Shifting Tides: Perception in "The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop

Elizabeth Bishop's poignant poem, "The Fish," delves into the intricacies of the speaker's evolving viewpoint towards a captured fish. The narrative unfolds in two distinct phases, initially portraying the fish as a symbol of defeat and decay and subsequently transforming it into a revered survivor of numerous battles. Through meticulous imagery, personification, and symbolism, Bishop crafts a compelling exploration of the speaker's journey from perceiving the fish as lifeless to acknowledging its courageous history and triumphs.

The Initial Description of the Fish

Bishop commences the narrative by painting a vivid picture of the fish's appearance—ancient, grizzled, and seemingly resigned to death's embrace.

The initial personification casts the fish as a figure of defeat and age, with the speaker remarking on its perceived lack of fighting spirit. Comparisons abound, likening the fish's skin to old wallpaper, suggesting a loss of firmness akin to the aging process. Bishop employs evocative imagery to depict the fish's injuries, including lice, barnacles, and fresh wounds, fostering a sense of decay and abandonment as parasites consume it.

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The speaker delves even into the fish's innards, presenting them as a mere mass of flesh and bone devoid of spirit.

Further Personification and Humanization of the Fish

The speaker's exploration extends to the fish's eyes, becoming a window into its perceived dejection. Notably, the fish avoids meeting the speaker's gaze fully, shifting it slightly towards the light. This deliberate avoidance amplifies its human-like sense of dejection, emphasizing its apparent lack of will. The focus on the fish's physical structure, despite its lifelessness, paradoxically imparts human emotions of apathy and hopelessness.

Through personification, Bishop skillfully projects the speaker's own emotions onto the fish, deepening the connection between observer and observed.

Discovery of the Fish's Past Battles

A pivotal juncture arises as the speaker discovers past hooks embedded in the fish's mouth, unraveling a different narrative. The persona of the fish undergoes a profound transformation from one of lifelessness to that of courage and animation. Verbs of action and struggle breathe life into the narrative as the speaker envisions the fish's past battles, imagining it fighting and breaking free from the lines. The comparison of the frayed lines to ribbons paints the fish as a hero adorned with the medals of its victories. Further, likening the thread to a beard of wisdom symbolizes the fish's accumulation of experience through time, fostering newfound admiration from the speaker.

Symbolism and Admiration

The poet introduces symbolism as the boat setting becomes infused with the appearance of a rainbow—a powerful image associated with triumph and survival. The rainbow, often seen after a storm, symbolizes the calmness following chaos and potential violence, particularly fitting within the context of the boat setting. As the speaker surveys the remnants of the fish's past struggles, a profound shift occurs, transforming the speaker's perception from one of witnessing a being in decline to recognizing the survival of numerous battles. The visual metaphor of the rainbow enhances the overarching theme of triumph and survival, culminating in a newfound sense of admiration from the speaker.

Conclusion: Transformation Through Figurative Language

In "The Fish," Elizabeth Bishop masterfully guides the reader through the metamorphosis of an initially perceived old and defeated fish into a glorious figure of reverence. The strategic use of personification, analogies, and symbolism serves as a conduit for the speaker's changing emotions and understanding of the fish. From the depths of decay to the pinnacle of a revered survivor, the fish becomes a vessel for exploring the complexities of human perception and the transformative power of experience.