The Fish by Elizabeth Bishop Summary

Elizabeth Bishop’s poem The Fish is about a remarkable moment of reflection and enlightenment. The poem starts with the speaker catching a giant fish while on a boat. Instead than praising the capture right away, the speaker holds the fish and examines it thoroughly. The speaker is surprised by the fish’s lack of effort or resistance during catch.

As the speaker examines the fish, they describe its appearance in great detail. The fish’s body appears aged and decrepit, with skin that resembles peeling wallpaper. The fish’s body is covered with barnacles, with seaweed hanging from it. These features indicate that the fish had a long and arduous life in the ocean.

The speaker then studies the fish’s gills, seeing how they absorb oxygen from the air—a process that appears both strong and scary. The fish’s interior organs, such as bones, flesh, and swim bladder, are also well depicted.

Looking at the fish’s eyes, the speaker realizes that they are enormous but lifeless, like tarnished metal viewed through an old, cracked lens. The fish does not meet the speaker’s stare; instead, its eyes appear distant and reflected, like an item gathering light.

Then the speaker makes a significant discovery. They discover that the fish’s mouth is studded with old fishing lines and hooks. These torn and frayed lines are indicators of the fish’s previous struggles, indicating that it has been caught but escaped. The speaker compares these lines to medals, as if the fish were a military hero who had overcome several challenges.

As the speaker continues to gaze at the fish, a great sensation of adoration develops. They come to consider the fish as a sign of persistence and wisdom. The atmosphere in the boat shifts, and the speaker notices rainbows everywhere—on the oil in the water, the ruined engine, and many other surfaces. This moment marks a shift in perspective, as if the world has become more vibrant and important.

Finally, full with respect and wonder, the speaker takes a decision: they release the fish. This gesture does more than simply let the fish free; it also recognizes its power and dignity. The poem concludes on a triumphal tone, implying that genuine success stems not from catching the fish, but from knowing and enjoying its life.

The Fish by Elizabeth Bishop Analysis

Elizabeth Bishop’s poem The Fish is a deeply reflective and vivid piece that explores themes of survival, observation, respect for life, and personal transformation. Through rich imagery, careful attention to detail, and a shift in perspective, the poem leads the reader through an emotional journey that ultimately results in a moment of revelation. The speaker’s decision to release the fish at the end is not just an act of mercy but a symbol of newfound understanding and respect.

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Themes in the Poem

1. Power and Strength in Survival

One of the most striking aspects of the fish is its resilience. The speaker notices that the fish has been caught before—it has multiple fishing lines and hooks embedded in its mouth. These are not just injuries; they are symbols of survival. The fish has been through battles, escaping each time. The speaker initially sees these scars as signs of struggle but later interprets them as badges of honor, much like military medals.

The fish does not fight back when caught, but its silent endurance speaks volumes. Rather than seeing it as weak or defeated, the speaker realizes that the fish has already proven its strength by surviving countless encounters. The speaker’s shift in perception—from a victorious captor to an admirer of the fish’s resilience—becomes the driving force behind the decision to let it go.

2. The Transformative Power of Observation

Throughout the poem, the speaker engages in an intense act of observation. Every detail of the fish is examined: its skin, eyes, mouth, and even its internal organs. The level of detail shows an almost scientific curiosity, but as the description continues, the observation takes on an emotional and philosophical weight. The fish transforms from an object into a living creature with a history, struggles, and wisdom.

The poem suggests that close observation can lead to transformation. By taking the time to truly see and understand something, we may develop a deeper respect for it. The speaker’s decision to release the fish stems from this shift in awareness.

3. The Blurred Line Between Victory and Defeat

At the beginning of the poem, the speaker is in a position of dominance. They have caught the fish, a moment that would traditionally be seen as a triumph. However, as the poem progresses, the idea of victory becomes more complex. The fish’s ability to endure past struggles makes it seem like the true winner, while the speaker’s sense of triumph becomes less certain.

By the end, the traditional idea of victory is completely reversed. The speaker feels a sense of achievement not from capturing the fish, but from understanding and releasing it. The phrase “victory filled up / the little rented boat” suggests that the real triumph lies in the moment of realization, not in keeping the fish as a prize.

