Auguries of Innocence by William Blake

‘Auguries of Innocence’ by William Blake is a poem from his notebook, known as the Pickering
Manuscript. This poem by presenting a series of paradoxical ideas revolves around the theme of
innocence vs experience.

‘Auguries of Innocence’ can be seen as a one-poem example of Blake’s longer poetic volumes, “Songs of
Innocence and of Experience.” It uses the same tenets used in “Songs of Innocence” and “Songs of
Experience” – that is, the construction of both an innocent, child-like narrative, and a mature, adult
narrative – but puts them together in one poem to show the hypocrisy and the chaos of Blake’s
contemporary life.

Auguries of Innocence by William Blake

Explore Auguries of Innocence

1 Summary2 Structure3 Meaning4 Literary Devices5 Themes6 Analysis of Auguries of Innocence7

Historical Context8 About William Blake9 Similar Poetry

Summary

‘Auguries of Innocence’ by William Blake is a poem describing the contrast between innocence and
experience, by using paradox and epigram.

The poet argues that the natural world is in a state of a constant cycle; the world, which is reborn and
remade throughout nature, symbolizes the innocence of man that is forgotten and pushed aside as man
advances closer to adulthood. It explores the value and limitations of the human perspective as opposed
to the cycle of nature, which grows ever older and more experienced, and yet also, in some cases,
remains untouched and unblemished. Throughout the poem, Blake’s anger at the corruption within his
country, and humanity, is almost palpable; this is a trait indicative of Blake’s style, which, while heavily
symbolic, is also heavily critical and powerful.

Structure

‘Auguries of Innocence’ is a poem containing a hundred and thirty-two lines written in one long stanza.
The rough rhyme scheme and uneven length of the poem add to its sense of passion and fury, as it reads
much like a plea from the poet to the reader. Blake uses both the alternative rhyming lines and rhyming
couplets. For instance, the first four lines contain the ABAB rhyme scheme. The lines followed by the
first four lines, form rhyming couplets. Apart from that, the overall poem does not follow a specific
metrical scheme. However, the poet mostly uses the iambic meter along with a few variations, such as
anapest, trochee, and spondee in this poem.

Meaning

“Auguries” are signs or omens and by giving this poem the title of ‘Auguries of Innocence’ Blake is
alerting his readers that this poem will discuss the very indistinct concept of innocence and what he
believes are signs for this innocence. Moreover, the ultimate goal of Blake’s poetry is unity with the
divine. It also stands as a testimony and a character witness to Blake’s intelligence and forward-thinking;
although these concepts are not new, to put them in poetry shows the true genius of Blake. He wanted
to use his poetry to express his mythology: that mythology which was partly political, partly mythical,
and partly divine, and to express his complicated worldview and feelings about the society that he was a
part of.

Literary Devices

Being a poem of such a length, ‘Auguries of Innocence’ showcases a variety of literary devices that are
not limited to the most popular ones. The most prominent literary device of this poem is a paradox.
Along with that, the poet presents several epigrams in this poem. As an example, the first line is a
paradox. Here, the poet talks about visualizing the world in a mere “Grain of Sand.” The following line
also contains this device. The poet uses alliteration in this poem. As an example, “Robin Red” contains a
repetition of the “R” sound. In the line, “Puts all Heaven in Rage,” the poet uses metonymy. Thereafter,
the poet uses a symbol in the “Rising Sun.” The poet also uses metaphors and similes here. As an
example, the “Realm of day” in the last line is a metaphor.

Themes

In ‘Auguries of Innocence’, Blake uses his passions for animals and his views on their rights to a peaceful
life as a bridge to the themes of religion and identity. Blake does a great job linking animals to innocence
and identity to God and aiding his readers to develop an understanding of why a person needs to be
responsible for being transparent with themselves so they can develop into an innocent version of the
imperfect self.

One of the important themes of his poem is this: the manipulation of religion for the means of the
Catholic church; the misconstruing of religious values such as mercy, piety, love, and faith by the money-
hungry bishops and nuns of the Church of England. Moreover, some other themes present in this poem
are the destruction of innocence by the journey into adulthood; the power of human creativity and
freedom; and the spiritual unity with the divine, which he thought of like this: “mercy has a human
heart, while pity is revealed in the human face.”

Analysis of Auguries of Innocence

Lines 1–2

To see a World in a Grain of Sand

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower

The first four lines of the poem ‘Auguries of Innocence’ are the ones that are most often quoted and
remembered by literary scholars, leaving the rest of the poem to wither away in complete anonymity,
and they are an important four lines. Moreover, these lines of this poem introduce powerful imagery
(which is quite prominent throughout the poem) as Blake discusses the topic of perception. The reader
will notice that all of the topics discussed in this poem have a considerable amount of ambiguity, and in
one way or another will relate to the topic of signs of innocence.

Line one discusses the ability to see something grand within something of no particular significance. This
is a quality of the innocent, innocence allows you to look at every small thing in life and be able to see
great things coming from it; whereas others would ignore the potential that is present in the small
things. Innocence is to look at a “Wild Flower” and see “a heaven” of happiness whilst others would
simply walk by without noticing it.
There is also the idea that Blake’s opening paradox is to give the world that he was writing about the
appropriate level of mystery and stunning wonder that nowadays is forgotten. Note also that the first
two lines specifically reference sight – more to the point, it references a sight so common that most
people would skim over it, however, this is Blake’s aim – beauty, his idea is, is found in common places.
The very articles that we have witnessed a thousand times before can still be transcendently beautiful,
and allow us to connect to God.

Lines 3–4

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand

And Eternity in an hour

Lines three and four of ‘Auguries of Innocence’ express the notion that a person has more control over
time if they stop to see the bigger picture in everyday things, as this allows them to live life in a more
wholesome manner instead of always worrying about time slipping through their fingers.

The lines open with the paradox of holding infinity in ‘the palm of your hand’, that is holding something
immeasurably big in a space that is almost immeasurably small. The concept of infinity itself,
mathematically, is an abstract idea too large to be withheld by the mind, and therefore it cannot be held
in the palm – this is how scholars argue the opening of the poem. Should one look at it mathematically,
Blake’s opening paradoxes – ‘infinity in the palm of your hand / And Eternity in an hour’ – become
understandable if only logically as something that is technically achievable. Infinity is a period, an hour is
also a period, therefore the two can somehow corroborate together.

