An Internal Conflict between Obsession and Responsibility in the Poem Sea Grapes by Derek Walcott

In his poem "Sea Grapes," Derek Walcott uses figurative language and other poetic devices to show that he is suffering from an internal conflict between obsession and responsibility. Odysseus's internal conflict refers to the obsession and temptation that he has for women, and how it fights against the responsibility he possesses as he heads home. Walcott uses imagery of sea grapes as a metaphor and allegory to Greek mythology throughout the poem. Additionally, he uses allusion to convey his message of internal conflict between obsession and responsibility, showing the alienation that can occur due to the cost and ultimate sacrifice for a person’s desires.

As the poem progresses, Walcott utilizes enjambment to romanticize and intensify the enchantment of such a journey, pitting human vices against morality. The internal conflict of obsession and responsibility never brings peace to anyone.

Walcott uses “Sea Grapes” as a metaphor, which is interesting because this Caribbean fruit was believed to be poisonous, but turns out to be safe to eat. It is not the typical sweet grape that we are accustomed to eating; it is rather sour. The sweet obsession of a person with their responsibilities, due to temptation, indeed turns sour when the guilt of doing what is right collides. The poem portrays this conflict in the fourth stanza, implying the reason a person should avoid getting into this predicament is because it “brings nobody peace”.

Walcott also uses personification to represent how the speaker is alienated from his current location: "The sail which leans on light, tired of islands, a schooner beating up the Caribbean for home," (Walcott 1). The speaker is torn between leaving the island with the temptation of a beautiful woman or returning home to his wife and child. The personification usage for the sail leaning is something people do when they are tired or relaxed. The speaker states that the boat is tired of the island, which suggests they are ready to leave.

The speaker uses allegory as a symbol to portray his message through Greek mythology, mentioning Odysseus and "home-bound on the Aegean." The poet divides the stanzas, and the reader gets the idea of his desire to be a faithful husband and father in stanza two. However, in stanza three, we see the temptation of potentially committing adultery, as with Odysseus who wished to be with Nausicaa. Walcott references Odysseus sailing back home and feelings of guilt for being disloyal to his wife. 'Blind Giant' is an allusion to Homer himself because he was blind. 'Boulder' is a reference to Homer’s epics. This is an allusion to The Odyssey, an epic poem by Homer.

Odysseus is the main character, the hero of the Trojan War, and a king. Walcott reminds us that Homer's epic, 'blind giant's boulder' (symbol), conveys that the fight is not only between humans in war (Troy), but also within themselves through obsession and responsibility. The reader perceives the guilt, which is the foundation of his internal conflict, by comparing it to the “gnarled sour grapes”. The challenge to resist temptation and deciding to stay for what they’re attracted to is likened to the taste of sour grapes. The allusion to the Odyssey denotes the difficulty in overcoming temptation in the light of responsibility. First, through imagery, Odysseus emphasizes the physical responsibility to come home as the head of the family.

The speaker employs metaphors to encapsulate the theme of alienation. "The ancient war between obsession and responsibility will never finish..." (Stanza 4). Odysseus grapples with his obsessions and responsibilities, oscillating between neglecting his duties to pursue his obsessions and fulfilling his responsibilities. Yet, this battle seems interminable. This metaphor is pertinent to my thesis, as it underscores that his internal conflict pacifies no one. His ceaseless struggle between obsession and responsibility thus serves as a constant source of agony.

In conclusion, Walcott uses personification, allusion, allegory, and metaphors to represent the alienation between his obsessions and responsibilities, using sea grapes as a metaphor. Interestingly, the poem is associated with ancient Greek folklore, particularly the legend of Odysseus, who sailed for many years after winning the Trojan War and faced numerous challenges while longing to return home to his child and spouse. The sea grapes are used as a symbol to portray a fixation on the sour taste of guilt and dishonesty when a person is faced with a choice: either be responsible and do the right thing or give into selfish desires. Alienation is portrayed in “Sea Grapes” through the loneliness of sea travel. The internal conflict between obsession and responsibility never brings peace to anyone.

Did you like this example?

409

22