A Dog Has Died
Analysis of “The poem…reflects the choices consciously or unconsciously made concerning the subject positions, community affiliations, and meaning making activities of self understanding, represented in written language. Poetic identity (or range of identities)…can be interpreted in the writing…of the poem” (Hanauer, 59).
There are many ways of interpreting poetry: some are viable, some are not; some work with specific poems only, others are good for general study. Looking at a poem as a “window to the soul of the poet” is often a dangerous psychological game, where we more often than not, invent the person behind the poem. “Dangerous” here, referring to the danger of untruth, or in the case of poets we know, the danger of misjudgment. However, psychoanalysis through poetry can be done, only carefully and with great room for error. Oftentimes, the poet’s meaning does not come across perfectly in his/her poetry, especially when it comes to more abstract poetry, or poetry on the self. We all view the world from our own lenses, so when we engage in psychoanalytic examination and study, we must keep this in mind, and approach the poetry with a humble mind. However, as Hanauer points out in the excerpt above, “Poetic identity…can be interpreted in the writing…of the poem” . So, then, turn to “A Dog Has Died.”
As discussed in the Context section of this website, I will use structuralist means to study Neruda’s poem. Neruda’s word choice and the emotional arc he carries us through in the poem places “A Dog Has Died” solidly (though not only) within the poetic sub-genre of Elegiac Poetry.
As many others have observed, multiple tones are struck at the beginning of the poem. As Paul Erland pointed out, Neruda titles the poem “A Dog Has Died”, then in the first line, calls says “My dog has died.” The distance between the man and the dog seems at first almost indifferent, but then as the poem begins, the dog’s status shifts, their relationship deepens. The line after deepens it all the more: the garden is a familiar place, a comfortable place that one tends and cares for. Being buried in the garden, then, seems to go from ownership to favor. Then Neruda finishes this first stanza with the line: “next to a rusted old machine,” drawing us back to the surface, back to being confused about the relationship between the man and his dog.
Stepping back, Neruda’s overall reaction to the death of his dog seems almost confused – at least to start. If we take apart the poem by stanza, we can see Neruda’s emotional arc more clearly:
1) narrative: the dog has died, he has been buried
2) thoughts on afterlife for the dog, not for him
3) instead of “speaking of sadness” Neruda thinks almost objectively about the dog: “aloof”, “no exaggerations”, and descriptions of the dog’s actions
4) elevation of the dog: “paying me the attention I needed” and “with eyes so much purer than mine”
5) description of dog-paradise
6) description of dog’s life in dog-paradise
7 & 8) return to reality.
Here, we also see demonstrated the grief-cycle Neruda goes through in coming to terms with the passing of his dog. “A Dog Has Died” is a textbook example of an elegy: “The elements of a traditional elegy mirror three stages of loss. First, there is a lament, where the speaker expresses grief and sorrow, then praise and admiration of the idealized dead, and finally consolation and
solace”. Pablo Neruda in essence skips this first step of the elegy, a simple statement replaces the lament – much as a materialist might respond emotionally on the subject of a death of this kind! Moving forward, Neruda chooses to first remember the dog as he is. He is initially descriptive, but these descriptions begin to carry the weight of praise – he is not just talking about the dog, he is talking fondly about the dog. This easily qualifies for the praise and admiration, though it builds from objective recognition to glorification. Finally, Neruda goes back to his own mindset and worldview, he is consoled by the fact that his dog is “gone and…buried.”
The fact that Neruda now believes that there is now going to be a heaven because his dog has died shows how much affection he actually felt for his dog; enough affection to make him believe in a heaven when he didn't before. Here he is saying that his dog was more decent than other dogs, maybe even more decent than some of mankind. His dog, unlike others, actually listen he adds the word "Sex" to humanize the dog. he also compares his dog to that of a docile porcupine. Neruda compares his dog to a porcupine through simile. he says that "His friendship for me, like that of a porcupine withholding its authority" which means that the dog, like a porcupine, is capable of harming him but doesn't because he is holding his authority towards him. The dog respects Neruda and wouldn't attack him. Neruda basically states, "I ain't gonna lie, this dog was pretty chill." Neruda continues to describe the dog as without insecurites or prejudices, able to enjoy life simply in being. The dog enjoyed happiness simply because he existed and needed nothing to fuel his joy and love for life.
This is emphasized in the final line, showing that the dog died as he lived; in the purest of simplicity In the image above, the dog does not discern or pretend to understand the events occurring around him, as shown by the blurs of color. But on this same point, the dog smiles and doesn't pretend to understand, he just enjoys the blurs of color for what he perceives them to be. He lives in blissful ignorance, he doesn't need to know more to enjoy existing, and in this simple existence it finds bliss. A commentary on "A Dog Has Died" By Pablo Neruda, and "Happy" By Laura Marsh By stating that he will be buried next to him, Neruda establishes an eternal bond with his dog.
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