The poem ‘The Dolphins’ contrasts the man- made world with the world of
nature. Discuss
Answers
Explanation:
The Dolphins' is obviously a poem of protest against human oppression, constriction and confinement of non-human natural animals. In this poem the speaker, a dolphin remembers its previous life of untrammelled freedom in the ocean and the sense of bondage and confinement in the artificial aquarium. The dolphin seems to represent a kind of protest against human exploitation and oppression meted out to natural creatures. Ironically enough the human beings are the main exploiters of the natural habitat of the dolphin. By limiting its freedom of movement within the narrow confines of a small pool they destroy nature as well.
Answer:
The Dolphins’ by Carol Ann Duffy is a dramatic monologue written from the perspective of dolphins. It tries to enumerate the emotions of a dolphin which was once free, swimming around at its own will, but is now confined to an aquarium or a water-park — a place where it does what its owner or trainer tells it to do. Its master uses it to perform tricks to amuse people in the circus.
The poem shows how dolphins and other animals are suffering in the hands of men. It urges us to look at the world from their perspective. It conveys the poet’s massage against human cruelty towards animals. On a metaphoric level, the poetess may also want to indicate the troubles of humans who think they are caught in the confines of this world.