Lines 5–6

A Robin Red breast in a Cage

Puts all Heaven in a Rage

In the following lines dive into strong imagery once again to help the reader connect with the message.
Lines five to eight mention the situation of two birds: the red robin and the dove, and their situations.
Before diving into what Blake is saying about these birds, it is important to note that birds, in general,
are also looked upon as symbols of innocence and freedom again relating to the title which informs the
reader to expect many signs of innocence throughout the poem.

The first of the birds to be mentioned is the red robin and it is described to be in a cage creating “a rage”
in hell. The reader would expect that a bird losing its freedom would cause some disturbance in heaven
as it is an act of brutality but Blake describes hell as a rage. It is important to notice that the bird is red
which is a common color used to depict the devil or evil, having a devilish bird so to speak, being caged
would make more sense in terms of causing an uproar in hell.

Apart from that, several ideas are conflicting here: the image of a robin redbreast – a bird commonly
associated with Christmas and with a Christian holiday at that – in a cage ‘puts all Heaven in a Rage’,
writes Blake; is man, therefore, attempting to enslave nature? Or is it a symbol of the caged humanity of
man, which Rousseau famously put as ‘man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains’. Given the
events that were happening around Blake at the time – the French Revolution, the American Revolution
– it is far more likely to be a protest against slavery.

Lines 7–8

A Dove house filld with Doves & Pigeons

Shudders Hell thr’ all its regions

The dove which is a common symbol of purity, innocence, and love is described to send hell shuddering.
The reader can easily pick out the notion of innocence and piety being a defense against hardships or
hell that Blake has expressed in these lines. The dove is quite obviously used by Blake as another sign of
innocence.

Notice as well that the lines of ‘Auguries of Innocence’, “A Dove house fill’d with Doves & Pigeons /
Shudders Hell thr’ all its regions,” also reference slavery. If one were to also apply Blake’s idea of
philosophy and religion to this poem, one could take the idea as humanity enslaving humanity, an act so
diabolical, that even the Devil finds it overwhelmingly evil.

One can also take into account that the doves and pigeons referenced are meant to stand for children –
those who are born into a world that they do not rightly understand, and are taken advantage of by the
very people who are supposed to help them, such as the Church, and the master of the mill, or wherever
they worked. Using two Christian birds – the robin redbreast, and the dove – also reminds the reader of
Blake’s opinion on religion; he could very well be drawing an allusion between Christianity and its
oppressive nature through the symbols of the cage and the dove house.

Lines 9–10

A dog starvd at his Masters Gate

Predicts the ruin of the State

This section of ‘Auguries of Innocence’ gets quite dark as Blake discusses animal abuse. Line nine
introduces a dog that is starved “at his master’s gate”, meaning that the dog does have a home but the
master of this dog is refusing to care for his basic need by denying him any food. Line ten sheds a little
more light on what Blake is trying to say as he mentions that the condition of this dog is a clear
prediction that the state will be ruined. This statement clues the reader into the fact that Blake is
probably talking about his state and government and their inability to care for their people which only
leaves the people to assume the worst for their future.

The loyalty of the dog “at his Masters Gate” can mean a variety of things – here, it is referencing the
people that the state or the country has left down; the homeless, the soldiers, the poor, the hungry,
those without a job that have turned to crime to support their families. Given the high rate of crime,
again, remember that Blake was a contemporary of the French Revolution and the American Revolution,
two Revolutions born out of a disagreement with the dominating country.

Lines 11–12

A Horse misusd upon the Road

Calls to Heaven for Human blood

Lines eleven and twelve continue with the dark mood as Blake mentions that misused horses ask for
“human blood” implying revenge. Mentioning these circumstances of the animals signifies the struggles
that are faced in the world and it is usually the innocent that are the most abused. Blake displays in
these lines that a sign of innocence is being the subject of abuse from the cruel world when you do not
deserve it; just as the dog and the horse do not deserve to be mistreated but they are innocent and so
taken advantage of.

The reference to the “Horse misusd” can also be towards the mistreatment of the working man by the
oppressive mill owner or employer; both are working animals which, if treated fairly, respond with
loyalty. However, in Blake’s ‘Auguries of Innocence’ there is no fair treatment.

Blake’s opinion here is that if the very few people who are within the country are not taken care of, then
the entire country is on the road to ruin – if there is a high population of starving, poor, homeless,
jobless, then there is something wrong with the country itself. This idea is not new, however, to put it
blatantly into a poem would have been a shocking thing at the time, as there was still that idea of social
class and social status in England. If one was born poor, then he or she would be poor until death; in the
case of a rich child, the case was also the same.

The French Revolution disavowed these tenets and the poor rebelled against the rich. However, this did
not happen in England, a thing which was reportedly one of Blake’s biggest regrets.

Lines 13–14

Each outcry of the hunted Hare

A fibre from the Brain does tear

The next two lines of Blake’s ‘Auguries of Innocence’ continue the dark imagery as Blake goes on to
include the description of more animals and their struggles. Lines thirteen and fourteen describe the
“outcry” of a Hare that is being hunted and emphasizes how hunting desensitizes people causing them
not to hear these cries; these lines maintain the notion that the innocent always become prey to abuse.

Lines 15–16

A Skylark wounded in the wing

A Cherubim does cease to sing

Line fifteen speaks of a bird with a wounded wing, not clarifying the cause of the wound, but based on
previous lines it is implied that it was hunted as well. The next line underlines Blake’s idea of the
heavens not agreeing with animal abuse, or the abuse of the innocent because he mentions the
“Cherubim” stops singing. A “cherubim” is an angel and suggesting that it stops its signing at the wound
of a bird also highlights the importance of animal rights by relating it to heavenly behavior. It is quite
easy to see that Blake thinks quite negatively towards harming innocent animals, he uses this idea to
emphasize the fact a sign of true innocence is when harm is inflicted upon you with no fault of your
own.
Birds were considered signs of freedom, and thus to wound them – and to wound them is what gives
them their freedom – shows the chained nature of man. The next few lines go deeply into the idea of
terror: here all the animals are frightened, showing the confused and terrified nature of man, and the
world at large. It can be taken as an expression of the world howling in confusion at the unbalanced
nature of the events – mainly, the French Revolution, and the American Revolution.

Lines 17–18

The Game Cock clipd & armd for fight

Does the Rising Sun affright

Lines seventeen through twenty are continuing the reference of animals to emphasize the cruelty they
face at the hands of humans. Line seventeen discusses the practices of rooster fights and the fact that
these animals are prepared for physically attacking each other for the amusement of people; the next
line helps expresses Blake’s feelings about the issue as he declares that even the sunrise is “affright” due
to this cruel practice. It is also important to note that just as animals are forced into playing self-harm
games by people, some people are forced into self-harm by others and that is usually due to their
innocent natures allowing them to fall into such a mess.

