Student Question

What could explain the differing reactions to William Carlos William's poem, "This is Just to Say"?

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Reactions to William Carlos Williams's poem "This is Just to Say" vary due to its simplicity and brevity, resembling an apology or confession. Some interpret it as an expression of private desires, possibly of a sexual nature, or as a metaphor for forbidden actions, akin to the biblical forbidden fruit. The poem's open-ended nature invites diverse interpretations, reflecting universal human experiences of temptation and the complexity of individual perspectives.

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First of all, Williams' poem is rather short; it only has twenty-eight words in it. It just doesn't read like a typical, traditional poem to some people. In fact, it reads more like an apology note, doesn't it? Or perhaps some sort of confession, which the author may or may not have handed over to the victim of his plum-eating shenanigans.

Still, other people may interpret this poem from a sexual angle: perhaps the author harbors some private, sexually-charged desire that he/she is dying to fulfill. Maybe the only way this individual can fulfill these longings is by indulging in stolen fruit; from the poem, we get the idea that the cheeky narrator isn't thoroughly repentant of his actions. Also, could the poet be referring to adultery or other forms of forbidden sexuality? Your guess is as good as mine. Here, some people may also interpret the poem from a...

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biblical or religious angle. Theimagery of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden comes into play here.

And that is the beauty of the modern poem. The deceptively simple diction and structure lends itself to as many interpretations as there are literary experts to give them. Even you and I can interpret this poem from our own unique perspectives and still be right. Also, the poem is universal in its description of private longings and/or cravings. Every human being who has ever lived on this earth will be faced with temptations at some point in life. What we do with those temptations can decide our fate and our future. Alas, for the poet! He has chosen to eat someone else's plums. We can only guess what the other party's response is to the poet's confession.

So, my advice is to enjoy this poem in all its simplicity and its power. Explore your fellow students' interpretations, compare them, and amaze yourselves with all the different viewpoints you will come up with. This is, after all, the purpose of a poem, to inspire discussion and to facilitate our appreciation of the uniqueness of individual perspectives.

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