Poem Analysis - Under

Initial Impression and Tone

Carl Sandburg's poem Under presents a powerful and relentless force, personified as an unstoppable natural element. The tone is ominous and inevitable, with a sense of ancient, unyielding power. The poem shifts from a description of this force's actions to a declaration of its authority, culminating in a stark assertion of its ultimate triumph. The mood darkens progressively, moving from a description of erosion to a declaration of inevitable decay and destruction.

Themes of Inevitability and Natural Law

The primary theme of Under is the inevitability of natural forces and the transience of human constructs. Sandburg uses the image of the undertow and tides to represent these forces, which are described as washing away and battering the pillars of human law and civilization. The repetition of the phrase I am the underscores the relentless, unchanging nature of these forces. The poem suggests that human laws and structures are temporary and will ultimately be overcome by the enduring power of nature.

Themes of Time and Decay

Another significant theme is the passage of time and the process of decay. The speaker describes itself as a sleepless eater, maker of rust and rot, emphasizing the constant, inexorable process of deterioration. The use of words like rust and rot evokes a sense of slow, inevitable decay, contrasting with the fleeting existence of human endeavors. The final stanza explicitly states this theme, with the speaker declaring I am the crumbler: To-morrow, asserting its role in the destruction of all things.

Symbolism of the Undertow and Natural Forces

The undertow and tides serve as powerful symbols of natural forces that are beyond human control. These images evoke the relentless, unstoppable power of the sea, which can erode even the strongest structures over time. The use of the undertow is particularly apt, as it represents a hidden, often unseen force that can pull things away from the shore, much like how natural processes can undermine and eventually destroy human constructs. The caissons deep in the third stanza further emphasize the depth and hidden nature of these forces, suggesting that they are always present, even if not immediately visible.

The Law of Nature

The speaker's declaration that it is the Law older than you and your builders proud suggests a higher, more ancient law than human-made laws. This natural law is depicted as deaf to human pleas or commands, emphasizing its indifference to human desires or efforts. The speaker's assertion of its authority and inevitability underscores the theme of the transience of human constructs in the face of natural forces. This theme is reinforced by the final stanza, where the speaker declares its role in the destruction of all things, asserting its ultimate triumph over human endeavors.

Conclusion

Under is a powerful meditation on the inevitability of natural forces and the transience of human constructs. Through vivid imagery and a relentless tone, Sandburg emphasizes the unstoppable power of nature and the futility of human efforts to resist it. The poem serves as a reminder of the ultimate insignificance of human achievements in the face of the enduring, unchanging forces of the natural world. The speaker's declaration of its role as the crumbler of tomorrow underscores this theme, asserting the inevitable triumph of natural processes over all things.