The Waking Explication 9.11

The circulatory system pumps blood throughout the human body. It brings used blood to the heart and takes fresh out. The bodily system is but one example of a circle in a spherical world. Humans have long recognized the circle’s importance and prevalence in the natural world.

Life itself has often been described as a circle. Things are birthed from the great unknown, live life on earth, and die, exiting into the great unknown. “The Waking” by Theodore Roethke follows two main themes, the circular path of existence and human indecision within their lives.

The very first line is puzzling. “I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.” It is a contradiction. What the speaker describes is a person quite unhappy with life.    His/her only desire is to get through their daily toil so that they may rest again in peaceful slumber. This repetition is a harsh cycle.

The form which this poem takes, a villanelle, is repetitive to the nth degree. Emphasis is given to the very first and third line of the poem, as ones appear, sometimes altered slightly, in each consecutive stanza. This reoccurrance strengthens the poem’s theme  of circles. The poem even ends with the first and third lines, as if the circle of thought is beginning again.

Although few, the images in this poem are potent. “The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;”. This symbol shows a creature slowly spiraling upwards, a physical representation of the theoretical ring of life.  This depressing picture also illustrates a certain hopelessness. The worm is a human who must always try and climb in life. A creature of the dirt, worms and humans alike struggle. Better food, more opportunities, happiness, the struggle for supremacy, or even survival continues from birth till death.

This fight reinforces the uncertainty present in every situation. To reach a decision, one must fight themself to decide the best course of action. “I hear my being dance from ear to ear.” This personification of thought shows it’s uncontrollability. A person’s thoughts may be their own, but it doesn’t give them any semblance of control over them.

The external world finalizes the lack of modification the speaker can impact on themselves and the world. “I learn by going where I have to go.” The speaker is not aware of the destination of his thoughts or his physical destiny.