Lines 19–20

Every Wolfs & Lions howl

Raises from Hell a Human Soul

The following two lines of ‘Auguries of Innocence’, mention that the lions and wolves howl causing
human souls to be raised from hell. These lines are a powerful image of the cries of vicious animals
calling out humans from hell, implying that these people enjoyed cruelty to animals. It is interesting to
see how Blake talks about animal cruelty and then parallels that with the furious cries of the animals
following people even after their death. It is evident that Blake believes that such actions from humans
are completely unforgivable; he also relates animal cruelty to belonging in hell which implies that
hurting the innocent is an act that is considered worthy of hate or devilish.

Lines 21–22

The wild deer, wandring here & there

Keeps the Human Soul from Care

Lines twenty-one to twenty-two call out what Blake believes to be well-accepted hypocrisy when it
comes to animal cruelty. These two lines of the poem, ‘Auguries of Innocence’ illustrate the beautiful
freedom that we expect and appreciate when it comes to grass-fed animals like deer. We as humans
welcome the idea of freedom for animals in general and claim to find it cruel to slaughter them, and so
they don’t seem to bother people living free and content. However, lines twenty-three and twenty-four
expose the twisted understanding of humans when it comes to animal rights.

Lines 23–24

The Lamb misusd breeds Public Strife

And yet forgives the Butchers knife

In this section of ‘Auguries of Innocence,’ the poet says that if a lamb were to be “misused” or abused it
would cause an uproar or even just an upsetting environment for the public; everyone would feel sad
and hurt for that lamb. However, if that same lamb was at a butcher’s shop under the butcher’s knife,
no public uproar would take place, the community would not gather in sadness or grief for that lamb.

The symbol of the lamb is also a Christian image; however, here, it is subverted. The image of the land is
historically used as an image of rebellion; however here, the lamb stands for the subservient and brutal
methods of organized religion. It is the people, who are easily terrified into submission by organized
religion.

Here, Blake is making a very strong statement about human logic, why is it not okay to hurt them but ok
to kill them to eat them? Do animals lose all rights to basic sympathy and the right to live simply because
we want to eat them? The reason Blake put this out there under the topic of signs of innocence because
usually mankind is not innocent when it comes to abuse, and unfortunately when it comes to animals
humans, in general, need to be more sympathetic and compassionate for their lives as they would their
own. A basic sign of innocence is the lack of discrimination in the basic rights of life, whether human or
animal.

Lines 25–26

The Bat that flits at close of Eve

Has left the Brain that wont Believe

These next few lines of the poem are discussing just how blinded the human race can be in the things
that we consider logical. Lines twenty-five and twenty-six introduces a bat that flies “close to eve” and is
said to have left the “brain that wont believe”, this can be seen as Blake identifying a blind bat to the
idea of reason and logic leaving the brain because of how blindly people follow an omnivorous diet
whilst “fighting” for animal rights.

Lines 27–28

The Owl that calls upon the Night

Speaks the Unbelievers fright

Line twenty-seven introduces an owl that is frightening because it delivers the truth. Owls are generally
known for their symbolic reference to wisdom and the fact that it is frightening because it is speaking
the truth only emphasizes Blake’s message that animals deserve basic rights especially because they are
intelligent living beings much like humans. The symbolism behind the wisdom of the owl being
presented at night is that wisdom is rarely seen as a common trait in public opinions, usually, it is found
when there are few to notice its presence. The reason that wisdom is frightening to the “unbelievers”
(or those who refuse to see the animal abuse in consuming animals) is that it would drastically change
the fundamentals of the food industry, diet, and health in general.
Lines 29–30

He who shall hurt the little Wren

Shall never be belovd by Men

Here, in lines twenty-nine to thirty of ‘Auguries of Innocence’, Blake describes that cruelty to animals is
not even seen as a commendable trait according to social standards anyways. Hurting a little
defenseless bird does not make a man more manly in society’s eyes, rather shouldn’t it seem cowardly
to hunt little birds, they aren’t a threat to anyone.

Lines 31–32

He who the Ox to wrath has movd

Shall never be by Woman lovd

Furthermore, how can a man expect to win the affection of a woman by the practice of enraging an ox?
Why are these things even allowed to happen, how can a woman find a man who purposely irritates an
innocent animal to be worthy of her sincere attention when she would find the same action quite
disturbing had she seen him purposefully picking on another person for no reason but entertainment.

These lines are essential because Blake uses them to portray how absurd it is that animals although
living beings do not hold the same right to respect and compassion, that we as people would expect for
other living beings such as ourselves. Something as obviously wrong as abuse seems to be tolerated if it
can be turned into a sport for human entertainment, social norms play a significant role in defining
exactly what counts as abuse, especially for animals.

Lines 33–36

The wanton Boy that kills the Fly

Shall feel the Spiders enmity

He who torments the Chafers Sprite

Weaves a Bower in endless Night

These next four lines express just how irritated Blake is at the thought of people taking the topic of
cruelty to animals or animal abuse so lightly that they do not think before they disturb other living
beings. Lines thirty-three and thirty-four depict a careless little boy who kills a fly, for no reason or
benefit at all and so he earns the “Spiders enmity”. The enmity of the spider could be because he killed a
potential meal for the spider, causing more harm than he intended.

The next two lines discuss the “tormenting” of a Chafer which is a beetle; the sprite mention is just
referring to the soul of the beetle. Blake seems to be trying to get his readers to realize that even insects
have more purpose in life than given credit to and that harming them can cause you to be lost is a lonely
“endless night” (probably referring to hell).

Lines 37–40

The Catterpiller on the Leaf

Repeats to thee thy Mothers grief

Kill not the Moth nor Butterfly

For the Last Judgment draweth nigh

Lines thirty-four to forty discuss caterpillars and butterflies in this poem. It is essential to this poem,
‘Auguries of Innocence’ that Blake covers the topic of even the smallest “animal” because he is focusing
so heavily on their innocence and basic right to live life without cruelty. The caterpillar is depicted on a
leaf repeating our “mother’s grief”; our mother could be a reference to Mother Nature or in a biblical
context, Eve. In the context of Mother Nature, the caterpillar could be telling the story of how Mother
Nature is undervalued and not appreciated enough by the beings that use it the most. Whereas in the
context of Eve the caterpillar could be speaking of the grief that she suffered by losing her innocence.
Both points convey the message that there is a loss when things are not given their due right.

