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How does the poem “Pike” suggest the picture of human violence? 

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Pike is a notable literary work by Ted Hughes. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of Pike.

Answer

How does the poem “Pike” suggest the picture of human violence? 

Ted Hughes’ (1930-1998) poem “Pike” (1960) presents the pike fish as more than just a creature of nature. In the poem, the pike becomes a mirror reflecting human violence. Through vivid descriptions and comparisons, Hughes uses the pike to illustrate aggression, survival instincts, and domination. The poet hints at the darker aspects of human nature in this poem, which we discuss below.

Born with a Violent Instinct: The poem opens by describing the pike as “killers from the egg.” It means that from birth, they are designed to be aggressive and powerful predators.

Pike, three inches long, perfect…

Killers from the egg:…

An instinct for violence is embedded in the pike’s very existence. In a way, Hughes suggests that just like these fish, humans also carry an inherent capacity for violence. Aggressiveness is a part of human nature.

Survival and Power: Hughes presents the pike as fearless and strong. He describes Pike,

A hundred feet long in their world.

These fish are aware of their strength and power in their environment. Pike fish are confident in their power. This nature of the fish reflects human desires for dominance and control. Many humans seek power over others. Humans often use violence to assert this control. By drawing this parallel, Hughes shows that just as pike prey on others and even turn against each other, humans too can display similar behaviors. Humans are violent, and they turn against each other when driven by ambition or survival instincts.

Cannibalism and Self-Destruction: In the poem, Hughes describes keeping three Pike together, but they end up attacking and killing each other until only one remains.

Three we kept behind glass,…

Suddenly there were two. Finally one

With a sag belly and the grin it was born with.

This behavior suggests self-destruction. Humans also exhibit this quality, especially in times of conflict or competition. Wars and fights among people often lead to destruction. The inherent violence in humans can turn them against each other.

Uncontrollable Destruction: Hughes’ poem suggests that both the pike and humans can destroy without limit or reason. In the last part of the poem, the speaker describes an enormous pond that is “as deep as England.” The pond is filled with pike so “immense” that he is afraid to fish at night. This fear is a reminder of how humans can also create fear and destruction that become uncontrollable. Hughes subtly hints that just as the pike rules the pond with its power, humans often seek to dominate others.

The Darkness Within: In the final lines, Hughes uses the phrase “darkness beneath night’s darkness” to create an image of something hidden, watching from below. This darkness can be understood as the violence that exists within humans, something deep and often hidden but capable of emerging.

In conclusion, through “Pike,” Ted Hughes suggests that violence is a part of our nature, just like the pike. The poem uses the fish’s aggressive instincts to show that humans share a similar tendency for power, survival, and destruction.