Does a beetle’s death require as much thoughtful consideration as a human’s? Is a beetle only less significant as a human due to the contrasting proportions? Does size matter at all? A dead beetle lies on a path through a field and is meditated on for only a glance. The passing person then continues the right of way. Wislawa Szymborska attempts to change our ideas of death to comprehend that even small things are relevant as shown in the poem, ‘Seen From Above,’ by utilizing the imagery of the dead beetle, through claiming death’s metaphorical right of way, and with the contrast of a deceased human and a dead animal.
The insignificance of the dead beetle is portrayed as a sorrowful and somber event though the skillful use of imagery of the mechanical beetle on the side of the field. As Szymborska walks through the fields, she discovers the despairing significance of a dead animal lying in her path. “.. Lies unmourned and shining in the sun. ”(16) Every single person that walks the same path simply gives the beetle one glance and walks on. The beetle is forgotten and neglected. In contrast, full attention would be given to a human being lying in the equivalent situation. Szymborska utilizes imagery to get the audience to stop and think for a while.
Imagery not only assists the audience in visualizing what this scene looks like, but it helps them comprehend the importance of the situation. Humans feel no relevance in the matter of the multitudes of animals dying each day. However, even the smallest animal should be mourned after. Animals live their life, and do no harm, where as humans commit the worst crimes and are still recognized as something special. When comparing a human ‘s and an animal’s outcome of death, the idea of death changes to a great extent, which is displayed through the use of irony.
The first time the persona comes upon the dead beetle, she immediately realizes the difference in the way the beetle had died. “Instead of death’s confusion, tidiness and order. ” (2,3) When people pass away, they most commonly die of disease or as a result of an accident. The scene caused is revolting and therefore captivating. In contrast, the beetle dies with “tidiness and order. ” Its legs are neatly crossed and no mess it produced. What the beetle signifies, is that meaningless things in life will nevertheless stay meaningless.
As it is on a different level of importance, it will stay that way, no matter how orderly it actually is. Through the utilization of irony, the large physical contrast between the unlike deaths and the difference in the importance of the two things are clearly intelligible. One should learn to not just disregard small things, but to give them consideration as well. Every single thing has a history to it, which should not be ignored, but acknowledged with intention. Through the metaphor claiming the right of way, Szymborska expresses that humans need to be more attentive and consider smaller things as well.
After having discovered the beetle lying on her path, she meditates on what she believes is right. “Important matters are reserved for us, for our life, and our death, a death that always claims the right of way. ” (19-21) This person clearly believes that the importance of humans is at a higher stage than that of an animal. The beetle is given one glance before it has becomes irrelevant history from the past. As this person is walking through the field, without any further thought after seeing the beetle, she continues walking forward.
It is metaphorical in the sense that there are things in life that are so small, that there is no significance to it. This metaphor assists the audience in understanding that matters in one’s life, even as small as the beetle are important. The level of the human standard of what is and what is not vital is set too high. Life and death are both relevant, whether or not it is of a human being, an animal, or of a thing. Szymborska conveys the literal idea of the contrasting importance between a decaying human and a dead animal, as well as a deeper understanding of the figurative message in the poem.
The beetle symbolizes things that occur in one’s life, which are not given much judgment, but rather, a brief opinion and then eventually forgotten. The persona passing represents human thought as well as the common natural action of humans continuing ‘the right of way. ’ Through the utilization of imagery, metaphor, and irony, Szymborska captivates the reader and assists them in creating a vivid image of the scene as well as in comprehending the truth of the message expressed. Every single thing should be given consideration whether or not it is great or little.
