Poem Analysis - A Poison Tree

Introduction: The Seed of Unspoken Anger

William Blake's "A Poison Tree" is a chilling exploration of suppressed anger and its destructive consequences. The poem begins with a stark contrast between resolved and unresolved conflict, quickly descending into a dark, metaphorical journey of resentment. The tone shifts from simple declaration to insidious cultivation, culminating in a grim satisfaction. The poem’s compact form amplifies its unsettling message about the dangers of internalizing negative emotions.

The Parable of Repressed Anger

One of the main themes of "A Poison Tree" is the destructive power of suppressed anger. The poem immediately contrasts the healthy resolution of anger with a friend ("I told my wrath, my wrath did end") with the festering resentment directed toward a foe ("I told it not, my wrath did grow"). This sets up the central conflict: the choice to express or repress anger and the radically different outcomes of each. Blake illustrates how unacknowledged anger doesn't simply disappear; it festers and grows, becoming something toxic.

Cultivating Resentment: Imagery of Growth and Deceit

The poem utilizes potent imagery to portray the nurturing of anger. The speaker describes "watering" and "sunning" his wrath, using verbs associated with caring for a plant. However, the "tears" and "smiles" are laced with "soft deceitful wiles," revealing the insincerity and manipulative nature of the speaker's actions. This imagery demonstrates how the speaker actively cultivates his anger, feeding it with negativity and allowing it to flourish in secret. The "apple bright" symbolizes the alluring but ultimately deadly fruit of this resentment, a seemingly attractive facade hiding a poisonous core. The imagery underscores the deceptive and potentially lethal nature of unchecked anger.

The Tree as Symbol: The Fruit of Vengeance

The central symbol of the poem is the "poison tree" itself. This tree represents the speaker's repressed anger, which has grown into something tangible and deadly. The act of "watering" and "sunning" the tree suggests a deliberate and conscious effort to nurture this negativity. The "apple bright" is a symbol of temptation and deceit, luring the foe into a deadly trap. The tree's growth "both day and night" emphasizes the constant, unrelenting nature of the speaker's resentment. Perhaps the "apple bright" is also symbolic of the speaker's pride. He nurtured this anger and it is the "apple bright" the shiny fruit of all his efforts. The poem leaves a lingering question: Did the foe simply steal the apple, or was he intentionally led to it by the speaker's subtle machinations?

A Grim Harvest: The Satisfaction of Revenge

The poem culminates in a chilling resolution: the speaker finds his foe "outstretched beneath the tree." The implication is clear: the foe has been poisoned by the apple. The speaker's "glad[ness]" in witnessing this scene is deeply unsettling, highlighting the destructive consequences of unchecked anger and the corrosive nature of revenge. The fact that the act takes place "when the night had veiled the pole" makes it even more sinister. The final image serves as a stark warning about the dangers of allowing anger to fester and the potential for it to lead to tragic outcomes.

Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale of Inner Darkness

"A Poison Tree" is a powerful and disturbing exploration of the human capacity for resentment and revenge. Through vivid imagery and stark symbolism, Blake reveals the destructive potential of suppressed anger, transforming it into a tangible force of deadly consequence. The poem serves as a cautionary tale, urging us to confront and resolve our anger before it takes root and bears poisonous fruit, ultimately consuming both the object of our wrath and ourselves. It makes the reader reflect upon their own internal battles, asking if they have a "poison tree" growing within themselves.