Poem Analysis - Our Mat

Introduction: A Doorway to Doubt

Banjo Paterson's "Our Mat" presents a seemingly ordinary object, a prison-made doormat, and transforms it into a meditation on sin, punishment, and the complexities of judgment. The poem begins with a detached, almost admiring tone, describing the mat's craftsmanship. This quickly shifts to a somber and speculative mood as the speaker contemplates the lives and crimes of those who created it. The poem ultimately concludes with a rejection of the mat, illustrating the speaker's discomfort with the moral weight it carries.

Historical Echoes: Transportation and Punishment in Australia

While the poem doesn't explicitly detail specific historical events, its themes resonate deeply with Australia's history as a penal colony. The reference to "Darlinghurst mat" is significant, as Darlinghurst Gaol in Sydney was a notorious prison. The mention of "Mount Rennie fellows" also hints at the Mount Rennie rape case of 1886, a horrific crime that resulted in multiple hangings. These allusions connect the poem to a broader historical context of transportation, incarceration, and the harsh realities of the justice system in colonial Australia.

The Tangled Threads of Sin and Repentance

One of the main themes explored in "Our Mat" is the blurred line between sin, punishment, and potential repentance. The speaker imagines the various criminals who might have contributed to the mat's creation, ranging from petty thieves to violent offenders. He wonders if the mat represents a "bitter repentance" or merely a monotonous task performed during a "wearisome length of the sentence." This uncertainty underscores the difficulty of knowing the true state of a prisoner's heart and the potential for redemption within a system often seen as dehumanizing.

Symbols of Guilt: Weaving a Narrative of Condemnation

The mat itself functions as a powerful symbol throughout the poem. Initially presented as a functional object, it quickly becomes a tangible representation of sin and suffering. The "intricate thread" symbolizes the complex and interwoven nature of criminal behavior and its consequences. The individual letters, each potentially crafted by a different prisoner, become miniature portraits of guilt and despair. The speaker's final refusal to use the mat reveals his unwillingness to participate in a symbolic act of degradation, unwilling to literally wipe his feet on the lives of the condemned.

Judging the Judges: A Question of Moral Superiority

Paterson subtly introduces a theme of questioning societal judgment. In the lines, "A mat! I should call it a sermon / On sin, to all sinners addressed; / It would take a keen judge to determine / Whether writer or reader is best," the speaker raises a crucial point. Who are we to judge the inmates that made the mat? The poem asks us to consider the complexities of moral authority and the potential for hypocrisy within a society that readily condemns but perhaps fails to understand the root causes of criminal behavior. Does the act of judging, of wiping one's feet on this symbol of sin, make the judge any better than the judged?

Conclusion: A Doormat of Doubt

"Our Mat" is a deceptively simple poem that uses a commonplace object to explore profound moral questions. Paterson masterfully shifts from detached observation to introspective questioning, forcing the reader to confront their own assumptions about crime, punishment, and the possibility of redemption. Ultimately, the poem's significance lies in its ability to transform a simple doormat into a potent symbol of societal judgment and the enduring complexities of the human condition. The poem leaves us wondering if true justice involves condemnation or comprehension.