Pretty Prancing Panthers (Q#12 symbols) - Poetry Blog 4 (The Panther)

Next, we look at The Panther by Rainer Maria Rilke. I thought this whole poem was symbolic of another situation, therefore I will discuss symbolism.

Point out and explain any symbols. If the poem is allegorical, explain the allegory. (Q#12 from blogging guidelines)

"It seems to him there are a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world."

Although the poem is entitled The Panther, I really doubt that the poem is about a wild animal. The bars are symbols for prison, while the panther is actually a person in jail.

"As he paces in cramped circles, over and over, the movement of his powerful soft strides is like a ritual dance around a center in which a mighty will stands paralyzed."

When the man is pacing in cramped circles, he is in his jail cell. (It's so small that he can't move much.) He knows that he wants to be free and roam around outside, but he is trapped and can't go anywhere.

"Only at times, the curtain of the pupils lifts, quietly - . An image enters in, rushes down through the tensed, arrested muscles, plunges into the heart and is gone."

When the man opens his eyes and sees the jail cell and realizes his lack of freedom, the bleakness of prison saddens him. It frustrates him and drains him emotionally.

The image of a panther represents the man's movement - he is almost sulking or hunching his back as he paces like a panther stalking its prey. Also, a panther can be a vicious animal like the man was before he was put in prison.