Lines thirty-nine and forty are an awakening reminder by Blake that every life matters and even killing a
butterfly or moth counts as murder in God’s eyes. Darkness comes to those who harm nature – here. It
constantly shifts with the ideas of a revolution against oppression; the figures who are harming nature
stand as the same figures who would harm humanity, the mill owner who beats his children, the father
who drinks away his money and leaves his family starving, the Church who takes and takes and never
gives back.

Lines 41–44

He who shall train the Horse to War

Shall never pass the Polar Bar

The Beggars Dog & Widows Cat

Feed them & thou wilt grow fat

These four lines directly reference that a person’s actions have consequences especially when they
target animals. The first two lines speak of taking an innocent animal, specifically a horse, and training it
for violence (war) causes people to miss out in the spiritual world. Blake is saying those who create
violence and hardship for the innocent in their lifetime will not be able to enjoy any form of peace after
they have passed away.

The next two lines show that there is benefit in showing mercy to animals as he illustrates that if hungry
animals that don’t even belong to you are fed by you it will only bring more wealth back to you. Blake is
pointing out the basic rules of karma, you get good if you do good, he is showing people and
encouraging them that love for others only in turn fills your own life with love. When you feed the
hungry God feeds you so never feel like you don’t have enough to share.

Lines 45–48

The Gnat that sings his Summers Song

Poison gets from Slanders tongue

The poison of the Snake & Newt

Is the sweat of Envys Foot

These lines shift to a summery mood and so discuss insects that one meets during their summer months.
The smallest sins can upset the delicate balance of nature; the “gnat that sings his Summer’s song”,
interrupted by slander, ends up biting someone; “the poison of the Snake & Newts” is indicative of a
larger issue, that of envy. All of these small things have ripples and ripples of dire consequences.
However, the gnat is the first to be introduced and is portrayed in the happy summer days, singing its
songs that it naturally sings without getting in anyone’s way when it is poisoned by slander.

Blake is drawing on a new subject here, in ‘Auguries of Innocence’, nature and its animals are innocent
from slandering each other which is a bad habit in humans. People will ruin a perfect natural moment
that is pure from any harm or planned deceit and turn it into a chance to use their sharp tongues to find
reasons to think poorly of others.

Blake then mentions the poison that a snake and newt carry and how it is a great parallel to the results
of envy, another vice found in humans. It is also significantly important how Blake relates the poison of
slander to the poison of jealousy because they are related and can be the same poison.

Lines 49–52

The poison of the Honey Bee

Is the Artists Jealousy

The Princes Robes & Beggars Rags

Are Toadstools on the Misers Bags

When speaking in the past stanzas Blake focused on the innocence of the animals that suffer our cruelty
and now he seems to be focusing on displaying how we are creatures that seem more dangerous than
the animals we abuse. The topic of poison continues as the honey bee is introduced and portrayed as
the artists’ jealousy because it is unique and cannot be recreated.

Lines fifty-one and fifty-two switch the topic directly to humans again by exposing yet another vice:
miserliness. It does not matter who has what if you are in the company of a miser as he will make sure
that he is not expected to help those around him no matter who they are. The different classes of
wealth in society also cause division which is not something to be proud of, why don’t humans have the
innocence to help those who have very little by expecting those who have a lot to share.

Lines 53–58

A Truth thats told with bad intent

Beats all the Lies you can invent

It is right it should be so

Man was made for Joy & Woe

And when this we rightly know

Thro the World we safely go

Lines fifty-three to fifty-eight continue Blake’s streak of discussing and exposing human flaws, his point
seems to be to expose the evils of the people to contrast the innocence of the animals. The first two
lines dive into extremely wise words as Blake expresses that when people speak the truth and expose it
only to make matters worse intentionally, it is worse than lying to cover up wrongdoing; mainly because
the intent is conniving.

He goes on to proclaim that he does understand that man was made with the capability to do good and
bad, to cause ease and hardship, and to do right and wrong. The moment you realize that you can do
both and it is in your hands to choose, it helps you be a better person and be safer with your choices in
the field of choice to be the abuser or the aid.

Lines 59–62

Joy & Woe are woven fine

A Clothing for the soul divine

Under every grief & pine

Runs a joy with silken twine

In ‘Auguries of Innocence’, lines fifty-nine onwards discuss the truth that there cannot be a joy if there is
no woe and vice versa. Despite all the misery that exists, Blake does not want us to despair: every misery
comes with a parallel joy, “woven fine” into the pattern of daily life. Both these intense emotions are
basically what dress your soul as while you are alive you must suffer through the tribulations of life and
celebrate the moments of joy that are what make us human. As we go through our days of hardships
and loss and grieve for the joy and comfort that we had claimed eternal there will always be something
that will pick us up again so we can move forward as that is the cycle of life.

Blake is highlighting for his readers all the things that make us humans, we were never meant to be
perfect beings we have things that are good and bad in our very natures, nevertheless, it is our
responsibility that we’d do what is just not only to other people but all living things as they are all
creations of God.

Lines 63–66

The Babe is more than swadling Bands

Throughout all these Human Lands

Tools were made & Born were hands

Every Farmer Understands

Lines sixty-three to sixty-six begin by discussing the obvious point that Humans are Humans, nothing
more or less. Line sixty-three states that a baby is more than the blanket it is wrapped around, it is a
human entering this world that will grow to be an independent individual, and that is understood by all
people across the globe. Here, Blake wants to state that people are more than their positions in society
– the “babe is more than swaddling Bands”, the child is more than the blankets that he is wrapped in.
Society moves on, and everyone is important and becomes a part of the eternity that we strive towards
in the end.

He continues to contemplate and have his readers join in as he discusses that as humans continue to
grow so do their tools of survival. People are not just born with all their basic needs taken care of, they
work hard to make sure they have the means of survival and they care for their young until they can
stand for themselves much like every other living species alive on this planet. It is pointed out that a
farmer understands because he has to grow his provisions and sees it first hand with the animals on his
farm as well.

Lines 67–70

Every Tear from Every Eye

Becomes a Babe in Eternity

This is caught by Females bright

And returnd to its own delight

Lines Sixty-seven onwards is when Blake starts to bring up sympathy and empathy again. Blake wants to
state that ‘every tear from every eye’ becomes a good thing in turn. He states that when every person
can connect with their emotions and allow themselves to feel what they are feeling instead of dismissing
them it creates a person that can be seen as a whole individual in eternity (heaven perhaps).

The last two lines are confused as he mentions that it is caught by bright females and returned to its
delight. When people connect with their emotions some angels or females have the job to make sure
that those who feel the sympathy and shed tears for others receive joy in their lives in return.

