Poem Analysis - I Wanted To Overthrow The Government

A Failed Revolution of Self

Charles Bukowski’s "I Wanted To Overthrow The Government" is a sardonic and self-deprecating reflection on failed ideals and the seductive power of the mundane. The poem opens with an image of a traditional hunt, then quickly shifts to a condemnation of the speaker as a pawn, before diving into a story of a half-hearted revolutionary plot. The tone is cynical and world-weary, infused with Bukowski’s trademark blend of disillusionment and dark humor. The mood transitions from a detached observation of societal ills to a more personal reckoning with individual weakness and the allure of simple pleasures.

Bukowski and the Anti-Establishment Ethos

Bukowski's work often critiques societal norms and institutions, aligning with an anti-establishment sentiment prevalent in much of 20th-century literature. His background as a working-class outsider, combined with his struggles with alcoholism and poverty, fueled his distrust of authority and his empathy for the marginalized. This poem is no exception, reflecting a desire to dismantle oppressive structures but ultimately succumbing to personal desires and disillusionment, a common theme throughout his oeuvre.

The Futility of Grand Schemes

One central theme is the futility of grand schemes when confronted with individual apathy and human frailty. The initial idea of revolution, fueled by intellectual arguments and political frustrations, quickly disintegrates due to the speaker's own lack of conviction and the distracting influence of a woman. The tailor and the pharmacist, once revolutionary comrades, are ultimately reduced to a dead man who sewed buttons and a betrayed husband, respectively. This highlights the poem's skepticism towards abstract ideals divorced from tangible action and personal integrity.

Desire as a Subversive Force

Desire acts as a powerful, subversive force throughout the poem. The speaker admits that a "good young piece of ass" could have solved his revolutionary fervor. This statement, while crass, points to the powerful influence of basic human needs and desires in undermining even the most idealistic aspirations. The affair with the pharmacist's wife becomes a microcosm of the failed revolution, demonstrating how personal desire can easily dismantle political conviction. The pharmacist's wife herself represents a rejection of abstract ideology for a more grounded existence.

The Government Within

The poem suggests that the real "government" to be overthrown isn't a political entity but the internal limitations of the individual. The lines, "the weakness was not Government / but Man, one at a time, that men were never / as strong as their ideas," are crucial to understanding the poem's message. The poem argues that collective action is undermined by the inherent weaknesses and contradictions within each person. The speaker's own failings – his drunkenness, his susceptibility to lust, his ultimate apathy – are portrayed as more potent obstacles to change than any external political force.

Symbols of Disillusionment

The image of the hunt, "30 dogs, 20 men on 20 horses chased one fox," bookends the poem, acting as a potent symbol of cyclical futility. This image implies that society's power structures, no matter how grand and organized, are ultimately engaged in a meaningless pursuit. The fox, representing dissent or freedom, is chased relentlessly but never truly captured. Martini also represents disillusioned. The spilled martini and rattled shades illustrate the chaos and anticlimactic end of their revolutionary desires.

A Drunken Acceptance

In conclusion, "I Wanted To Overthrow The Government" is not a call to arms but a cynical and honest assessment of human nature's limitations. It suggests that even the most noble of intentions can be derailed by individual flaws and the allure of simple pleasures. Bukowski’s poem ultimately conveys a sense of resignation, ending with the speaker’s plan to “get very drunk again,” suggesting a retreat into personal indulgence as a response to the failed revolution, not of the government, but of the self.