In this poem “Keeping Quiet”, the poet emphasizes the need for self-reflection and the spirit of brotherhood among people all over the world. He asks people to stop speaking and stop all movements for a short period of time, symbolized by counting up to twelve. This pause represents a moment of silence and calm.
At first, this silence may appear strange and unusual because in everyday life people are always busy achieving selfish goals, often ignoring the feelings and needs of others. Therefore, this sudden silence is meant to give people a chance to introspect and think deeply about their actions. Man would get an opportunity to realise how he is destroying nature and how he is harming himself. Futile wars against man and nature would be arrested and a new feeling of unity would be experienced. The poet does not want his desire for inactivity to be misunderstood as a state of uselessness or in action. He wants man to learn a lesson from the earth. The earth appears to be inactive, yet it is selflessly productive. Man too could be productive and progressive without any aggression, selfishness and the urge for destruction
Moreover, since people would not speak during this time, barriers between communities would be broken. As a result, a sense of unity and brotherhood would be created. Man would be given an opportunity to realize how nature is being destroyed and how he is harming himself through violence and greed.
Intro of “Keeping Quiet”
Keeping Quiet Summary
Theme of the Poem
The theme of the poem Keeping Quiet is man’s relationship with nature. The poet highlights how human beings constantly harm and exploit nature. Through silence and self-reflection, people can learn to respect nature and live in peaceful coexistence with it, just as the earth remains calm yet productive.
Central Idea of the Poem
The poet, Pablo Neruda, urges mankind to cease all activity for a little while. During these few moments of silence and inactivity, all human beings would be one, united, and in harmony with each other and nature. This togetherness and oneness is most desirable for the survival of the earth and of human beings. Neruda believes that the soul housed within the human body is capable of performing this feat if given a chance to shine out through introspection, for which absolute silence and stillness is essential.
Important points to remember
The poet emphasizes the need for self-reflection and the spirit of brotherhood among people all over the world.
He asks people to stop speaking and stop all movements for a short period of time, symbolized by counting up to twelve.
This pause represents a moment of silence and calm.
This silence may appear strange and unusual because people are always busy achieving selfish goals.
Man would get an opportunity to realise how he is destroying nature and how he is harming himself.
This sudden silence is meant to give people a chance to introspect and think deeply about their actions.
Barriers between communities would be broken and a sense of unity and brotherhood would be created.
The poet does not want silence to be misunderstood as uselessness or inaction and wants man to learn from the earth.
Futile wars against man and nature would be arrested and a new feeling of unity would be experienced.
The earth appears inactive, yet it is selflessly productive, and man too can be productive without aggression or destruction.
