Practical Criticism (response to the Chambered Nautilus)

The Chambered Nautilus written by Oliver Wendell Holmes in 1858 has been one of the most popular poems written about a sea creature. This entire poem describes how the creature moves and grows.

The poet uses metaphor to give the nautilus the characteristics of a ship; "this is the ship of pearl (that) sail the unshadowed main." The nautilus is called the ship of pearl as we known that it secretes a film of carbonate of lime, giving it a layer of lustre, which is actually pearl.

We are then given an image on how the nautilus moves, like a "venturous bark that flings ... its purpled wings." This creates an imagery of gracefulness and unhurried movement. Just then, "the Siren sings" and "its webs of living gauze no more unfurl; wrecked is the ship of pearl." I interpret this as the nautilus dying, especially since Siren is a sea witch, which causes death each time she sings. In the second stanza we read of how the nautilus dies. It is said to be "frail" leading a "dim dreaming life" which it was so used to living. In the last line of the second stanza, it tears apart violently his shell; "Its irised ceiling rent, its sunless crypt unsealed!." This further emphasises death because when a nautilus dies, it breaks out of its shell, leaving the empty shell floating on the surface of the sea; "leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea!."

In stanza three, it speaks of how the nautilus builds its shell. Also, I noticed that the nautilus is now personified - no more referred to as "it" but rather "he." It could be due to death that it is now glorified and given more honour. In this entire stanza, we learn that the nautilus builds a new cell whenever it outgrows its present one; "He left the past year's dwelling for the new ... stretched in his last-found home, and knew the old no more", sealing the old one up; "built up its idle door." And that it is in a spiral shape; "spread his lustrous coil ... as the spiral grew." I picture this building of a new cell as a laborious task, however it as described as "silent toil", thus creating in me a sense of great respect for the nautilus.

In the last two stanzas, the poet draws lessons from the nautilus; "thanks for the heavenly message brought by thee.