Introduction
Pablo Neruda is one of the most influential and iconic figures in Latin American literature, lauded for his passionate and emotive poetry. One of his most beloved works is “Me Gusta Cuando Callas”, which translates to “I Like it When You’re Silent”. The poem is a lyrically haunting ode to its subject, exploring the complex inner lives that a lover occupies – in this case, Neruda’s muse and future wife, Matilde Urrutia. In this article, we take a look at the poem, using linguistic, literary and poetic analysis to understand what makes “Me Gusta Cuando Callas” emotionally powerful and meaningful.
Literary Context
Written in 1940, “Me Gusta Cuando Callas” is Neruda’s most influential and lyrically complex work belonging to his’fourth-year’ of poetic production, an intensely personal and political period of his writing. The poem paints an intimate picture of a deeply passionate love, one that sings with crippling adoration and vivid yearning. In the poem’s fourteen lines, ineffable secrets, the silent estrangement between two lovers and a burgeoning, new found faith in their relationship are captured in carefully crafted and eloquently worded phrases.
Poetic Analysis
The poem is crafted with fourteen four-line stanzas. Neruda chooses to use rhyme as a central poetic device, using a mix of slant rhyme (icigo/ángulo), feminine rhyme (noche/boche) and full rhyme (amor/dor). Additionally, there is a constant demand for a certain rhythm, thanks to Neruda’s consistent use of internal rhyme, end rhyme, trochaic meters and iambic meters. This makes the poem a unique and highly structured lyrical masterpiece.
The most striking feature of the poem is the repeated use of punctuation, which is used to great effect by Neruda to drive the meaning of his words even further. By consistently placing periods and commas, Neruda attempts to enforce a certain staccato in the poem’s movement, creating a restless and hurried pace that speaks of a desperate need to get everything that needs to be said out in the open.
Linguistic Analysis
The poem and its lyrical emotion are further enriched by Neruda’s inventive use of symbolism. He employs the use of animals and nature, comparing his love to the aardvark, the crane, the rabbit and the night. To reinforce the idea of two people alien in a tight embrace, Neruda chooses to use the word ‘angle’ (ángulo), a word from which the English angel derives its origin.
The poem focuses on the silent conversations between two people, which is why Neruda lavishes attention on his words and their potential meanings. Certain words, such as “amor” (love) for instance, are repeated to emphasize the poem’s similar message, but Neruda’s choice of vocabulary adds a myriad of extra details, making the word itself – the word love – all the more powerful.
Rhetorical Analysis
Neruda’s poem speaks of an intensely personal, haunting and desperate love, a sentiment that is taken to even greater heights by the poet’s use of rhetoric. By using allusions, paradoxical statements and narratives, Neruda was able to make direct reference to specific moments in the poem – moments that could have belonged only to his love story with Matilde. These rhetorical devices give the poem a timeless and universal quality, connecting it to anyone who has ever experienced longing and feelings of love.
Neruda’s narration creates a dense image that speaks to the need for a physical body, security, trust and passion for one another. Enveloped within these loving and yearning emotions, you can also detect a hint of irony and anguish – a heart tugging sentiment that is echoed Back to its original stanza with each reference to a different animal.
Symbolism Analysis
Neruda’s poem is extremely rich in symbolism – from the animals he used to personify his love to the metaphors he used to capture the elusive nature of his emotions. Animals such as the rabbit, the anchor, the crane, the aardvark, the night and the shore all appear throughout the poem, adding texture and depth to its other layers of meaning.
The rabbit is a symbol of agility while the aardvark stands for strong bonds, fortitude and depth. Meanwhile, the cranes , which often take flight in large flocks, symbolize togetherness and devotion. The shore is a place of solace and hope – a place where two lovers can reunite after being separated for too long. The night on the other hand, speaks of uncertainty, mystery and longing for a person that is not present.
Emotional Analysis
The emotional core of Neruda’s poem lies in its ability to capture the feelings of longing, separation, devotion and vulnerability one feels when they are deeply in love with someone. By using poetic devices such as symbolism and rhetorical strategies, Neruda was able to weave together a compelling and profoundly emotional narrative, one that has stood the test of time and continues to speak to readers around the world.
The poem also speaks to the transience of love, of the desperate need we have to hold onto that which matters most to us. This emotional langauge resonates with readers on a deep level, transforming the poem into an intimate and heartfelt letter, addressed to a universal and timeless recipient – love.
Ancestral Connections
Neruda’s poem draws from several cultural influences, most notably from Latin American literature, poetry and cultural discourses. Through the use of metaphors and motifs, Neruda is able to draw on centuries old beliefs about love, loyalty and devotion. These ancestral connections also speak to the universal messages of his poem – messages that are as timeless and relevant today as they were over seventy five years ago.
Moreover, these influences can be found in many other works by Neruda, such as ‘The Shadow’, ‘Create Dangerously’ and ‘The Fictional Book’. Together, Neruda’s poems form the beating heart of Latin American culture and speak to the resilience and power of the artistic form of interpretation.
Metaphysical Connections
The metaphysical elements of Neruda’s poem are deeply rooted in the notion of time and its ability to both destroy and heal relationships. Throughout the poem, Neruda makes references to time as both a friend and enemy – a force that is working to both reunite and break apart two lovers. His musings on the past and the future eloquently capture the vulnerability and fragility of love – and bring the poem to a full and emotionally fulfilling circle.
Moreover, the metaphysical thread that runs throughout the poem speaks to the idea of a timeless and all-encompassing love – a love that can break through all boundaries, whether physical, temporal or spiritual. This kind of love speaks of immensity and honesty and it is through this allusion that Neruda reveals the power, strength and importance of an ever-lasting relationship.
Societal Connections
“Me Gusta Cuando Callas” carries within its veins the spirit of Latin American liberation movements. By referencing topics such as desire, faith and devotion, the poem speaks to the struggle of a people to achieve freedom in the face of social and political turmoil.
The poem also speaks of Neruda’s influence and relationship with the Chilean people – an influence that stretches beyond the realm of Poetry and into the realm of politics. Through his words, he was able to both call attention to the plight of the Chilean people and serve as an inspiration for those who were fighting for autonomy and independence.
Legacy
Since its 1940 publication, “Me Gusta Cuando Callas” has gone on to become one of Neruda’s most revered and beloved works of art. It speaks to the timelessness of relationships, love and desire, as well as the power of artistic expression in the face of political oppression.
The poem has been widely appreciated by literary critics and celebrated by readers around the world for its poetic structure, emotional messaging and philosophical undertones. It is a poem that stands the test of time and continues to put in words the feelings and emotions of a love that transcends boundaries.
Conclusion
At its core, “Me Gusta Cuando Callas” speaks of a powerful and passionate love between two people. By using a mix of poetic devices as well as philosophical and political ideas, Neruda was able to translate his emotions into a lyrical masterpiece that has captured the hearts of readers across the world. It is a poem that speaks of a love that rises above boundaries and a love that inspires and moves its audience.
