Naturalism In Seamus Heaney's Digging

Unearthing Meaning Seamus Heaney was born on April 13, 1939. He grew up on his father’s farm in Mossbawn, County Derry, Ireland. The farm was located just a few miles northwest of Belfast, putting him fairly close to conflicts with the church. The farm had been passed through the family for several generations and was expected to be taken over by the eldest son. Heaney was the eldest of nine children, however it was not his intent to take over the farm after his father. Heaney never fit the physical aspect of the agricultural world, yet many of his writings include his history with nature. In 1966, Heaney released his first full collection called “Death of a Naturalists”. This collection included many references to his father’s farm

The poem begins with Heaney holding his pen while his father is outside, digging. As Heaney listens to the sounds of his father on the farm, he recalls planting potatoes and how they felt after being picked. Heaney then admires his father 's work by comparing it to his grandfathers. He then recollects a time where he was young and clumsy, he bringing milk to his grandfather, who appears so graceful and fluid compared to the sloppy child. The smell of the potatoes cause something in his head to awaken. It is obvious to Heaney that he will never be able to dig in the same way as his ancestors. Instead, he will use his pen to dig. The theme of this poem is tradition. This tradition is the idea that boys were supposed to follow in their father 's footsteps and have the same career choice (“‘Digging” Analysis’ 73). Because of this Heaney was supposed to become a farmer, following after his father and his grandfather. The entire poem is about agriculture and how Heaney will never be able to be a great digger like the men in his family before him. The text states, “His accomplishment is letting go of the guilt associated with leaving behind--and perhaps looking down upon--the manual labor that was good enough” for his father” (“‘Digging” Analysis’ 73). This shows how Heaney was ashamed of himself for not being like his father, he felt that his father would be disappointed in him. This is shown in the poem

The simile is “Between my finger and my thumb / The squat pen rests / Snug as a gun” (1-3). Heaney compares his pen to a gun which are two very different tools. The pen is used for expressing thoughts and feelings while the gun is more dangerous. They do have similarities as well. Both the pen and the gun can be explosive, the gun literally, and the pen with words and emotions (Miller 81). Heaney says the pen is “snug as a gun” which indicates that the pen suites Heaney, unlike a spade or other digging tool. It references to how Heaney is parting from the traditions that he is supposed to follow. Another poetic device that Heaney uses to make his theme known is a metaphor. In the poem “Digging,” it states, ““Between my finger and my thumb / The squat pen rests / I’ll dig with it” (29-31). When Heaney states that he will dig with his pen, not into the dirt, but into himself to bring out his emotions into a poem. “The pen is no longer “snug as a gun,” but has become the writers spade, his tool for unearthing meaning,” (Morton 85). This shows that Heaney is connecting himself with the men in his family who dug before him. The tradition that was once holding him back is now incorporated into his writing. Instead of anchoring him, accepting the tradition and doing what he loves sets him free and rids him of his feelings of guilt. The poetic devices in