Lines 71–74

The Bleat the Bark Bellow & Roar

Are Waves that Beat on Heavens Shore

The Babe that weeps the Rod beneath

Writes Revenge in realms of Death

Turning back to the reference of animals, lines seventy-one to seventy-four describe the voices of
animals reaching the doors or gates of heaven emphasizing that they have voices that count too. The
lines then continue to touch the topic of child abuse as Blake mentions that when a child is abused or hit
(specifically with a rod) and cries because of this cruelty, it is demanding justice which is the prosecution
of the parents or adults involved in the abuse. The revenge for abusing a defenseless child would be the
death of the perfectly aware adults who would commit such a heartless crime. These lines also hint at
the fact that this should be the way everyone should treat abuse against any living thing, not only
children.
Here, the noises of a distraught world continue, however, Blake wants to show that these sounds are
not in vain: these sounds play out in history, they are an ocean of happening, and heaven exists to put
them all to rights. This is not to say that there is no retaliation on the earthly plane – as the last two lines
show, whoever does bad things on earth will be punished in the afterlife.

Lines 75–78

The Beggars Rags fluttering in Air

Does to Rags the Heavens tear

The Soldier armd with Sword & Gun

Palsied strikes the Summers Sun

In ‘Auguries of Innocence’, Blake continues to say that poverty causes heaven to be in distress because
people are suffering, which is a sign of innocence to feel the pain and hardships of others without any of
it affecting you. The last two lines mention the fact that people display themselves as being strong – like
soldiers but in reality, they usually can not do anything without the influence of social norms and
pressures, just like the soldier who cannot move unless commanded or ordered to.

Lines 79–88

The poor Mans Farthing is worth more

Than all the Gold on Africs Shore

One Mite wrung from the Labrers hands

Shall buy & sell the Misers Lands

Or if protected from on high

Does that whole Nation sell & buy

He who mocks the Infants Faith

Shall be mockd in Age & Death

He who shall teach the Child to Doubt

The rotting Grave shall neer get out

Here are more examples of men whose lives will be set to rights in Heaven: the beggar will become rich,
the soldier will be free from the tyranny of the empire, the poor man will find money, and the man who
“teach(es) the Child to Doubt” will die horribly.

Moreover, lines seventy-nine to eighty-eight mentions that even a poor man’s penny is worth more than
all the wealth and gold in Africa because he truly values the sum that he owns, he understands its worth.
Blake is shifting vision now to discuss those who do have more wealth to go around and are always
found in the market looking for one thing or another, losing value for the wealth that they are carelessly
spending.
He relates the spending of wealth quite interestingly to investing time in doing things that will not
prepare you for life after death. He threatens by saying if you don’t encourage your children to develop
habits that will help them come out better after death then you are not being honest about their
purpose in life.

Lines 89–96

He who respects the Infants faith

Triumphs over Hell & Death

The Childs Toys & the Old Mans Reasons

Are the Fruits of the Two seasons

The Questioner who sits so sly

Shall never know how to Reply

He who replies to words of Doubt

Doth put the Light of Knowledge out

This is parallel to the couplet that came before – the man who teaches children to believe will never die.
In the mentioned lines, the speaker demands respect for the intellect of even children since they are too
young to be sinful in any way and so have a better chance at paradise. As a person grows from child to
man his toys change to tools, and he gains experiences and abilities that will help him form an identity
for himself.

Blake also stresses that experience teaches man his wisdom and if one chooses to argue with things that
are pointless and unsure then he is not giving his knowledge enough credit, what is the point of getting
into debates on topics that don’t exist. This is important because as life gives you knowledge and
wisdom sometimes pride causes you to lose some of it.

Blake writes here about the importance of thinking, of trying to understand the world around you, of
making up your own philosophy rather than following the perceived status quo. This did not mean that
understanding everything meant that you could destroy others’ beliefs.

Lines 97–104

The Strongest Poison ever known

Came from Caesars Laurel Crown

Nought can Deform the Human Race

Like to the Armours iron brace

When Gold & Gems adorn the Plow

To peaceful Arts shall Envy Bow

A Riddle or the Crickets Cry

Is to Doubt a fit Reply

In this section of ‘Auguries of Innocence’, Blake shows the horrors of war in this part of the poem –
power is ‘the strongest poison ever known’, and ultimately ruins the people who get it. Arts, on the
other hand, help to strengthen society; a society built on peace can never truly be destroyed.

Moreover, lines ninety-seven through one hundred and four discuss how easy it is to corrupt a person,
all you need is power, strength, and wealth. These things are powerful enough to destroy the human
race because they are the root of all vices found in humans and their natures. This is important because
to be a good person you need to be able to control your vices and evils hidden within your natures.

Lines 105–112

The Emmets Inch & Eagles Mile

Make Lame Philosophy to smile

He who Doubts from what he sees

Will neer Believe do what you Please

If the Sun & Moon should Doubt

Theyd immediately Go out

To be in a Passion you Good may Do

But no Good if a Passion is in you

These lines focus on religion and religious beliefs prompting the reader to understand that what you
believe is visible to each individual, and if you deny what you feel intentional then you will never be able
to be authentic in your identity and there is no point asking yourself any questions regarding personal
beliefs.

Blake also claims that to invest yourself in a passion allows you to benefit yourself and others whereas if
you keep your passions locked up it does no good for anyone including yourself. The reader is quite
aware that Blake is invested not only in his religion but his values about animal cruelty.

Does doubting everything, do good? Blake does not believe so. One must have a system of belief; one
cannot get through life without it, and he shows that everyone, from the philosopher to the layman, has
a system of belief; even nature itself believes in greater things. This might be a dig at the scientific ideas
of the French Revolution, where there was no greater thought than the destruction of religion.

Lines 113–124

The Whore & Gambler by the State

Licencd build that Nations Fate

The Harlots cry from Street to Street

Shall weave Old Englands winding Sheet

The Winners Shout the Losers Curse

Dance before dead Englands Hearse

Every Night & every Morn

Some to Misery are Born

Every Morn and every Night

Some are Born to sweet delight

Some are Born to sweet delight

Some are Born to Endless Night

As the reader finally comes close to the end of the poem, ‘Auguries of Innocence’, Blake starts to
mention that there are people who don’t have good influences and they can heavily influence social
trends and norms especially when no one stands up against their carefree attitudes. Blake wasn’t
forgiving with all people – he despised prostitution and gambling and saw them as the downfall of the
nation. Here, Blake thinks that the small corruptions will ultimately ruin England itself. By allowing
prostitution and gambling, one is setting up the irreversible fate of England.

