There Will Come Soft Rains: Humanity's Infinitesimal Impact On Nature
Humanity’s Infinitesimal Impact on Nature
In the poem, “There Will Come Soft Rains”, by Sara Teasdale, an initial interpretation may be based on the knowledge that it fits into the post-apocalyptic/dystopian genre. To truly appreciate and understand a literary work, one must attempt to interpret it in many different ways. As a secondary interpretation, one may understand the poem to be portraying the message that humanity plays an extensive unnecessary role in the survival and vitality which nature upholds on earth. The first evidence that reveals that nature holds a significant character role is shown in the title and the first stanza. The first line, “There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground,...”, helps develop the theme by introducing one of the main …show more content…
Before the beginning of the poem, information is given that states it is taking place in a “(War Time)” (Teasdale). This information enables the reader to interpret the poem in a way in which it relates to war. Generally, readers view war as a conflict between two opposing bodies of people, but my interpretation was that this war was a conflict fought between man and nature. The blunt truth regarding the role that humanity holds is expressed when Teasdale writes, “Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree/ If mankind perished utterly;…” This quote expresses and portrays who and what the conflict is between (Teasdale 9-10). In a time of war between man and nature, man assumes that they are always superior to other forms of life. Due to the dominant nature of the humankind, one can possibly infer that this war was
In the poem, “There Will Come Soft Rains”, by Sara Teasdale, an initial interpretation may be based on the knowledge that it fits into the post-apocalyptic/dystopian genre. To truly appreciate and understand a literary work, one must attempt to interpret it in many different ways. As a secondary interpretation, one may understand the poem to be portraying the message that humanity plays an extensive unnecessary role in the survival and vitality which nature upholds on earth. The first evidence that reveals that nature holds a significant character role is shown in the title and the first stanza. The first line, “There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground,...”, helps develop the theme by introducing one of the main …show more content…
Before the beginning of the poem, information is given that states it is taking place in a “(War Time)” (Teasdale). This information enables the reader to interpret the poem in a way in which it relates to war. Generally, readers view war as a conflict between two opposing bodies of people, but my interpretation was that this war was a conflict fought between man and nature. The blunt truth regarding the role that humanity holds is expressed when Teasdale writes, “Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree/ If mankind perished utterly;…” This quote expresses and portrays who and what the conflict is between (Teasdale 9-10). In a time of war between man and nature, man assumes that they are always superior to other forms of life. Due to the dominant nature of the humankind, one can possibly infer that this war was