American literature essay. Literary analysis of works and characters - Sykalo Evgen 2023

“Fishing on the Susquehanna in July”: Casting for Time: The River of Life, Memory, and the Elusive Present
Billy Collins

"Fishing on the Susquehanna in July" by Billy Collins is not only a poem about a fishing excursion. It's a contemplative investigation of memory, time, and the impermanent character of the present, with a strong metaphor for life's constant flow drawn from the Susquehanna River. Collins tosses his words into the abyss of memory like an experienced angler tossing his line, only to find the present glimmering just out of reach.

Using the River as a Time Metaphor: With its "slow, brown water" and "endless miles of sun-dappled banks," the Susquehanna River becomes a powerful representation of time's unrelenting passage. It whispers stories of lost summers and carefree hopes, bearing the weight of the past. The speaker, casting himself back into the river of time as he delivers his sentence, looks for reflections of his past self in the current ripples.

Memory as the Bait: Fishing itself turns into a metaphor for the process of remembering. "A minnow, wriggling silver in my palm," the bait, is a metaphor for the ephemeral experiences that we want to seize and treasure. The speaker casts in the hopes of catching a memory, a flawless image of a summer long gone, but the present eludes him like a slippery fish.

The Elusive current: A continual awareness of how ephemeral the current moment is throughout the poem, creating a sense of desire for it. The speaker acknowledges the beauty of the "sun-warmed stones" and the "sweet scent of honeysuckle," but he is unable to completely immerse himself in the moment because he is enmeshed in his own thoughts. The "now," akin to the fish, is perpetually elusive, glimmering just below the river's surface.

Characters as Fellow Travelers: Human connection is present throughout the poetry. "Shadows casting long on the water," or the other fishermen, offer a sense of companionship and shared experience. Even though they are brief and anonymous, these personalities serve as a reminder that we are not traveling through time alone. Casting our lines into the unknown, looking for connection and purpose in the ever shifting tides of life, we are all fellow travelers.

In conclusion, "Fishing on the Susquehanna in July" is a moving examination of the difficulties associated with remembering the past, present, and future. Collins skillfully conveys the bittersweet beauty of the human experience through metaphor and imagery. He reminds us that even if we might never fully understand the here and now, the process of looking for meaning and putting our lines into the life's river is itself a worthwhile adventure. Even if we might not succeed in catching the elusive fish of the present, the ripples of our quest teach us the value of rich memories, the delight of shared experiences, and the timeless beauty of the always running river of time.

Remember that this is only the beginning of your essay. You can delve deeper into each topic by examining particular instances from Collins's poem and by examining the language, themes, and images that are employed to illustrate these concepts. Additionally, you can think about adding your own interpretations and insights and making links to the works of other poets or philosophers. A constant tone and style should be used throughout your essay, and don't forget to credit your sources.