Poem Analysis - The Fear

A Chorus of Contradictory Advice and Underlying Fear

Pablo Neruda's "The Fear" is a poignant exploration of mortality and self-discovery through the lens of overwhelming external pressures. The poem begins with a sense of almost absurd expectation, with everyone offering conflicting advice. This initial lightness, however, gives way to a palpable anxiety as the speaker confronts the realities of his own mortality. The tone shifts from bemusement to fear and finally resolves in a defiant act of self-reliance, albeit tinged with melancholy.

Navigating the Labyrinth of External Expectations

One of the poem's central themes is the struggle against the conflicting expectations of others. The repetition of "They all" emphasizes the relentless barrage of advice and opinions directed at the speaker. This pressure manifests in various forms: encouragement to engage in life ("to jump / to invigorate and to play soccer, / to run, to swim and to fly"), medical intervention ("they all send me to the doctor"), and even travel recommendations ("they all advise me to travel"). The contradictory nature of this advice ("to come and to leave, to stay, / to die and not to die") highlights the futility of seeking external validation in the face of existential concerns. The speaker feels scrutinized and pressured, leading to a sense of unease and ultimately, fear.

Facing the Shadow of Mortality

Mortality is another significant theme woven throughout the poem. The mention of "awful X-rayed portraits" directly confronts the speaker with his physical vulnerability and the inevitability of death. This image serves as a stark reminder of the body's fragility and the limitations of human existence. The speaker's fear of death ("I am afraid of... the death") is a universal human experience, and Neruda captures this vulnerability with raw honesty. This fear is not merely a philosophical concept; it's a deeply personal and visceral emotion that permeates the speaker's being.

The Bitter Taste of Self-Confrontation

The poem's final stanza introduces the most complex and perhaps most compelling theme: the confrontation with the self. The speaker's decision to "open myself up and shut myself in / with my more perfidious enemy, / Pablo Neruda" suggests a realization that the greatest challenge lies not in external pressures but within. This "perfidious enemy" could represent the speaker's own fears, insecurities, or self-destructive tendencies. It could also symbolize the poet's critical self-awareness, the part of him that relentlessly analyzes and judges his own work and life. This image highlights the internal battle that often accompanies the awareness of one's mortality and imperfections.

A Fly in the Ointment: The Power of Doubt

The image of "relentless forks / seeking, without doubt, a fly" in the poetry is particularly striking. This image suggests the critics who relentlessly search for flaws and imperfections in the speaker's work. The "fly" could symbolize a perceived weakness or imperfection that the critics obsessively focus on, overshadowing the poem's overall merit. This image also speaks to the vulnerability of the artist who exposes their inner world to public scrutiny. The constant threat of criticism contributes to the speaker's fear and reinforces the sense of being judged and dissected.

A Defiant Embrace of Self

In conclusion, "The Fear" is a powerful exploration of the human condition, marked by the anxieties of external expectations and the looming presence of mortality. Neruda masterfully uses imagery and shifts in tone to convey the speaker's journey from initial bemusement to profound fear and ultimately, a defiant embrace of self-reliance. The poem's significance lies in its raw honesty and its ability to resonate with the universal human experience of grappling with fear and seeking meaning in the face of mortality. The decision to confront "Pablo Neruda," the most perfidious enemy, highlights the importance of self-acceptance and the ultimate inescapability of one's own inner world. The poem leaves the reader with a sense of both melancholy and resilience, suggesting that true understanding comes not from external validation but from facing one's own fears and imperfections.