Margaret Atwood’s poem “The City Planners” presents a critical and disillusioned mood, accompanied by a cynical and reflective tone. Through vivid imagery, sharp language, and symbolic references, Atwood conveys her dissatisfaction and disapproval towards the planned cities and urbanization, depicting them as artificial, sterile, and devoid of natural beauty.

The mood of “The City Planners” is one of dissatisfaction and disillusionment. Atwood portrays a planned cityscape that lacks spontaneity, vitality, and connection with nature. Words such as “sterile,” “dead,” “relentless,” “oppressive,” and “false” are used to describe the planned environment, evoking a sense of emptiness and artificiality. The poet’s use of visual and sensory imagery creates a mood of detachment, where the landscape appears controlled and devoid of life. For example, the lines “The planted neat rows, the tidy highways,” conjure up an image of a meticulously designed and regulated cityscape, where nature is tamed and ordered, and the human touch is prevalent, but devoid of organic growth.

Atwood’s language also contributes to the critical mood of the poem. She uses words such as “offends,” “shrill,” “tinny,” “mechanical,” and “emotionless” to convey her dissatisfaction with the planned cities and the actions of the city planners. The word “offends” suggests a sense of discomfort or annoyance towards the planned environment, while words like “shrill” and “tinny” evoke a dissonant and artificial quality. The repeated use of terms like “mechanical” and “emotionless” suggests a lack of humanity and warmth, highlighting the poet’s critique of the planned city as impersonal and devoid of natural human connection.

Furthermore, the tone of “The City Planners” is cynical, with a sense of irony and sarcasm towards the city planners who impose their visions on the landscape without considering the consequences on nature and human communities. For instance, the lines “What offends us is / The sanities” are filled with sarcasm, suggesting that the strict order and control imposed by the city planners are oppressive and constraining rather than “sanitary” or beneficial. Atwood’s use of caustic language and satire adds to the cynical tone of the poem, expressing her skepticism towards the planned city as a utopian ideal.

At the same time, the tone of the poem is also reflective and contemplative. Atwood’s use of imagery and symbolism invites readers to ponder on the deeper implications of urbanization and human intervention in shaping the landscape. The poem raises questions about the relationship between humanity and nature, the impact of technology and progress on the environment, and the loss of community and connection in modern urban spaces. For instance, the lines “They flatten down the inquisitive snuffle, / The eager, exploratory sniff” suggest a suppression of curiosity and exploration in the planned city, inviting readers to reflect on the consequences of such control on human creativity and freedom.

Moreover, the poem’s tone reflects a sense of detachment from the natural world. Atwood’s use of imagery, such as “Except for the eyes of the dead man / In their sealed sockets,” creates a stark contrast between the artificiality of the planned city and the naturalness of the human body. The mention of the “dead man” and the “sealed sockets” suggests a loss of life and vitality, highlighting the poet’s critique of the planned city as devoid of the organic beauty of nature. This detachment from the natural world contributes to the overall critical tone of the poem.

The tone of “The City Planners” also reflects a sense of disillusionment with the modern urban landscape. Atwood presents the planned city as a sterile, controlled,

and soulless environment, devoid of the imperfections and spontaneity of nature. The lines “A withering of roots” and “Nothing will do but / The artificial lakes” suggest a sense of loss, as the natural roots of the land are destroyed or neglected in favor of artificial constructions. The poet’s disillusionment with the modern urban landscape is further expressed through the lines “All, all / Is fraud,” which convey a sense of betrayal or deceit, implying that the planned city is a facade that hides the true essence of nature and humanity.

Furthermore, the tone of the poem also conveys a sense of urgency and alarm. Atwood’s use of words like “alarm,” “warning,” and “urgent” suggest a sense of impending danger or threat posed by the planned city and its impact on nature and human communities. The poet’s critical tone reflects a concern for the consequences of uncontrolled urbanization and human intervention in shaping the landscape, and serves as a call to action to reconsider our approach to city planning and environmental preservation.

Additionally, the tone of “The City Planners” also reflects a sense of resignation or acceptance of the current state of urbanization. The lines “We are no longer / Implored to honour nature” suggest a sense of defeat or resignation, where the poet acknowledges that the values of honoring and preserving nature have been abandoned in favor of human-made structures and convenience. This resignation is also reflected in the lines “And yet, and yet / The choice is still possible” which suggest a sense of hope or possibility for change, despite the critical tone of the poem. The reflective and contemplative tone of the poem encourages readers to question and reevaluate our relationship with the urban landscape and the natural world.

In conclusion, Margaret Atwood’s poem “The City Planners” presents a critical and disillusioned mood, accompanied by a cynical and reflective tone. Through vivid imagery, sharp language, and symbolic references, the poet conveys her dissatisfaction and disapproval towards the planned cities and urbanization, portraying them as artificial, sterile, and devoid of natural beauty. The mood of the poem is one of dissatisfaction, detachment, and urgency, while the tone is cynical, reflective, and resigned. Atwood’s use of language and imagery invites readers to reflect on the consequences of uncontrolled urbanization, the loss of connection with nature, and the need for thoughtful and sustainable city planning.