Poetry Ch. 4 Imagery (5)

"It seems to him there are a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world." (The Panther)

This is the first poem that I can use Perrine's logic and account for every detail in the poem with my interpretation. For this reason, I am going to take this post to offer up my interpretation of the poem with all of the details and what they stand for. First of all, the panther is a prisoner on death row. The author chooses a panther instead of a lion becuase lions have more of a powerful connotation because they are the kings of the jungle. The constantly passing bars are the bars of the jail cells. His vision is weary and can see no world because he has been in prison so long that he does not remember anything beyond the bars. He paces in cramped circles because he is trapped in a tiny cell with nothing else to do. His movement is powerful soft strides because he wants to appear confident, strong, and calm even though he is really freaking out. The mighty will standing paralyzed is the prisoners belief that their might still be a way out. He has to keep this will strong and steady because otherwise he will go insane. The curtain of people lifting is the inmate being alone for a little while and being able to think, and he is left alone. The image that enters in is the end. The injection has tensed and arrested the muscles, so the end is left to rush through them and into the heart where the heart stops and everything is over. This may not be the most correct interpretation, but I feel that it is valid because I followed Perrine's guide and accounted for every detail in a not outlandish way.