Tissue Flashcards
(7 cards)
Key theme: The fragility of human power
Dharker uses tissue as an extended metaphor to demonstrate how human constructs (money, maps, buildings) are fragile and temporary, whereas nature is enduring.
Key theme: Transience vs. Permanence
The poem suggests that what we perceive as strong (e.g. governments, borders) is actually weak, while seemingly fragile things (e.g. paper, human skin and human spirit) have lasting influence
Material vs. Spiritual power
The poem critiques society’s obsession with material power (money, records, maps) and suggests that truth lies within openness and change
“Paper that lets the light shine through”
Metaphor & Religious Connotations → The “light” could symbolize divine knowledge, truth, or enlightenment, referencing religious scripture written on paper.
Alternative Interpretation → It could also represent transparency—governments and historical records should be open to scrutiny.
Juxtaposition of Strength & Fragility → The delicate nature of paper contrasts with the immense power of what it contains (e.g., laws, holy texts, family records).
“Maps too. The sun shines through their borderlines.”
Critique of Human Control → Maps are artificial constructs that divide land, yet the sun, a force of nature, disregards these divisions.
Power of Nature → The enjambment here mimics how nature flows beyond human-imposed boundaries.
Post-Colonial Interpretation → Dharker, who has a multicultural background, may be challenging the arbitrary divisions created by colonialism.
“Raise a structure / never meant to last”
Structural Interpretation → The use of enjambment here forces the reader to reconsider what is “never meant to last,” mirroring the instability of human authority.
Critique of Hubris → This line can be linked to Ozymandias, as both poets explore the arrogance of human power, which ultimately crumbles.
