Alizey Khan

AP English Literature

Mr. Landis

9/24/07

Man: The Ultimate Turtle

Man’s follies in love have been interpreted in hundreds of ways since the birth of literature, both literal and figurative. The poem, “The Turtle” by Ogden Nash, interprets this theme very figuratively. In only four lines, the author describes the turtle’s plight: that it has a heavy shell that hinders it, but it still manages to procreate, albeit slowly. In comparison, man is similarly hindered by guilt and social barriers, and resolutely manages to love, as well as prolong his own genetic existence through propagation. The author uses symbolism, diction and meter to create a whimsical tone which belies the irony of life and love.

The subject matter involves both heavy symbolism and an element of surprise; the lowly turtle is used as a metaphor for man, who ever conceals his emotions “’twixt plated decks”— a shell of introversion, used as a barrier in order to avoid emotional pain (1). The turtle’s armor protects it unconditionally from harm. However, this thick protection also serves to protect it from more welcome advances; the turtle is, ironically, particularly infertile. A man with an accordingly thick emotional shield is protected from heartache, at the cost of also being protected from the love which he avoids; thus, this shield “conceal[s his] sex,” making him ambiguous to all of the opposite gender (2). The paradox within this poem is that, despite these barriers, turtles—and men—continue to propagate. This is certainly a “clever” feat; the turtle never loses its shell, but it unquestionably does mate (3). Similarly, in order for man to simply mate, the emotional barriers need not be destroyed; however, in order for man to love—to mate without detachment, to mate and still live with oneself—these barriers must be completely removed. A turtle, when in danger, simply retreats into its “plated decks”; repeated experiences of danger cause it to retreat further into its shell, rarely emerging unless there is great need for it (1). Man, in his introversion, reacts in the same way—faced with multiple experiences of emotional struggle, he, too, will retreat into himself, creating an environment where he cannot be hurt. However, this environment ensures that he cannot be happy, either, as he avoids everything that can lead to his distress. Nevertheless, he does manage to take his chances, enduring hardship in order to remain “fertile” (4). The author is trying to make sense of man’s hypocrisies and follies; that, even though one erects countless barriers in emotional defense, mankind still remains a fertile creature.

The diction used throughout the poem creates a quirky tone that reinforces the theme of love’s follies by remaining simplistic and childish, as though the follies in question are difficult for the author to comprehend. The author begins by describing the turtle, then making a personal observation: the same way a child learns about the world. By interjecting himself into the poem, claiming that he “think[s the turtle to be] clever,” the author creates a sense of familiarity between the reader and himself, as though the poem is a fragment of a conversation (3). This gives the poem a personal slant; the familiarity of the author’s diction indicates that the subject—the turtle, the symbol for mankind’s introversion—is one with which he is well acquainted (1). The poem’s short length causes every word contained within its four lines to carry equal weight; as a result, every word is significant to its meaning. Indeed, the poem ends as soon as the author’s first major thought is established—that a turtle’s fertility is a particularly clever and unusual. This parallels the life of a man, who—in contrast to the world—is but a fleeting thought in time. The author’s choice to use a “turtle” as the subject matter is immediately questionable, as a “tortoise” could have been used to equal effect (1). However, the “turtle” possesses far different connotations. Turtles are, in Western thought, commonly given attributes of longevity and hardiness; throughout the world, they have been given the divine characteristics of linking earth to the heavens through their shells. Despite these accolades, turtles are still considered lowly creatures. Comparatively, mankind has long accepted that their lives are fleeting, yet consider themselves to be supreme over all other creatures. The use of the word “turtle” thereby creates a sense of irony throughout the poem, as the man who, like a turtle, retreats into himself manages to “live” a life that is longer, but blander, as he, himself has removed all emotional danger from his path (1). The intensity of his introversion is heightened by the use of the word “plated,” which carries connotations of heavy armor; he not only protects himself, but goes to extreme lengths to ensure his emotional safety (1). The use of “sex,” too, draws parallels; rather than simply “conceal[ing]” his gender, the armor conceals all that makes him a man, emotionally as well as physically (2). As a man shields himself from others, he reduces his chance of gaining sexual fulfillment, physically barring himself from being “fertile”; to ease this “fix,” he must free himself of his armor (4). This is a particularly weighty task for one to fulfill; however, the author’s use of diction throughout the poem is handled in a off-handed, jocular manner, juxtaposing the seriousness of the subject matter.

The meter and form used in this poem carry the weight of the poem’s tone as it is written in a joking form, similar to a limerick. This continues the juxtaposition between the figurative subject matter, mankind, and its literal symbol, the turtle—which is infinitely more comical. Strict rhyme is used to draw parallels between the lines; “decks” and “sex” are rhymed to enhance the irony of one denying the existence of the other, and “turtle” and “fertile” are also rhymed to wryly hint that turtles are not, in fact, fertile (1, 2, 3, 4). The poem can be divided into two rhyming couplets, each with a unifying thought; the first couplet merely describes the situation of the turtle, and the second couplet analyses it from the author’s point of view. Consonance is also used extensively in order to relate individual words, such as “fix” and “fertile” (4). The “x” sound is used throughout the poem: in “twixt, ” “fix” and “sex”, words spread out through the poem in order to create a unifying sound (1, 4, 2). The “x” sound in the word “twixt,” in particular, holds significant meaning; it is awkward to pronounce, emphasizing the difficulty of life “twixt plated decks” (1). Through this consonance, the author indicates that man’s emotional “decks” are as difficult to create as they are to maintain. Although it may seem easier to hide behind an emotional blockade, it is difficult to remain so without venturing occasionally into society in order to acquire necessary emotional sustenance—something even the turtle, which still forages for food, knows full well.

Man is a creature full of paradoxes. When faced with emotional struggle, in the form of heartache and animosity, some will retreat into a self-made shell, as a turtle would when faced with a predator. However, although the turtle is designed to remain that way, man cannot; he requires emotional sustenance in the form of contact with others to remain what he is, a man. Should he wish to love, prosper and propagate, he must extract himself from this shell; to survive emotionally, man cannot hide his feelings from others. The author captures this fleeting struggle within a humorous form, casting a positive light upon the subject; despite man’s troubles, the troubles of turtles are far greater. Indeed, man, in his capacity to hide from love and still love in turn, is the “clever[est]” creature of all (3).