Chainsaw versus the pampas grass - Simon Armitage

Man vs nature

Armitage presents the conflict between man and nature in a complex and multifaceted fashion, by exploring the differences in power and control between them and how this can vary

Use of imagery explores on a deeper level the real power imbalances within this conflict – as whilst superficially mankind may appear more physically threatening through the chainsaw’s brute force, in reality it is nature that has the power in self-autonomy that the chainsaw lacks. The grass (as a microcosm for nature on the whole) transcends this and ultimately survives. This resurgent power exposes the innate value of all living things

Power

(aggressive assertions of machismo, characterised by a more performative power) There is extreme power exhibited by the chainsaw throughout the poem, with the potential of harm adding to the sense of power and brutality. However, the grass also shows power albeit more subtly in that it is able to survive. This battle and contrast between to types of power is a key consideration throughout the poem, and important for influencing the response of a reader.

Gender

The chainsaw, a symbol of power and masculinity battles with the natural world represented in a feminine manner by the pampas grass. The poem can be interpreted as a celebration of nature’s resurgent power, but also raises concerns about male aggression and violence

It could be interpreted that the chainsaw is the male speaker’s projection of his masculinity onto an inanimate object.

Key points for structure

• The lines have a range of ending punctuation. The lack of enjambment and lots of end-stopped lines creates a sense of opposition and reference to the two sides in opposition to each other. (halts the flow and rhythm of the poem, perhaps representative of the intervention of the chainsaw halting the natural growth of the pampas grass)

• The line length irregularity feels fragmented, almost as if the sentences have been cut (in the way that the chainsaw has destructively cut the grass).

• The random, unpredictable stanzas could be a representation of the lack of control men have over their aggression

‘Flesh of the face’ ‘lashing’

• Fricative ‘f’ consonance of ‘flesh of the face’ imbues the line with a phonological harshness - perhaps giving the impression of built up tension or anger

• ‘f’ could imitate sounds of obscene swearing.

• ‘face’ personifies the chainsaw as a physical manifestation of male aggression, but also the broader destructive nature of humankind as a collective. This humanistic quality given to the chainsaw not only establishes it as a more formidable opponent, but also invites audiences to identify the issue of male power abuse within our own society. Armitage therefore uses personification to help audiences relate better to the themes discussed - the chainsaw is no longer merely an inanimate object, but now represents the behaviours of humanity

• The phonology of the verb ‘lashing’ is another example of this, as it sounds aggressive and causing of pain.

• Dynamic verbs of movement like ‘sliced’ ‘ripped’ ‘severed’ show the invasiveness of the chainsaw, whereas the grass merely ‘swooned’ out of the way, and is only acting in response.

‘Lift it into the sun’ ‘I let it flare’

• Image of the speaker lifting the chainsaw ‘into the sun’ makes it seem like some sort of weapon. As the speaker is aware of the damage it could do, this makes him seem almost villainous, however in his own mind probably a very masculine hero

• However, conversely, when the persona takes the chainsaw from the summerhouse, and ‘lifts it into the sun’ this strips the chainsaw, as a metaphorical object representing man, from its power – as it is being controlled by something greater than itself and is restricted in its movements by the actions of the persona in the poem.

• The use of the first-person pronoun ‘I’ in ‘I let it flare’ reinforces this, as it clearly shows the persona as in control, rather than the chainsaw.

• This draws direct parallels against the reaction of the pampas grass to the ‘sun’, as it is described as ‘sunning itself’ and ‘taking the warmth and light.’ These descriptions have a sense of freedom and autonomy that is lacking from the chainsaw, which can only experience the ‘light’ through the choice of the persona to free it from the ‘summerhouse’ and choose to ‘drop the safety catch.’

• The use of the verb ‘taking’ to describe the grass suggests that the plant is gaining/benefitting from this interaction with the ‘sun’, therefore giving it a sense of power or control.

(Armitage presents the power dynamics within the play to be multifaceted, as whilst the chainsaw appears to have greater physical power and presence, the pampas grass possesses a greater autonomous and resurgent power. Chainsaw as having an extrinsic power, grass as having an intrinsic power.
This can be analysed specifically through the interaction of the grass and the chainsaw to the ‘light’, where a dichotomy is created between the two. For the chainsaw, the persona ‘lift(s) it up into the light’ - masculine heroic image, simultaneously villainous, brandishing a weapon. However, the chainsaw is rendered passive to the actions of the persona - it is only able to access the sunlight if the persona chooses to free it from the summerhouse and chooses to drop the safety catch. This draws direct parallels to the pampas grass, which is contrasting in its access to the sunlight. The grass is able to ‘sun itself’, ‘taking in the warmth and light’ - suggests a more autonomous process, not confined or restricted by a higher power like the chainsaw is )

‘Swooned’ ‘With its ludicrous feathers and plumes.’ ‘Cushions’

• Lexis of femininity associated with grass, sibilance

• This creates an almost feminine atmosphere to the plant, and as ‘feathers’ or ‘plumes’ would be used for decorative purposes, we feel the grass is superficially excessive and ostentatious in its appearance.

• ‘Cushions’ are soft and designed to provide comfort, which could be stereotypical of the ornamental role women have been historically expected to provide in society.
  Armitage critiques this view of women as delicate and objectified by ultimately providing the pampas grass with victory over the chainsaw. C

‘Sweet tooth’ ‘heart’

• Armitage presents man through the image of the chainsaw, employing an intense semantic field of danger and aggression to show the dominance that man has over nature with access to machinery like this.

• The extended personification of the chainsaw’s ‘tooth’ gives it almost zoomorphic qualities, possibly portraying a violent or uncontrollable nature. primitive

• ‘Sweet tooth’ could also reference an uncontrollable craving, and animalistic desires of humankind for aggression and violence

‘Cut and raked, cut and raked’

• Uses repetition through parallel syntax and diacope to highlight the relentlessness of mankind’s attack of nature, using harsh consonance to add further emphasis on the damaging consequences of these actions.

• Armitage presents the conflict between man and nature as harmful through exposing the persona’s actions in a way that seems murderous and aggressive, in an attempt to highlight these actions as wrong.

• The persona ‘took up the saw and drove it vertically downwards’, which replicates a stabbing motion. These connotations of death are used to describe the conflict as almost criminal, and shows the tainted morals of mankind when acting in this destructive manner against nature.