Poem Analysis - Plastic

Introduction: A Lament for Authenticity

Shel Silverstein's "Plastic" is a whimsical yet poignant critique of artificiality and the growing dominance of the synthetic in modern life. The poem employs a conversational, folksy tone, initially humorous as it describes a termite's encounter with plastic. However, the mood subtly shifts to one of resigned disillusionment as the poem extends its critique to human artifice, suggesting a deeper societal concern about authenticity and superficiality. It's a humorous song, but under the humor lies a sharp observation.

A Termite's Existential Crisis: The Futility of Consumption

The first half of the poem centers on a termite's inability to consume plastic. The termite, a natural consumer and destroyer of wood, represents a force of nature confronted with something unnatural and indigestible. The humor stems from the termite's growing frustration: "he kept gettin' thinner and he never got no dinner and finally he sat up and cried." This image is both funny and symbolic. The termite's inability to find sustenance in plastic symbolizes the futility of seeking nourishment in a world increasingly filled with empty substitutes. It highlights the contrast between natural processes and the manufactured environment.

Beauty and the Beast (of Artifice): The Price of Perfection

The second half of the poem shifts focus to a woman encountered on the beach, a seemingly perfect "38-24-36 miss." The speaker's initial attraction quickly turns to disappointment when he learns that her seemingly ideal figure is the product of plastic surgery. The line "it's pretty as can be but you know that it ain't me" is key. It reveals the disconnect between appearance and reality, between manufactured beauty and genuine self. The woman's confession underscores the poem's central theme: the seductive yet ultimately hollow nature of artificiality.

The Recurring Symbol of Plastic: A Metaphor for Societal Change

The word "plastic" itself functions as a powerful and recurring symbol. It represents not only the literal material but also a broader cultural shift towards artificiality, superficiality, and a loss of authenticity. Plastic is presented as something pervasive and inescapable, with the repeated refrain "everything's gonna be plastic by and by" suggesting a future where the genuine is increasingly replaced by the synthetic. This creates a sense of inevitability and impending loss. The poem makes us consider what is lost in this exchange for perfection. Is it genuine connection, natural beauty, or perhaps, the very essence of what it means to be real?

Conclusion: A Wry Warning About a Synthetic Future

In conclusion, "Plastic" is a deceptively simple poem that delivers a potent message about the dangers of artificiality. Through the humorous scenarios of the termite and the beach encounter, Silverstein critiques a society increasingly obsessed with manufactured perfection and superficiality. The poem serves as a wry warning about the potential consequences of embracing the synthetic over the authentic, urging us to consider the cost of a world where everything is becoming "plastic." The lasting impact of the poem is that it makes readers consider their own relationship with reality, artificiality, and the pursuit of an impossible ideal.