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The Chairlift Analysis

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The intricate nature of the common human perspectives on life’s goals is shown by Sandra M. Gilbert 's far-reaching poem, “The Chairlift”. Through the poem, Gilbert takes the reader up a chairlift, through a simplistic view of life, and then proceeds to dump the reader at the top of the chairlift with a new life question to ponder. Gilbert forces readers to ask themselves what they regret or might do over in a second life, if they had the chance. By comparing life’s journey to a ride on a chairlift up a mountain, readers see the speaker symbolically taken out of the lush forests and into the desolate, rocky peaks. Each symbol represents different takes on life views, but the chairlift shows that no matter what, at the top of the “chairlift” …show more content…

By describing the aging process and the opportunities that die as life weathers on, readers see Gilbert’s intentions in a more relatable and vivacious ways. For instance, after the first few stanzas, readers are introduced to a chairlift ascending through “a real live human/ world of vines and gardens/boiling and blooming” (CITE). The early stages of the chairlifts ascent are portrayed with lush and fruity words, such as blooming, gardens, vines, and boiling. Through these words, Gilbert wants readers to see the early stages of the chairlift as the early stages of life--flush with opportunities, chances, and possibilities. But, as the chair continues to rise, readers see the environment change to “empty/ meadows, knots of forest, channels/ of frigid/ granite or ice. As the chair continues its journey just as one ages, the usage of these harsh, simple, raw words suggests that opportunities die, or leave us, as life comes to a close. Furthermore, the opportunistic view of life shows that despite there always being something that missing as represented by the shoe, we should make the most of the opportunities while we have them in front of us in our youth. Overall, Gilbert’s use of simplistic, contemporary words generates new and deeper meanings into the balance between life’s regrets and

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