Poem Analysis - Bull Song

A Prisoner of Predetermined Fate

Margaret Atwood's "Bull Song" is a lament, a cry of pain and confusion from a being trapped in a brutal, unwinnable situation. The poem's tone is initially one of disorientation and suffering, shifting to anger and ultimately resignation. The bull's voice speaks of a cruel spectacle, a distorted game where its death is less about the act itself and more about the aestheticized deception surrounding it. This is a poem of entrapment, both physical and existential, voiced by a victim stripped of agency and reduced to a spectacle.

The Bull as a Symbol of Exploitation

One of the primary themes is the exploitation of the vulnerable. The bull, from its opening description, is not a willing participant but a victim. The lines "Who brought me here / to fight against walls and blankets" highlight the forced nature of its existence. It's placed in an environment it doesn't understand, forced to battle against abstract and insurmountable obstacles. This resonates beyond the literal image of a bullfight, suggesting broader societal power dynamics where individuals or groups are manipulated and used for the entertainment or benefit of others. The image of the "gods" being awarded "the useless parts of my body" further emphasizes the bull's complete loss of control and the parasitic relationship between the powerful and the powerless.

Existential Regret and Lost Potential

Another central theme is existential regret and the lament for a lost, simpler existence. The bull's poignant line, "I should have remained grass," speaks to a deep dissatisfaction with its current state. It represents a longing for a life of simplicity and freedom, a stark contrast to the violent and constricted reality it now faces. This line encapsulates the feeling of being fundamentally mismatched with one's environment, of being forced into a role that is inherently destructive and painful. The bull's confinement within its "cask skin" symbolizes a prison, both physical and metaphorical, that prevents it from achieving its true potential.

The Deceptive Aesthetics of Violence

The poem powerfully explores the theme of the disguised nature of violence and death. The poem emphasizes that, for the "gods", "not the fact or act / but the grace with which they disguise it / justifies them." This suggests that the real cruelty lies not just in the killing itself, but in the elaborate rituals and justifications that attempt to mask its brutality. The "brass music" that isn't there for the bull is symbolically present for the audience, highlighting the performance aspect of the spectacle. The focus on disguising the act raises questions about the ethical implications of aestheticizing violence and the potential for such aestheticization to normalize and even celebrate cruelty. Is the "grace" of the performance a genuine form of artistry, or simply a tool for obscuring the moral implications of the act itself?

A Symphony of Suffering

Atwood's "Bull Song" is a visceral and unsettling poem that lingers long after the final line. It's a lament for a creature trapped in a cycle of violence, a critique of power dynamics, and an exploration of the human tendency to disguise the brutal realities of existence. The poem uses the image of the bullfight to explore broader themes of exploitation, existential regret, and the ethical implications of aestheticizing violence. Through vivid imagery and a voice tinged with both anger and resignation, Atwood crafts a powerful and unsettling portrait of suffering and the manipulation of the vulnerable.