Blake also discusses fate and the fact that people will continue to be born into a world that is packed
with both good and bad and others are born just to spread evil and are destined for the “endless night”
from the very beginning. However, nothing is set in stone. Although one day you may be unhappy, the
next you might be happy. Blake, therefore, does not want the reader to despair; there is a better life
ahead.

Lines 125–132

We are led to Believe a Lie

When we see not Thro the Eye

Which was Born in a Night to perish in a Night

When the Soul Slept in Beams of Light

God Appears & God is Light

To those poor Souls who dwell in Night

But does a Human Form Display

To those who Dwell in Realms of day

William Blake concludes the poem, ‘Auguries of Innocence’ by saying that by being born on this planet
we are born into a lie this life is not permanent it is not our only life, we have a life that is waiting for us
beyond our physical bodies and those who can surpass the challenges of being in a life that forces you to
suffer and to rejoice a person can reach a true form of innocence.
By switching his poem from advocating for animal abuse to exposing the nature of humankind Blake is
expecting readers to understand that in a world full of so much hardship no one will find true innocence
unless he has accepted to stand up for what he feels is the truth and succeeds in recognizing God in his
life.

Blake’s ultimate few lines are a reiteration of the belief in God, which saves us: we are born in a dark
place, and we might die in that dark place, however at the end of our lives, we will come to terms with
God, and things will be made better.

Historical Context

‘Auguries of Innocence’ is a collection of conflicting situations written as a kind of prophetic judgment. It

pits the innocent against the mature, the rich against the poor, the elite against the underprivileged, and
invites the audience to recognize the fragile beauty and balance found within nature. Blake wrote this
poem around 1803. However, it remained unpublished for sixty years. The poem was finally published in
1863 in the companion volume to the biography of Blake by Alexander Gilchrist.

The French and American revolutions – which, at the time, were glorified and romanticized quite heavily
– also served as an influence on Blake’s works. He was so enamored, in fact, by the idea of the American
Revolution that he wrote what later became known as the ‘prophetic book’ – a series of interrelated
poetic works that drew upon his mythology, which attempted to make sense of the current political and
spiritual mire of the time. This particular book was called ‘America, a Prophecy’, and it was published in
1793 on eighteen different plates. Only fourteen copies are in circulation today.

About William Blake

William Blake was an unknown among his contemporaries. Considered at times a genius, and at times a
complete madman, he is only seen as a great poet, and indeed a great artist, posthumously; in 2002,
Blake was placed at number 38 in a list of the 100 Greatest Britons, and today he is considered one of
the most important figures of the Romantic movement.

Blake’s work was beyond comment: mythological, philosophical, and mystical, he eschewed and derided
all forms of organized religion, but worshipped the Bible; in fact, one of his influences was Milton, and
Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost,’ and the discerning reader can find quite a few influences to Paradise Lost in
more than one of Blake’s poetry.

If one follow Blake’s mind through the several stages of his poetic development it is impossible to regard
him as a naïf, a wild man, a wild pet for the supercultivated. The strangeness is evaporated, the
peculiarity is seen to be the peculiarity of all great poetry: something which is found (not everywhere) in
Homer and Æschylus and Dante and Villon, and profound and concealed in the work of Shakespeare—
and also in another form in Montaigne and in Spinoza. It is merely a peculiar honesty, which, in a world
too frightened to be honest, is peculiarly terrifying. It is an honesty against which the whole world
conspires, because it is unpleasant. Blake’s poetry has the unpleasantness of great poetry. Nothing that
can be called morbid or abnormal or perverse, none of the things which exemplify the sickness of an
epoch or a fashion, have this quality; only those things which, by some extraordinary labour of
simplification, exhibit the essential sickness or strength of the human soul. And this honesty never exists
without great technical accomplishment. The question about Blake the man is the question of the
circumstances that concurred to permit this honesty in his work, and what circumstances define its
limitations. The favouring conditions probably include these two: that, being early apprenticed to a
manual occupation, he was not compelled to acquire any other education in literature than he wanted,
or to acquire it for any other reason than that he wanted it; and that, being a humble engraver, he had
no journalistic-social career open to him.

– T.S. Elliot on William Blake.

Critical Analysis Of “Auguries Of Innocence” By Blake

‘Auguries of Innocence’ opens with a philosophical touch of describing infinity and eternity, relating a
part to its whole and turning the abstract into the concrete. Under the biblical influence kindness to
animals and children is the major theme and Blake shifts many times to the theme of corruption
besetting the English society of his day.

Cruelty to animals incensed Blake. In ‘Auguries of Innocence’ he preaches compassion for animals. Pity,
mercy and kindness he excites for the poor, helpless, innocent, gentle creatures. He says it enrages
heaven and shakes hell when an animal, a bird or a child is abused and maltreated. He mentions the
names of animals and there is a long list of animals and birds including birds like robin, dove, pigeon,
skylark, cock, bat, owl, wren; animals like horse, hare, deer, wolf, lion, dog, cat and insects like
caterpillar, moth, butterfly, gnat, beetle.

For an innocent child he is all love and kindness. He says that innocence and simplicity of children should
not be laughed at. Evil ways of English society of his age have also been criticised. Blake says the
corruption is leading England to its death. In a sweeping and causal manner he passes remarks, the
remarks of a reformer, on different aspects of human behaviour. The underlying idea is the idea of
warning mankind of the unhappy outcome of such behaviour. He talks of punishment for evil and
reward for virtue.

He paints a gloomy picture of poverty and ignorance the English people of his time were suffering. He
talks about a strange phenomenon of birth.Some are born to rich and cultured parents who live in
comfort and opulence are born into poor and ignorant families destined to live in perpetual hell of
darkness and poverty. There are topics of doubt, lie, deceit, pride, childhood, old age, joy and sorrow,
love and jealousy, dealt with, with broad bold sweeps of an experienced artist.

Every couplet entails a moral lesson and serves with a warning of an impending punishment for the
misdeed or cruel act. Critical Analysis Of “Auguries Of Innocence” is an ethical code with many pieces of
practical advice, and wise counsel of a sage and a saint.

In the best of his songs Blake developed his characteristic lyric technique of compressed metaphor and
symbols which explode into multiplicity of meanings adding: obscurity to thought in some cases. He
gradually developed and integrated his symbol into an extensive mythology of his own devising.“I should
make framework”, he stated, “or be oppressed by another Man’s.”

