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Position:Home>General - Arts & Humanities > What does this poem mean?Question: What does this poem mean?When I look at the world upside-down, Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Have a paper to write for English class? I don't know where you want to go with this, but quickly it seems to be a statement about individuality and conformity. The speaker wishes to look at the world differently ("upside-down") and, when he or she is able to do so, they see the world as full of infinite possibilities ("go on forever"). The "But" suggests conflict and contradiction, as though the speaker is not allowed to view the world as he or she wishes. The quotes around "'supposed to be seen'" suggest that the speaker has been told this by others; it's not the speakers idea of what is supposed to be, but someone else's -- probably society's. The idea then is that society doesn't want people seeing the world upside down, but imposes its own right-side up view. This is the conformity that society requires. Society is scared by free-thinkers, rebels, pure individuals; thus it imposes a way in which the world is "supposed to be seen." From this view, our speaker's individuality, freedom, and, ultimately, hope, are extinguished, as society's limited and limiting view introduces the concept of "never." Society tells you what you cannot do, and limits what you can. |