Milly Pnotporn Jantarakolica

Mr. Matthew Bishop

English 12
September 1, 2017
On “The Desolate Field”

In the poem, “The Desolate Field” by William Carlos Williams, the narrator

emphasizes on the subject of modernism by using the phrase “vast and gray” and three

concrete objects: the sky, dried grass, and the goat. Throughout the poem, the narrator

describes the sky, his days, and love as “vast and gray”. Firstly, he states that others view the

sky as a “simulacrum”, a mirage. However, he is having a “vast and gray” day, resulting to

him viewing the sky as “vast and gray”. Lastly, he thinks of love as “vast and gray”. This

have a huge impact on him because it makes him feel disillusionment and alienation because

love is not touchable and there is no proof on it. Williams writes “Vast and gray, the sky/ is a

simulacrum/ to all but him whose days/ are vast and gray, and -/In the tall, dried grasses/ a

goat stirs/ with nozzle searching the ground” (1-7). He also states that “And amazed my heart

leaps/ at the thought of love/ vast and gray/ yearning silently over me” (10-13). By

introducing the three concrete elements, Williams shows that the sky, dried grass, and the

goat are objects that he is able to see and touch. There is proof that it is real and is trustable.

Here, the goat acts as a counterpoint because it is looking at the ground while the narrator

looks up above the sky. By this, it shows that the narrator is feeling bewildered and doubts

the meaning of life. Contrasting to the three concrete objects, the word “love,” points out that

love is just an assumption made by people and it is not perceptible like the three concrete

objects. Williams display the concept of modernism by using repetitive phrase with different

subjects and concrete objects.