Morality and Identity Exploration of Shel Silverstein’s Poem What If
Shel Silverstein’s widely known poem entitled ‘What If’ is a capture of moral and psychological issues that are explored through the act of questioning. The poem positions its readership to consider the implications of an altered worldview through its use of extended metaphor. This is done by highlighting the debate between morality, identity, and what it might be like if the lines between them were blurred.
The poem starts with an imaginative scenario in which the roles between Mother and Father are reversed:
“What if the father loved the child
And the mother romped and smiled
The action between the parents implies the child’s role is opposite to what their station traditionally entails.
This concept of a role reversal is continued within the poem and the feeling of normalcy and loss of moral grounding is implied by its extended reference of losing the ability to differentiate between right and wrong, as seen through next line:
“And good was bad, and bad was good”
This line is used to suggest a world of moral relativity in which one is unable to differentiate between the two terms. The poem employs a statement of moral confusion in order to pose the question of where one constructs their morality when the firm lines of morality are not seen.
The poem further makes use of extended metaphor when addressing identity of its readers. Throughout the poem, it suggests the internal battle of its readers to find stability in a world of moral confusion. This is voiced when Silverstein closes the poem with a question of identity that seeks to engage its readers to reflect on their own moral position:
“What would you do?
If it all were true?”
Dichotomies and Experiences of Tragedy
Silverstein’s poem ‘What If’ encourages readers to explore and engage with a variety of dichotomies in life, such as morality and identity, privilege and poverty, compassion and indifference. Silverstein asks the pertinent question of “What if the good was bad and the bad was good”, throwing all previously accepted and taken-for-granted truths into question. The world in which Silverstein presents to his readers is one in which the traditional dichotomies are turned on their heads and morality is ill-defined and elusive. As a result, readers are invited to consider the implications of such a world and consider how their own experiences of tragedy or oppression could be changed if all previously conventional notions of morality and identity were to be forgotten.
‘What if’ also forces readers to reflect on their own conceptions of morality, and how their identity shapes those perceptions. By presenting this altered view of the world, the poem presents readers with a challenge to question their own beliefs and opinions, and to consider how they could potentially re-conceptualize their own notions of morality and identity in the face of something that is so fundamentally contrasting to what they know. Through this process of questioning and re-evaluating, the reader is invited to explore and come to terms with their own sense of self in a world so drastically different from their own.
Silverstein’s poem encourages readers to explore the world in a new way and to develop a sense of their own identity, as opposed to simply conforming to the perspectives and beliefs of others. The poem serves to challenge readers to confront their own preconceived ideas about the world and morality and to consider how those beliefs may change in the face of something so drastically different from what is conventionally accepted.
Race and Gender Discourse Exploration
Shel Silverstein’s ‘What If’ poetically expresses the complexities of social identity and the way in which our own identity is impacted by those around us. The poem utilizes a powerful extended metaphor to explore the concept of a person’s social identity within a world that is different from their own. Through this metaphor, Silverstein encourages readers to consider their own identity within a racial, gender, and social context. Silverstein actively critiques society and the roles that it assigns to people, questioning whether or not these labels define us and if they can ever be reversed.
The reversal of roles between mother and father highlights the constructed and restrictive roles that are established by society. By reversing the roles of mother and father, Silverstein questions the power and control of parental roles and encourages readers to think about how gender and race can define the way in which people are perceived. Silverstein’s poem actively expresses the power of gender and race discourse and how they shape our own sense of identity. Through his vivid imagery and powerful metaphor, Silverstein invites readers to consider the implications of a world in which these previously secured and socially accepted roles are overturned.
By articulating these different issues of identity, Silverstein encourages readers to explore their own notion of identity, considering how these conversations of gender, race and social expectations impact the way in which we view ourselves. Through his thoughts, tweets, and now this poem, ‘What If’, Silverstein urges readers and listeners alike to reflect on their own experiences and to question the idea of the status quo, ultimately creating a powerful awareness of discourse and identity.
Societal Reflections on Authority and Consent
In ‘What If’, Shel Silverstein insightfully brings up a reversal of social authority and gender dynamics, inspiring readers to consider how traditional forms of power, such as gender and race, can be challenged and overturned. Through his vivid description and extended metaphor, Silverstein presents a world in which the balance and status quo of society is drastically altered. This reversal of social identity leads to an exploration of authority and consent, as seen through the reversal of the roles between mother and father.
Silverstein encourages readers to reflect on the implications of such a reversal and how it affects the dynamics of existing power structures. This exploration of authority and consent provides readers with an opportunity to question whether or not consent should be automatically presented depending on societal roles. Furthermore, it inquires whether the traditionally accepted way of presenting power and control, based on gender and race, should be challenged and overthrown.
The poem serves as a reminder that we must actively challenge the status quo and consider novel perspectives when examining subjects of authority and consent. Silverstein appeals to readers to consider how they might act if they were presented with a situation in which social conventions are suddenly overturned. Through his words, Silverstein encourages readers to reflect on their own experiences of power and control and to consider the implications of such a world in which the balance of power, dynamics between authority and consent, are all changed.
Exploration of Morality and Cognitive dissonance
The poem ‘What If’ not only explores the idea of power and consent, but also explores the concept of morality and cognitive dissonance. Silverstein’s poem articulates the struggle that can be faced when confronted with a world of moral relativity, questioning how one should act when the accepted lines between rights and wrongs are blurred. Silverstein paints a vivid picture of this moral ambiguity, posing the question of whether morality can ever be found in such a world.
The poem encourages readers to reflect on their own individual morals and how these morals may be challenged and overthrown in the face of something so drastically different than what they typically accept. Through this exploration of morality and cognitive dissonance, Silverstein offers readers an opportunity to reconsider their own collective morality and to question how they can further construct their own codes of right and wrong.