In Blake’s intuitive swift flights of imagination, words Tag behind his thought and expression. He leaves
the reader in a maze of obviously unrelated signals. The idea is, in this manner, so mystified that
decoding language to reach it is quite a baffling and futile exercise. Barring some parts of ‘Auguries of
Innocence’, the couplets in the poem have simple language. Mono-syllabic words in iambic tetrameter
in the first line to move slowly and heavily with distinct accents:

‘TO THOSE POOR SOULS WHO DWELL IN NIGHT’.

MONOSYLLABLES MOVE MORE HEAVILY IN

‘EVERY MORN AND EVERY NIGHT

SOME ARE BORN TO SWEET DELIGHT.’

Blake’s use of simile in the couplets is generally without ‘as….as’ formation. It is delicately embedded in
the verse.
I Shall Paint My Nails Red by Carole Satyamurti

Poemotopia

January 4, 2022

“I Shall Paint My Nails Red” is a poem written by the British poet Carole Satyamurti. Satyamurti was a
woman of many talents – a poet, translator, professor, and sociologist. She was very interested in
psychoanalytic theory and often talked about the connection between poetry and psychoanalysis. She
was born on 13th August 1939 and died on 13th August 2019. Satyamurti, along with Duffy, is hailed as
some of the best women poets in contemporary British poetry. Her subjects, therefore, deal with the
lived experiences of a woman, identity crisis, suffering, and social processes. Her language is simple,
almost colloquial yet hard-hitting, as evident in this poem.

Read the full text of “I Shall Paint My Nails Red” below:

I Shall Paint My Nails Red

by Carole Satyamurti

Because a bit of colour is a public service.

Because I am proud of my hands.

Because it will remind me I'm a woman.

Because I will look like a survivor.

Because I can admire them in traffic jams.

Because my daughter will say ugh.

Because my lover will be surprised.

Because it is quicker than dyeing my hair.

Because it is a ten-minute moratorium.

Because it is reversible.

- from Changing the Subject (1990)

Analysis of I Shall Paint My Nails Red by Carole Satyamurti

Table of Contents

Summary

Meaning
Structure & Form

Literary Devices

Line-by-Line Analysis & Critical Appreciation

Themes

Historical Context

Questions & Answers

Similar Poems

External Resources

Summary

“I Shall Paint My Nails Red” is written in first-person and talks about the desire of a woman to assert her
femininity. By asserting her identity, the speaker (Satyamurti) challenges the norms of a patriarchal
society. She lists ten reasons why she “shall” paint her nails red. Satyamurti alternates between a tone
of heaviness and playfulness, so the poem carries loaded meanings without coming across as too
serious. She deals deftly with the theme of identity of the modern woman by capturing the reactions of
her daughter and her lover to her newly painted red nails.

Meaning

Satyamurti’s “I Shall Paint My Nails Red” is about a modern woman’s desire to paint her nails red. At the
surface level, this sounds like a relatively simple topic, almost too naive. However, poetry often tells
simple truths, and Satyamurti was a champion of such a writing style. While being easy to understand,
her poems are loaded with symbolism and multiple layers. Similarly, the simplistic urge in “I Shall Paint
My Nails Red” is actually a nuanced taking on the identity crisis women face in the patriarchal mold.

Structure & Form

Satyamurti does not follow a regular rhyme scheme, but there is an interesting rhythmic pattern in “I
Shall Paint My Nails Red.” The poem is short, yet every line is a complete sentence in itself. Satyamurti,
like her contemporaries, ditches the formal rhyme scheme. Instead, she adds rhythm to the poem by
using the poetic device, anaphora. She uses the first person singular “I,” which suggests that the poem is
personal. However, in the realm of feminist theory, the personal is political, and Satyamurti’s take on
gender thus makes her poem political.
The poem consists of ten lines and is written in free-verse. She does not mention red nails explicitly in
the poem. Rather, she asserts her reasons for choosing the color and the reactions it elicits from her
daughter and lover. This creates a deliberate dramatic effect but makes the poem accessible.

Literary Devices

In “I Shall Paint My Nails Red,” Satyamurti makes use of the following literary devices that make her
ideas seem more forceful and appealing to readers.

Repetition: Every line, except for the title of the poem, begins with the word “Because.” The word
“Because” explains the reason why the poet wants to paint her nails red. However, the repetition puts
more emphasis on the lines, gives them a rhythm, and thus creates a more significant impact on the
reader.

Alliteration: This usage of this device can be found in “look like” and “ten-minute moratorium.”

Simile: Satyamurti makes a direct comparison to a survivor with the word “like” in “Because I will look
like a survivor.”

Assonance: To create an internal rhythm, Satyamurti uses assonance in the following phrases: “Dyeing
my hair,” “it will remind me I‘m a woman,” etc.

Sarcasm: Satyamurti uses sarcasm to lighten the tone of the poem. In the first line, she says that using
color is a sort of public service.

Symbolism: The color “Red” in the poem symbolizes passion, boldness, desire, and femininity.

Imagery: The visual image of red nails is striking. It stays with the reader throughout the poem, even
though Satyamurti uses the image only in the title. This is aided by the deliberate repetition and refrain
that adds to the rhythm of the poem.

Anaphora: Satyamurti uses the word “Because” to begin every line for the sake of emphasis. This
repetition further drives home the conflict about identity in the poem.

Line-by-Line Analysis & Critical Appreciation

Lines 1-3

Because a bit of colour is a public service.

Because I am proud of my hands.

Because it will remind me I’m a woman.

Satyamurti begins the poem “I Shall Paint My Nails Red” by stating that painting her nails red is a sort of
“public service.” This declaration is as bold as the choice of color. It suggests that the speaker is
unapologetic. She is proud of her choice, even though readers can assume that this is the voice of a
middle-aged woman speaking. Her hands are probably wrinkled and traditionally not something that
makes women proud. Women try their best not to let these wrinkles glare through their skins. However,
the speaker’s hands remind her that she is a woman.

There is a certain heaviness in the third line, which speaks of the trauma that women face because of
their identity as a woman. However, Satyamurti’s line is powerful; it firmly establishes the identity of the
speaker as an unafraid, confident woman who is not ashamed of displaying her red nails boldly.

Lines 4-7

Because I will look like a survivor.

Because I can admire them in traffic jams.

Because my daughter will say ugh.

Because my lover will be surprised.

The use of the word “survivor” in the fourth line hints at the trauma that comes with the lived
experience of a woman. It hints at a past filled with suffering that the speaker had to overcome.
However, it also suggests that the speaker is still affected by lingering traces of her traumatic past. She
immediately changes her tone to a mere playful one, saying that she can admire red nails while waiting
in traffic jams. Here, the red traffic light image further stresses the use of the color red as a recurring
motif.

