Poem Analysis - This Is A Photograph Of Me

An Image of Obscurity and Absence

Margaret Atwood's "This Is a Photograph of Me" is a quietly unsettling poem that explores themes of identity, visibility, and the lingering presence of the past. The poem begins with a seemingly straightforward description of a faded photograph, but gradually reveals a disturbing truth: the speaker is deceased, submerged in the lake depicted in the picture. The tone shifts from observational and descriptive to melancholic and subtly haunting as the reader becomes aware of the speaker's submerged existence. This creates a feeling of unease and invites reflection on the nature of memory and the difficulties of truly knowing someone, even in representation.

The Frailty of Identity

One of the primary themes of the poem is the fragility of identity, particularly in the face of death. The speaker, though present in the photograph, is nearly imperceptible: "I am in the lake, in the center / of the picture, just under the surface." This placement, "just under the surface," suggests a liminal state, a half-existence between life and death, visibility and invisibility. The distortion caused by the water further obscures her, emphasizing the ephemeral nature of identity and how easily it can be lost or altered. The lines "It is difficult to say where / precisely, or to say / how large or small I am" highlight this struggle to define oneself, even after death, when one's essence is diffused and indistinct.

A Haunting Reminder of Mortality

The poem also grapples with the theme of mortality and its enduring impact. The very premise – that the speaker is describing a photograph taken after her death – forces the reader to confront the reality of her absence. The ordinary landscape elements – the tree, the house, the lake – become imbued with a sense of melancholy because they exist without the speaker. The poem suggests that while life goes on, the absence of a person leaves an indelible mark, even if that mark is subtle and difficult to discern, like the speaker's submerged figure. This echoes the sentiment that loss reverberates through the ordinary fabric of existence, subtly altering our perception of the world.

The Elusive Nature of Perception and Truth

Atwood uses the image of the photograph as a metaphor for the elusive nature of perception and truth. The "smeared print" and "blurred lines" represent the difficulty of accessing clear and accurate memories or understandings of the past. The process of scanning the photograph becomes analogous to the process of trying to understand a person, a relationship, or an event. The poem suggests that true understanding requires patience and sustained effort: "if you look long enough, / eventually / you will be able to see me." This implies that even in seemingly objective representations like photographs, the truth is often hidden beneath layers of distortion and requires careful observation and interpretation to uncover.

A Lingering Presence

In conclusion, "This Is a Photograph of Me" is a powerful meditation on identity, mortality, and the challenges of perception. Through the deceptively simple image of a faded photograph, Atwood explores complex themes of absence and presence, inviting readers to consider the ways in which we remember and understand those who have passed away. The poem's significance lies in its ability to evoke a sense of quiet unease and to remind us that even in the most ordinary of landscapes, there may be hidden stories waiting to be discovered, if only we are willing to look closely enough and with the appropriate patience.