"A Poison Tree" is a poem by William Blake, published in 1794 as part of his Songs of Experience. The poem explores the destructive nature of repressed anger and how it can grow into something dangerous and even deadly.
Subject Matter: The poem contrasts the speaker's ability to resolve anger with a friend through open communication with the festering anger held towards an enemy. The speaker's anger towards his friend is resolved when it is expressed openly, while anger towards his foe grows due to suppression. This suppressed anger becomes a "poison tree."
The Poison Tree: The "poison tree" is a central metaphor in the poem, representing the speaker's nurtured and cultivated anger. The speaker waters the tree with tears and suns it with smiles. This growth symbolizes the conscious nurturing of resentment.
Deceit and Guile: The speaker utilizes deceit and manipulation to fuel the growth of the anger. The artificial smiles and feigned reconciliation only serve to intensify the hatred.
The Result: The poem culminates in the enemy's death. The enemy, tempted by the "apple" (symbolizing the poisoned fruit of the speaker's anger), steals it and is found dead beneath the tree the next morning. This signifies the destructive consequences of nurtured hatred.
Themes: Prominent themes include the destructive power of repressed anger, the importance of communication and forgiveness, and the dangers of deceit and manipulation.
Symbolism: The apple is a crucial symbol, representing temptation, forbidden fruit, and the poisonous nature of the speaker's anger.
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