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Use of Literary Devices

1. Imagery and Descriptive Language

Bishop’s use of detailed imagery is one of the most powerful elements of the poem. The descriptions of the fish’s appearance are so precise that they create a vivid, almost tangible image in the reader’s mind.

• The fish’s skin is compared to “ancient wallpaper,” giving the sense that it is old, worn, and layered with history.
• The barnacles and seaweed attached to its body make it seem like a relic from the ocean, as if it carries the past with it.
• The gills, described as “frightening” and “fresh and crisp with blood,” remind us of the fish’s vulnerability and life force.

Bishop does not shy away from describing the fish in ways that are both beautiful and grotesque. This mix of admiration and realism makes the poem’s message even more powerful.

2. Symbolism

• The Fish’s Scars and Fishing Lines: These symbolize survival, endurance, and past struggles. They show that the fish has fought and escaped many times before, making it a symbol of resilience.
• The Rainbow Imagery: Toward the end of the poem, the speaker notices a rainbow in the boat, formed by the oil on the water. This is a key moment of transformation, as it represents a shift in perception. What was once just a fishing trip has turned into something more profound, leading to the speaker’s decision to let the fish go.
• The Boat as a Small World: The poem’s setting—a “little rented boat”—creates a contained space where this moment of realization occurs. The boat becomes a metaphor for the speaker’s mind, which is gradually expanding in understanding.

3. The Role of Sound and Rhythm

Bishop’s use of language mirrors the quiet, reflective tone of the poem. There is no clear rhyme scheme, but the flow of the poem feels natural and contemplative. The rhythm slows down when the speaker is carefully observing the fish, allowing the reader to take in every detail.

At the end, the repeated phrase “rainbow, rainbow, rainbow” breaks the established rhythm, signaling an emotional climax. This repetition emphasizes the moment of revelation, making it feel like a burst of sudden understanding.

4. Tone and Mood

The tone of the poem shifts subtly but significantly throughout:

• At the beginning, the tone is observational and detached. The speaker is simply describing what they see.
• As the poem progresses, admiration and respect build, and the mood becomes more reflective.
• At the end, there is a sense of enlightenment and triumph—not because the fish was caught, but because the speaker has reached a deeper understanding.

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Philosophical and Psychological Interpretations

1. The Fish as a Reflection of the Speaker

Some interpretations suggest that the fish is a mirror of the speaker’s own struggles. The way the fish carries its past battles may symbolize the weight of experiences we all carry. The decision to release the fish could be seen as an act of self-recognition, a moment where the speaker acknowledges their own past and chooses to move forward with a new perspective.

2. The Idea of Mercy and Ethical Choices

The speaker’s ultimate decision to let the fish go raises questions about human relationships with nature. Instead of asserting dominance over the fish, the speaker chooses compassion. This moment of mercy suggests that true power lies not in control, but in understanding and respect.

The Fish by Elizabeth Bishop Line by Line Explanation

Stanza 1: Catching the Fish

“I caught a tremendous fish / and held him beside the boat / half out of water, with my hook / fast in a corner of his mouth.”

• The speaker catches a large fish and holds it next to the boat.
• The fish is still partly in the water, and the hook is stuck in its mouth.

“He didn’t fight. / He hadn’t fought at all.”

• Unlike most fish that struggle when caught, this one does not resist.
• This surprises the speaker because they expect a fight.

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Stanza 2: Observing the Fish’s Appearance

“He hung a grunting weight, / battered and venerable / and homely.”

• The fish is heavy and makes a faint grunting noise.
• “Battered” means it has been through many struggles, and “venerable” suggests it is old and worthy of respect.
• “Homely” means plain or ugly, indicating that the fish does not look impressive at first.

“Here and there / his brown skin hung in strips / like ancient wallpaper, / and its pattern of darker brown / was like wallpaper: / shapes like full-blown roses / stained and lost through age.”

• The fish’s skin is peeling in places, like old wallpaper coming off a wall.
• The pattern on its skin resembles faded roses, which makes the fish seem aged and weathered.

