Poem Analysis - Rat Song

Introduction: A Rat's Perspective

Margaret Atwood's "Rat Song" is a darkly humorous and unsettling poem delivered from the perspective of a rat addressing a human. The poem challenges conventional notions of good and evil, and victim and aggressor. The initial tone is defiant and mocking, shifting to a more menacing and ultimately desperate plea. This complex interplay of emotions makes the poem a compelling exploration of power, animosity, and the distorted perception of love.

Dehumanization and the Fear of "The Other"

A central theme in "Rat Song" is the dehumanization of the rat, which mirrors how marginalized groups are often perceived. The human's reaction to the rat – reaching for a rifle and poison – highlights a fear-based response to something considered "other" and undesirable. The rat, however, defiantly embraces its perceived ugliness and "parasitic" nature, turning the human's judgment back on itself. The poem implies that this fear stems from a lack of understanding and a projection of the human's own potential for ruthlessness onto the rat: "You'd do the same if you could." This inversion highlights the human's hypocrisy.

Defining Love and Challenging Humanism

The poem sharply satirizes humanism through the rat's declaration, "All I want is love, you stupid / humanist." This line is ironic because the rat's preceding descriptions of its actions – stealing, nesting in clothes, desiring to attack the human – seem the antithesis of love. Yet, the rat’s notion of love is tied to survival, protection of its "mate," and a rejection of the sentimental and often hypocritical human concept of it. The challenge to the "humanist" is a challenge to a world order the rat perceives as threatening to its existence and ultimately driven by the same instincts the human condemns in the rat. The rat's plea for love is thus a desperate appeal for understanding and acceptance, albeit delivered in a confrontational manner.

Symbolism of Voice and Trapped Instinct

The "mate trapped in your throat" is a powerful symbol with multiple layers of interpretation. It could represent the primal instincts and darker impulses that humans suppress or deny within themselves. The "greasy person voice" symbolizes the layers of social conditioning and superficiality that attempt to drown out these instincts. The rat, however, "can hear him singing," suggesting that these raw, fundamental drives are still present, albeit hidden, within the human. Perhaps the "mate" is the suppressed conscience of the human, highlighting the idea that the human knows the rat is simply trying to survive. This image could be further interpreted as a call for humans to acknowledge and integrate their darker sides instead of projecting them onto others.

Crystal Hatred: A Reflection of Shared Despair

The phrase "crystal hatreds" is a particularly striking image. It suggests a hatred that is pure, unadulterated, and perhaps even beautiful in its intensity. The fact that the rat claims the human could "afford to share" these hatreds implies that the potential for such intense animosity exists within both species. The poem doesn't present the rat as purely innocent but suggests its hatred is a response to the threat posed by the human. It is a survival mechanism, just as the human's aggression is a defense against what it perceives as a dangerous parasite. This shared capacity for intense emotion further blurs the lines between victim and aggressor, highlighting the cyclical nature of fear and violence.

Conclusion: A Plea for Understanding in a World of Animosity

"Rat Song" ultimately functions as a provocative commentary on the complex relationship between humans and the natural world, and more broadly, between those in power and those marginalized. The poem is not simply about rats; it's about the fear of "the other," the hypocrisy of moral judgments, and the shared primal instincts that underlie human and animal behavior. By giving voice to the rat, Atwood forces the reader to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and the systems of power that perpetuate animosity and misunderstanding. The poem suggests that true understanding, or "love," requires acknowledging the darker aspects of ourselves and recognizing the shared humanity (or animality) that connects us all.