 

Stanza 4

Line 16

 

He spins from the bars, but there’s no cage to him

 

In such a state of fury, he goes round and round the cage. Though that he is physically present in the cage yet his mind has never accepted its constrains

 

4.1 Symbolic Interpretation of Stanza 4

It is he who has brought a restless mind. In fact, freedom is his passion. His heart (Eye) finds solace in burning in the fire of anger (Fire) against slavery. Drenched in his passion for freedom, he ignores any criticism levelled against his brio. Living in subjugation, he has never let his thoughts be hegemonized.

Stanza 5

Line 17

More than to the visionary his cell:

 

And his imagination wanders beyond the physical boundary of the prison

 

Stanza 5

Line 18

 

His stride is wildernesses of freedom:

 

His final step seems to step into the realm of freedom neglected by his zoo mates

 

Stanza 5

Line 19

 

The world rolls under the long thrust of his heel.

 

He does not hanker after the worldly affairs. It seems as if he had made the world follow his foot steps

 

Stanza 5

Line 20

 

Over the cage floor the horizons come.

He holds a belief that looking out the cage’s domain can open new gateways of freedom.

5.1 Symbolic Interpretation of Stanza 5

Because unlike the other animals, he never accepted the confinement of the cage. The decisive step of his all efforts seems directed to step out into the realm of freedom neglected by his fellow prisoners. He looks at the world (Action) from a different perspective. In fact, he holds a belief that action depends on intentions (Heel). In the end, he conveys a message: “Man’s reach should exceed his grasp and he will hew out a stone of hope from the mountain of despair.”

In conclusion, this line-by-line explanation of Ted Hughes' poem 'The Jaguar' reveals its rich symbolism, themes, and animal imagery, showcasing Hughes' mastery of modern poetry.

Poem: 'The Jaguar'

(Ted Hughes)

The apes yawn and adore their fleas in the sun.

The parrots shriek as if they were on fire, or strut

Like cheap tarts to attract the stroller with the nut.

Fatigued with indolence, tiger and lion

 

Lie still as the sun. The boa-constrictor’s coil

Is a fossil. Cage after cage seems empty, or

Stinks of sleepers from the breathing straw.

It might be painted on a nursery wall.

 

But who runs like the rest past these arrives

At a cage where the crowd stands, stares, mesmerized,

As a child at a dream, at a jaguar hurrying enraged

Through prison darkness after the drills of his eyes

 

On a short fierce fuse. Not in boredom—

The eye satisfied to be blind in fire,

By the bang of blood in the brain deaf the ear—

He spins from the bars, but there’s no cage to him

 

More than to the visionary his cell:

His stride is wildernesses of freedom:

The world rolls under the long thrust of his heel.

Over the cage floor the horizons come.