What is the tone or attitude of the writer toward living with pain? How does the writer use irony to develop this tone?
An arid daylight shines along the beach
Dried to a grey monotony of tone,
And stranded jelly-fish melt soft upon
The sun-baked pebbles, far beyond their reach
Sparkles a wet, reviving sea. Here bleach
The skeletons of fishes, every bone
Polished and stark, like traceries of stone,
The joints and knuckles hardened each to each.
And they are dead while waiting for the sea,
The moon-pursuing sea, to come again.
Their hearts are blown away on the hot breeze.
Only the shells and stones can wait to be
Washed bright. For living things, who suffer pain,
May not endure till time can bring them ease.
The tone or attitude of the writer towards living with pain seems to be somewhat bleak or resigned. The writer uses irony in several ways to develop this tone. Firstly, the comparison of the arid daylight and the wet, reviving sea creates a stark contrast between the potential relief that the sea brings and the dry, lifeless environment that surrounds it. Secondly, the mention of the stranded jelly-fish melting upon the sun-baked pebbles, far beyond their reach, highlights the irony of a source of water being unable to reach the very thing that could save it. Finally, the image of the dead fish skeletons, polished and stark like traceries of stone, waiting for the sea to come again, conveys the irony of their longing for something that will never bring them back to life. Overall, the use of these ironic elements contributes to a tone that acknowledges the endurance of pain and suffering without offering much hope for relief.
The tone or attitude of the writer toward living with pain is one of resignation and acceptance. The writer seems to convey a sense of melancholy, acknowledging the inevitable nature of pain and suffering.
Irony is used subtly in this poem to develop the tone. The irony lies in the contrast between the harsh reality of pain and the beauty of nature that surrounds it. The writer describes the arid daylight, dried beach, and dead fish skeletons, alluding to the bleakness of pain. However, amidst this bleakness, there is the contrasting image of the wet, reviving sea sparkling in the distance, suggesting the possibility of relief or healing. This irony underscores the enduring nature of pain and the longing for relief that may never come.
Based on the poem, the tone or attitude of the writer toward living with pain can be described as resigned or accepting. The writer seems to view pain as an inherent part of life, something that living things must endure. The writer also suggests that pain is something that cannot be easily overcome or alleviated.
The writer uses irony to develop this tone through the juxtaposition of images. The description of an "arid daylight" and a "grey monotony of tone" sets a bleak and desolate atmosphere. The mention of "stranded jelly-fish" melting on the sun-baked pebbles adds to the sense of helplessness and vulnerability. The irony lies in the contrast between the "reviving sea" sparkling in the distance and the lifeless, polished skeletons of fishes on the beach. Despite the presence of the rejuvenating sea, the living creatures, who experience pain, are unable to benefit from it.
This irony highlights the cruel and unfortunate nature of pain, reinforcing the resigned attitude of the writer. The contrast serves to emphasize the insurmountable struggle of living with pain and the inability to find immediate relief or ease.
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