Robinson Jeffers’ poem “Carmel Point” describes a natural setting that is marred by human presence and its artifices. The poem describes what the place was like before humans settled there in its natural beauty, and predicts what the place will be like in the distant future. However, the point of the poem is not to decry the current existence of human habitation and construction where there formerly was none; Jeffers’ intent is to impress upon his readers the immutability and permanence of nature which is in contrast with the temporary things that humanity leaves on the earth. A greater message also included in the poem is Jeffers’ feeling that mankind can find a better way to exist in nature by understanding its place within it.
Jeffers sets the reader up for his overall message by first personifying nature with the opening line, “The extraordinary patience of things!” (1). The first picture the reader is presented is of a “beautiful place defaced with a crop of suburban houses,” which is followed by four lines depicting what the place was like before the human homes arrived to mar the natural beauty (2). Although “Carmel Point” describes a specific location, Jeffers relies on the idea that any reader will be familiar with the phenomenon of human encroachment that he describes. It may not be Carmel Point that the reader recalls, but most will be able to think of a field, valley, quiet lakeside, or other place that once was without human habitation but is now full of streets and houses. After describing the natural beauty and the “spoiler,” the human buildings, Jeffers asks the readers, “Does it care?” and provides the answer, “Not faintly” (7-8). Jeffers explains why nature does not care about the blight of human edifices on its surface, because “it knows” that people are only part of “a tide” and that eventually “Their works dissolve” (8-9). In other words, what humanity has done to supposedly spoil this once natural place is but temporary, while nature and its forces are eternal.
While the beginning of the poem asks the reader to personify nature, the ending of the poem does the opposite. Jeffers writes, “We must uncenter our minds from ourselves; / We must unhumanize our views a little, and become confident / As the rock and ocean that we were made from” (13-15). Saying that people need to uncenter their minds implies that humanity is very self-centered, thinking itself of great importance and implication in the overall scheme of the world and universe. Jeffers statement that we should “unhumanize our views a little” is his way of asking us not to personify everything and see everything in human terms, with human reasons and feelings, because that is too small and narrow a view. If the reader can put him or herself in nature’s place, the view changes from a narrow tunnel to one of great breadth. In fact, Jeffers would like the reader to understand that humanity is itself a part of nature, made of ocean and rock. His message is that rather than seeing human things as those that are of chief importance, people should understand that they are one small piece in the greater scheme of nature. Rather than making humanity feel small and insignificant, however, Jeffers believes this should bring people “confidence” because it makes them a part of the incredible, timeless, and ever-changing natural world (14).
Jeffers’ “Carmel Point” has a very positive message for humanity; although it makes the accusation that people are self-centered and have a narrow view, ultimately it exults in humanity’s place as a part of a greater, wonderful whole. Jeffers asks his readers to learn from the implacability and patience of nature, and to see each piece for its importance. He asks the reader to change views, by which humanity can live a healthier existence at peace and in tandem with nature rather than against it.
Works Cited
Jeffers, Robinson. “Carmel Point.” 1938. Microsoft Word file.