“He was speckled with barnacles, / fine rosettes of lime, / and infested / with tiny white sea-lice, / and underneath two or three / rags of green weed hung down.”

• The fish has barnacles and small white sea lice on its body, which shows that it has lived in the water for a long time.
• Pieces of green seaweed are hanging from it, emphasizing its rough and natural appearance.

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Stanza 3: The Fish’s Gills and Insides

“While his gills were breathing in / the terrible oxygen / —the frightening gills, / fresh and crisp with blood, / that can cut so badly—”

• The fish is struggling to breathe outside the water.
• The gills, which keep it alive in the water, are now exposed and vulnerable.
• The speaker notes that gills are sharp and can cut easily.

“I thought of the coarse white flesh / packed in like feathers, / the big bones and the little bones, / the dramatic reds and blacks / of his shiny entrails, / and the pink swim-bladder / like a big peony.”

• The speaker imagines what the fish looks like on the inside.
• Its flesh is described as “packed in like feathers,” suggesting a layered texture.
• The organs are colorful, with reds and blacks standing out.
• The swim bladder (an organ that helps the fish stay afloat) is pink and shaped like a peony flower, making it seem delicate.

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Stanza 4: The Fish’s Eyes

“I looked into his eyes / which were far larger than mine / but shallower, and yellowed, / the irises backed and packed / with tarnished tinfoil / seen through the lenses / of old scratched isinglass.”

• The fish’s eyes are big but do not seem deep or expressive.
• They are yellowish and look like they have tinfoil behind them, making them appear dull and metallic.
• The speaker compares them to old isinglass (a type of material used in windows), emphasizing that they are cloudy and worn.

“They shifted a little, but not / to return my stare. / —It was more like the tipping / of an object toward the light.”

• The fish does not look back at the speaker; instead, its eyes move slightly like an object reflecting light.
• This makes the fish seem distant and unaware of its situation.

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Stanza 5: The Fish’s Scars and History

“I admired his sullen face, / the mechanism of his jaw, / and then I saw / that from his lower lip / —if you could call it a lip—”

• The speaker begins to admire the fish’s features, particularly its jaw, which is strong and mechanical.
• The phrase “if you could call it a lip” shows the speaker’s attention to detail and how they are analyzing the fish closely.

“grim, wet, and weaponlike, / hung five old pieces of fish-line, / or four and a wire leader / with the swivel still attached, / with all their five big hooks / grown firmly in his mouth.”

• The fish’s mouth contains multiple old fishing lines and hooks.
• This means it has been caught before but managed to escape each time.
• The hooks have become part of the fish, growing into its flesh.

“A green line, frayed at the end / where he broke it, two heavier lines, / and a fine black thread / still crimped from the strain and snap / when it broke and he got away.”

• Each of these fishing lines tells a story of the fish’s past struggles and survival.
• The frayed ends show that the fish broke free from previous captors.

“Like medals with their ribbons / frayed and wavering, / a five-haired beard of wisdom / trailing from his aching jaw.”

• The old hooks and lines are compared to medals of honor, as if the fish has earned them through endurance.
• The fish’s “beard of wisdom” suggests experience and resilience.

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Stanza 6: The Speaker’s Realization

“I stared and stared / and victory filled up / the little rented boat,”

• The speaker keeps looking at the fish, and suddenly, they feel a sense of victory.
• However, this victory is not about catching the fish—it is about understanding and respecting it.

“from the pool of bilge / where oil had spread a rainbow / around the rusted engine / to the bailer rusted orange, / the sun-cracked thwarts, / the oarlocks on their strings, / the gunnels—until everything / was rainbow, rainbow, rainbow!”

• The speaker notices a rainbow in the boat, created by oil on the water.
• The rainbow becomes a symbol of enlightenment, change, and beauty in an unexpected place.
• The repetition of “rainbow” suggests an overwhelming emotional realization.

“And I let the fish go.”

• In a moment of understanding, the speaker decides to release the fish.
• Instead of keeping it as a prize, they choose to respect its survival and let it live.