Poem Analysis - Walking Around

Introduction: A Descent into Disgust

Pablo Neruda's "Walking Around" is a visceral and unsettling poem that plunges the reader into a world of urban decay and profound personal alienation. The poem is dominated by a feeling of disgust and weariness with the mundane aspects of modern life and, indeed, with the very condition of being human. The tone is initially one of weary resignation, but it quickly escalates into a disturbing mix of frustration, anger, and a desire for escape, punctuated by flashes of dark humor and violent fantasy. This creates a shifting mood that keeps the reader constantly off balance, mirroring the speaker's own internal turmoil.

Existential Weariness: The Burden of Being

One of the poem's central themes is existential weariness. The opening lines, "It so happens I am sick of being a man," establish this theme immediately. The speaker is not merely tired or bored; he is fundamentally weary of his own existence. This sentiment is reinforced by his rejection of various aspects of human life: "I am sick of my feet and my nails and my hair and my shadow." He longs for a state of being that is devoid of consciousness and responsibility, as evidenced by his desire to "lie still like stones or wool." The repetition of "It so happens" emphasizes the speaker's helplessness in the face of this overwhelming feeling, as though he is a passive observer of his own discontent.

Urban Alienation: A World of Decay

The poem also explores the theme of urban alienation. Neruda paints a grim picture of the city, filled with images of decay and artificiality. Tailor shops, movie houses, barbershops, and stores are not sources of comfort or pleasure, but rather triggers for the speaker's disgust. He describes these places in unflattering terms, such as the "smell of barbershops makes me break into hoarse sobs" and the "shoeshops that smell like vinegar." The urban landscape is populated with unpleasant and unsettling imagery, including "sulphur-colored birds," "hideous intestines," and "false teeth forgotten in a coffeepot." These images contribute to a sense of overwhelming negativity and the speaker's feeling of being trapped in a world that is both repulsive and inescapable.

The Yearning for Transcendence, Even Through Violence

Despite the pervasive negativity, there's a surprising undercurrent of yearning for transcendence. The speaker's fantasies of violence, such as terrifying a law clerk with a lily or killing a nun, can be interpreted as a desperate attempt to break free from the confines of his monotonous existence. These acts, though shocking, represent a desire to disrupt the established order and assert his own individuality, however destructively. The image of going "through the streets with a green knife letting out yells until I died of the cold" suggests a desire for a final, dramatic act of defiance against the oppressive forces of modern life. However, this transcendence is laced with morbidity, making the sentiment incredibly complex.

Recurring Symbols: Blood, Roots, and the Mundane

Several recurring symbols contribute to the poem's overall message. Blood, particularly in the description of Monday "howls on its way like a wounded wheel, and leaves tracks full of warm blood," symbolizes the pain and suffering inherent in the speaker's daily existence. The image of the root represents a life that is buried, hidden, and constantly absorbing the unpleasant aspects of the world. The speaker's rejection of this "root" existence highlights his desire to escape from the darkness and misery that he perceives around him. Everyday objects like "umbrellas," "false teeth," and "underwear" become symbols of the mundane and the grotesque, further emphasizing the speaker's disgust with the world.

Conclusion: A Cry of Discontent

"Walking Around" is a powerful and disturbing exploration of existential weariness and urban alienation. Through vivid imagery and a shifting tone, Neruda captures the speaker's profound sense of disgust and his desperate longing for escape. While the poem offers no easy answers or resolutions, it serves as a raw and honest expression of the anxieties and frustrations that can arise from the experience of being human in a world that often feels alienating and oppressive. The poem's enduring significance lies in its ability to resonate with readers who have felt similarly overwhelmed by the mundane and the grotesque, offering a glimpse into the darker corners of the human experience.