Disembarking at Quebec
By Margaret Atwood
Is it my clothes, my way of walking,
the things I carry in my hand
– a book, a bag with knitting –
the incongruous pink of my shawlthis space cannot hear
or is it my own lack
of conviction which makes
these vistas of desolation,
long hills, the swamps, the barren sand, the glare
of sun on the bone-white
driftlogs, omens of winter,
the moon alien in day-
time a thin refusalThe others leap, shout
Freedom!
The moving water will not show me
my reflection.The rocks ignore.
I am a word
in a foreign language.
Summary of Disembarking at Quebec
Disembarking at Quebec is a poignant poem that explores the complex emotions of a newcomer arriving in a foreign land—specifically, the province of Quebec. Through the perspective of the speaker, the poet delves into feelings of alienation, displacement, and the struggle for belonging.
The poem doesn’t depict joyous celebration, but rather a quiet, internal questioning. The speaker scrutinizes her own appearance and possessions, wondering if they mark her as an outsider. She then projects her anxieties onto the landscape, perceiving it as harsh and unwelcoming. While others exuberantly proclaim “Freedom!”, the speaker remains detached, unable to find her place within this new environment. The closing lines—“I am a word / in a foreign language”—powerfully encapsulate the sense of being incomprehensible and unseen.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Disembarking at Quebec
Assonance and Consonance: The Music of Language
Atwood skillfully employs sound devices to create a specific mood and emphasize key ideas. Assonance, the repetition of vowel sounds, can be seen in phrases like “Is it my own lack,” subtly linking these words and drawing attention to the speaker’s self-doubt. Similarly, consonance, the repetition of consonant sounds, is present in “The moving water will not show me,” reinforcing the idea of rejection and the speaker’s invisibility. These are not jarring repetitions, but rather subtle musicality that enhances the poem’s overall effect.
Enjambment: Flow and Uncertainty
Enjambment, the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause, is a crucial technique in this poem. Observe the lines:
The rocks ignore.
I am a word
in a foreign language.
The abrupt break after “ignore” creates a sense of isolation and emphasizes the speaker’s feeling of being dismissed. The enjambment mimics the disjointed experience of being an outsider, unable to connect with the surrounding environment. It forces the reader to pause and consider the weight of each phrase.
Imagery: Painting a Picture of Alienation
Atwood utilizes evocative imagery to convey the speaker’s sense of displacement. The description of the landscape—“long hills, the swamps, the barren sand”—is deliberately stark and unwelcoming. The “glare / of sun on the bone-white / driftlogs” evokes a sense of harshness and decay, foreshadowing the difficulties of adapting to this new land. These are not romantic vistas, but rather symbols of isolation and challenge. The imagery is not merely descriptive; it is emotionally charged and reinforces the speaker’s internal state.
Metaphor: The Implied and Explicit Comparisons
The poem relies heavily on metaphor to communicate complex ideas. The most prominent metaphor is the comparison of the speaker to “a word / in a foreign language.” This powerful image encapsulates her feeling of incomprehensibility and lack of belonging. She’s present, but unable to be understood or integrated into the surrounding culture. The image of the moon, “alien in day- / time a thin refusal,” functions as a metaphor for the speaker’s own feeling of being out of place and unwelcome. It is an object that doesn’t belong in the daytime sky, just as the speaker feels she doesn’t belong in this new environment.
Personification: Giving Voice to the Landscape
Atwood personifies elements of the natural world, imbuing them with agency and emotion. The “rocks ignore,” and the landscape collectively seems to reject the speaker’s presence. This personification reinforces the feeling of alienation and suggests that the environment itself is hostile to the newcomer. By giving the landscape a voice, Atwood emphasizes the speaker’s inability to connect with her surroundings.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Disembarking at Quebec
Diction and Tone: A Deliberate Choice of Words
Atwood’s diction—her choice of words—is precise and deliberate. She avoids overtly emotional language, opting instead for a restrained and understated style. This contributes to the poem’s overall tone of quiet desperation and subdued anxiety. Words like “desolation,” “barren,” and “refusal” carry a weight of sadness and rejection, but they are presented without melodrama. The effect is a haunting and melancholic mood.
Free Verse: Freedom from Structure
Disembarking at Quebec is written in free verse, meaning it does not adhere to a regular rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. This lack of structure mirrors the speaker’s own sense of disorientation and lack of grounding. The lines flow organically, responding to the rhythm of thought and emotion. The absence of traditional poetic constraints allows Atwood to create a sense of immediacy and authenticity.
Stanza Structure: Creating Pauses and Emphasis
The poem’s stanza structure, with its varying line lengths and breaks, contributes to its overall effect. The short, fragmented stanzas create a sense of pause and contemplation. The breaks emphasize key phrases and ideas, drawing the reader’s attention to the speaker’s internal state. The irregular arrangement reflects the speaker’s own fractured experience of displacement.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines from Disembarking at Quebec can be used to spark discussion about themes of freedom, belonging, and the immigrant experience:
The others leap, shout
Freedom!
This contrast between the exuberant cries of “Freedom!” and the speaker’s internal struggle highlights the complexities of immigration and the fact that freedom can be experienced differently by different individuals. It prompts us to consider what freedom truly means and who has access to it.
Disembarking at Quebec is a masterful exploration of alienation and the search for belonging. Through careful attention to language, imagery, and poetic form, the poet creates a haunting and unforgettable portrait of the immigrant experience, reminding us of the challenges and complexities of finding a home in a new land.