line by line analysis of sea fever by John masefield
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Third and Fourth Stanza
The third and final stanza brings the theme of wanderlust to the forefront. Masefield speaks of the “vagrant gypsy life” and expresses a desire for a “laughing fellow-rover”. This final quatrain is full of positive imagery like “merry yarn” and “sweet dream”. However, the poet refrains from painting an idyllic picture of a life at sea with the use of the expression “the wind’s like a whetted knife”: a powerful image which stands out by way of its alliteration and the sudden introduction of this sharp, violent object. In addition, Masefield mentions the wind in all three of the poem’s stanzas, perhaps to draw attention to the way in which ships are influenced both by man and by two of the most powerful natural forces: the sea and the wind. Here, we can sum up the central message of the poem: a life at sea is full of contrasts – cruel winds and wild waves in perfect harmony together with the sweet and endless freedom it allows.
The last line of the poem broadens the scope of the theme, as it is slightly ambiguous in nature. The word “trick” in sailing terms refers to a watch at sea: four hours watching and eight hours resting. We may take it at face value and assume Masefield is again drawing attention to the simplicity of a life at sea, emphasised by the wonderful balance between work and rest. However, if we step back and take into account the universal nature of the two principal themes – the draw of the sea and the desire to travel – we may see the “long trick” as a reference to life in general, and “quiet sleep” as a peaceful death, allowing for a “sweet dream”, which is knowing we may rest in the afterlife in the knowledge that we worked well and lived truly. In that sense, the whole poem may be seen as a metaphor for life; with the sea representing a modest and humble way to live, more in touch with nature and therefore better equipped to deal with any storms that may come our way.
However, the poem is undeniably a demonstration of the poet’s love for the sea and the life of a sailor. It is the poem’s modest simplicity and the relatable nature of these themes that allow us to draw certain conclusions from it with regards to our individual lives, a fact that makes the poem truly a work of art.
"Sea-fever is the famous poem by the poet John Masefield and it reflects on expresses the longing of a poet to go to the sea and it projects to the reader the wanderlust spirit of the reader where the readers can associate with him while reading the poem. The first paragraph like every other paragraph of the poem starts with the same line where the poet yearns to go back to the sea.
It also signifies the human’s desire to connect and link himself with one of the most powerful force and form of nature i.e. The sea. Poet personifies sea into a human face and human expression and reflects on to its inner beauty, wildness and the vast space it engulfs within itself. Poet describes the sea as a space full of mystery and surprises but dull and lonely but its beauty is enchanting for everyone and wraps everyone in its beauty.
The second paragraph of the poem calls for all the five senses of a human being to react and feel the beauty of the sea and the atmosphere around. Poet seeks to imagine-standing on the seashore and taking within the view the vast beauty, wandering clouds, free sea-gulfs, and the cold wind and how standing there one can feel the salty flavours of the see within oneself. It talks of the silence and the calm form of the sea which in turn provides a sense of calm.
The stanza to follow gives the primary space to the very theme of wanderlust that was being framed all over the poem and reflects on the gypsy life. It portrays the wild picture of the sea. It also talks of the life at sea on a ship as a sailor where one is always attentive and quick and sleeps less though on a larger view to the symbolism it draws a parallel to the general life and the peaceful death."