In the sixth line, Satyamurti writes that her daughter will say “ugh,” which suggests that her daughter is
young and does not want to think of her mother as desirable or fashionable. Her daughter will probably
find the carnal appeal in her mother an anachronism, something that belongs in the past.

This is the natural “subject” that Satyamurti seeks to change by stating that women have the right to
control their appearance, regardless of age. Her lover will be surprised, probably because the color red
is unexpected for her age. Not just because the poet is a woman, but perhaps her past self was not this
unapologetic or bold. Being a product of her past experiences, she learned the art of change for self-
preservation and upholding her femininity.

Lines 8-10

Because it is quicker than dyeing my hair.

Because it is a ten-minute moratorium.

Because it is reversible.
Dyeing the hair is another way that women seek to either alter or hide their authentic selves. The “dye”
could either be read as a form of self-expression, or a symbol of age, as older women are often
associated with hair dyes. Seeing as the speaker’s desire is for a temporary, reversible change, one can
assume that “dyeing” symbolizes both.

As the speaker is an older woman, she is encouraged to dye her hair but not paint her nails red. In
comparison, both are a form of self-expression. The speaker prefers something more temporary, like
painting her nails, than dyeing her hair as she wants something “quicker.” Besides, she might want to
change her moldering identity, which brings us to the last two lines of the poem.

The poem ends with the line, “Because it is reversible.” The need for a change that is “reversible” stems
from a shifting sense of identity common for women, particularly modern women. As they make sense
of contemporary contradictions, they also feel the need to change their “self” from time to time.

Themes

Leisure as an Act of Defiance

Leisure for women occurs in a personal and, thus, political space. On the other hand, defiance is usually
associated with politics. However, Satyamurti juxtaposes both defiance and leisure in her poem “I Shall
Paint My Nails Red,” a theme that suggests that leisure is also an act of defiance for women. The whole
poem revolves around defying the conventions of society and a woman’s reasons to paint her nails red.

Satyamurti uses the word “moratorium” (line 9) to convey this theme to her readers. A moratorium is
defined as a temporary prohibition of an activity. Satyamurti interestingly uses this word in her poem.
The speaker of the poem says that painting her nails red is “a ten-minute moratorium.” It means the
speaker stops all activity for ten minutes while painting her nails. It is her act of leisure and also an act of
defiance.

Femininity

The idea of femininity is a double-edged sword. It seeks to make a woman more desirable, and yet she is
also rebuked for any outward show of femininity. The red color has long been associated with negative
connotations, and Satyamurti subverts that idea in her poem.

A woman’s identity is traditionally tied to her relationships, for instance, her role as a mother or her role
as a wife or lover. Satyamurti writes about how her daughter will utter, “ugh,” if she paints her nails red.
This is because children do not want to see their parents as attractive to the opposite gender,
particularly their mothers. Besides, the poet’s lover will be surprised, probably because he never expects
her to assert her femininity.

Conflicting Identities

“I Shall Paint My Nails Red” is also about the conflicting identities of a woman. This is conveyed by the
last line of the poem, “Because it is reversible.” Though the poet feels the need for change, she wants
something temporary, a “reversible” change. Dyeing one’s hair is more permanent as compared to
painting nails, and thus the poet chooses the latter. This suggests an underlying conflict within the poet:
a need for change that is reversible, perhaps as a way to cope with the present. The last line contradicts
the confident personality of the poet at the beginning of the poem. This identity conflict is a recurring
theme in the works of contemporary women writers.

Historical Context

“I Shall Paint My Nails Red” was first published in 1990 in Carole Satyamurti’s collection of poems titled
Changing the Subject. Today, it is a part of her anthology, Selected Poems, published by Oxford
University Press in 1998. The original collection suggests a breakaway from norms – “changing the
subject,” and that is what Satyamurti attempts in this poem. She is unapologetic about her identity as a
strong and bold woman. She believes that a feminine appearance is a part of the strength of the modern
woman.

Historically, women have been told to adhere to rules and hide their desirableness. The patriarchal
structure dictates that a woman is to look attractive only to appear desirable to men, not because of her
choice. By choosing to apply red nail paint, the speaker of this poem commits an act of defiance against
patriarchy. Thus, “I Shall Paint My Nails Red” can be read as a feminist poem or a “gynotext,” in touch
with the sensibilities of 21st-century feminism.

Satyamurti has received many awards for her poetic prowess, including the prestigious Roehampton
Poetry Prize in 2015 for Mahabharata: A Modern Retelling. She shared the prize with poet Sean O’Brien.

Questions & Answers

What is “I Shall Paint My Nails Red” about?

Carole Satyamurti’s poem “I Shall Paint My Nails Red” is about the desire of a woman to paint her nails
in a bold red color and thus assert her identity as a woman. The color red is used as a form of self-
expression and holds symbolic value in the poem.

What does the color red symbolize in “I Shall Paint My Nails Red”?

The color red has multiple meanings in the poem “I Shall Paint My Nails Red.” Red symbolizes boldness
that is usually associated with it and a solid feminine identity that stems from a desirable feminine
appearance. It subverts the gender roles by making the middle-aged mother an attractive, bold, and
thus, desirable woman.

Why does Carole Satyamurti say, “Because a bit of colour is a public service” in the poem “I Shall Paint
My Nails Red”?

Satyamurti often exaggerates or uses sarcasm in this poem to give a playful tone to her language. The
first line she writes is that painting her nails red is a service to the public. The tongue-in-cheek tone
hides the fierce defiance of societal conventions and makes the truth more palatable and enjoyable to
the reader.
What is the main theme of the poem “I Shall Paint My Nails Red”?

One of the major themes in the poem is the identity politics associated with gender, particularly women.
In a society where all colors are gendered, women are perceived poorly if they wear the color red. By
choosing to paint her nails in bold red, Satyamurti flouts the rules and proclaims her identity.

What are the literary devices used in “I Shall Paint My Nails Red”?

The poet uses anaphora, symbolism, repetition, alliteration, assonance, and simile to emphasize the
theme of the poem. She also uses sarcasm to add a playful tone to her bold statements.

What are the organizing principles in “I Shall Paint My Nails Red”?

An organizing principle is a central reference point that allows all other objects or ideas to be located. It
is often used in the conceptual framework, an analytical tool with several variations and contexts
applied in different categories of work where an overall picture is needed. In “I Shall Paint My Nails
Red,” the central reference point is Satyamurti’s wish to paint her nails red. The text provides ten
essential reasons to paint her nails with a bold red color. These reasons encompass not only the
speaker’s sense of womanhood but also her “feminine” identity that defies the patriarchal norms.