Similes In The Fish

In the poem “The Fish”, Elizabeth Bishop shows all the pain the fish has gone through, the wisdom and strength that the fish obtained throughout the years of his existence and the way the fisherman looked beyond the fish’s injuries to acknowledge the fish’s strength and wisdom. Bishop uses many forms of similes and metaphors to show the fishermen can see the wisdom and strength the fish had fought for.

Firstly, Bishop describes the pain and suffering the fish had gone through by using a simile and personification. Bishop describes the fish’s condition to be in a very bad place. “He hung a grunting weight, battered and venerable and homely.” Bishop describes the fish has battered and homely. Bishop tells us the condition of the fish which

isn’t at a very good state and that it is very unattractive due to the injuries. Bishop also uses personification by using a human characteristic to describe the fish as venerable. The fisherman acknowledges that the fish should not be alive by the punishment the fish has received therefore describing it as venerable. Bishop uses a simile to talk about the fish’s wounds in a positive way even though the fish is in a great deal of pain.” I thought of the course white flesh packed in like feathers.” Even though the fish has his flesh exposed, Bishop compares its flesh to feathers and Bishop finds the positive out of this to show that even through injuries someone or something can still be beautiful. Bishop cleverly uses many ways to show the injuries the fish has sustained but also compares his injuries to things that are more appealing.

Secondly, Bishop describes the fish’s wisdom and strength in spectacular ways.

Bishop uses line to describe the fish’s mouth to show his strength.” A five-haired beard of wisdom, trailing from his aching jaw.” This quote shows that the fisherman sees the wisdom the fish has and the strength within him. Bishop tells us how wise and experience the fish is by having a “five-haired beard of wisdom”. Bishop also shows that even though the fish is wise, it is taking a toll on his life as all the wisdom he accumulated throughout the years is getting too much for him and that his jaw is aching from his “beard”. This next quote tells us the strength the fish had to keep on fighting for his life. “If you could call it a lip grim, wet, and weapon like hung five old pieces of fish-line, or four and wire leader with the swivel still attached, with all their five hooks grown firmly in his mouth.” Bishop explains the past experiences the fish had. She tells us about the hooks in his mouth telling us that the fish had been caught several times but managed to still get back in the water and continue his life which shows his strength and courage. Bishop uses these quotes to show the wisdom and strength the fish obtained throughout its

life.

Lastly, Bishop uses quotes that show how the fisherman admired the fish’s strength, wisdom and courage and let it back to the waters to swim and continue his life.

Bishop first compares the fish to a medal when he broke the line and started getting away.” Like medals with their ribbons frayed and wavering.” Bishop creatively compares the fish to a medal to make seem like he is receiving a medal of honour for everything it’s done and went through. She also states that it is frayed telling us that the ribbons are described as scars throughout his life and all the pain he had to suffer and go through. The fisherman ultimately lets the fish go in honour of its wisdom and courage.” And I let the fish go.” Bishop lets us know the fish was let back in to the water. The fisherman looked past all his injuries and flaws and looked deeper in to the fish to see how strong, courageous and wise the fish was. This shows that you don’t know what someone or something has gone through and that you have to take a deeper look and acknowledge the characteristics of someone. Bishop uses these quotes to show the fisherman looked past the flaws of the fish on the outside and looked at the characteristics of the fish that is not

shown.

Bishop used many ways to express the fisherman looked past the fish’s flaws and figured out the fish had gone through so much. The fisherman told us and compared the injuries to things that are much better than his injuries, saw how wise and courageous the fish was and ultimately looked past those flaws in his physique and let him go back in the water to continue his life.