KEEPING QUIET

1. Poetic Summary and Explanation of Lines

Summary of the Poem:

Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda is a meditation on the importance of introspection, peace, and unity in a chaotic world. The poet suggests that everyone should take a moment to pause, reflect, and remain silent, encouraging a brief respite from the hustle of everyday life. This moment of quiet would foster a sense of unity among people and allow them to connect on a deeper, more peaceful level, transcending barriers of nationality, language, and profession. By keeping quiet, the poet believes that humans can reevaluate their actions, avoid destruction, and live harmoniously with each other and the natural world.

Explanation of Lines:

• “Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still.”
  The poet suggests a collective pause, symbolized by counting to twelve, perhaps referencing the twelve hours of a clock or months of the year, urging unity and silence.

• “For once on the face of the Earth, let’s not speak in any language...”
  He calls for silence, transcending language barriers, suggesting that silence can communicate universally, bridging differences.

• “It would be an exotic moment without rush, without engines.”
  The poet envisions a rare moment of stillness, free from noise and the rush of daily life, where humanity can experience a break from its mechanized existence.

• “Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales...”
  The poet suggests that humans should stop harming nature. Here, fishermen are symbolic of those who exploit the environment without considering the consequences.

• “Those who prepare green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire, victory with no survivors...”
  He speaks against violence and warfare, which lead to destruction and loss. This plea encourages a pause in destructive activities to allow for reflection.

• “Perhaps a huge silence might interrupt this sadness of never understanding ourselves and of threatening ourselves with death.”
  Silence would offer a moment for self-reflection, enabling individuals to confront their own sadness, and the perpetual cycle of threats to life through conflict.

• “And you keep quiet and I will go.”
  The poet’s final words emphasize personal introspection. Here, he distances himself, implying that silence and peace are choices each individual must make for themselves.

2. Themes and Sub-themes

• Main Theme: Peace and Introspection
  The poem advocates for inner peace, calling for a pause from life’s hectic pace to reflect on one’s actions and find harmony within oneself and with nature.

• Sub-themes:

  • Unity and Solidarity: The poet calls for a moment of global unity, transcending language and cultural barriers.

  • Environmental Preservation: He warns against humanity’s exploitation of nature and calls for a cessation of harmful practices.

  • Anti-War Sentiment: Neruda criticizes the devastation caused by war and urges people to abandon violence for peaceful coexistence.

  • Self-Reflection and Awareness: The poem encourages individuals to look inward and understand themselves, addressing the root causes of sadness and suffering.

3. Poetic Devices

• Symbolism:

  • “Count to twelve”: Represents a complete cycle (like hours or months), symbolizing unity and the universal passage of time.

  • “Fishermen” and “whales”: Symbolize the relationship between humans and nature, with fishermen representing exploitation and whales symbolizing nature’s innocence.

• Imagery:

  • “Without rush, without engines” creates a peaceful, serene image of stillness, encouraging readers to imagine a world without noise.

  • “Fishermen in the cold sea” and “wars with gas, wars with fire” paint vivid scenes that evoke humanity’s destructive habits.

• Alliteration:

  • “Wars with gas, wars with fire” uses alliteration to emphasize the destructive nature of warfare.

• Repetition:

  • “Let’s not” and “without” are repeated, reinforcing the desire to stop and rethink certain actions.

• Personification:

  • The Earth is given human qualities, as if it too could benefit from a period of silence and reflection.

• Metaphor:

  • “Victory with no survivors” serves as a metaphor for the futility of war and destruction, where no one truly benefits.

4. Mood and Tone

• Mood:
  The poem’s mood is contemplative, creating a sense of calm as the poet reflects on the need for silence and stillness in the world. It evokes feelings of peace and introspection, urging readers to join the poet in this moment of quiet.

• Tone:
  The tone is reflective and earnest. Neruda’s tone is also slightly critical of human behavior, as he urges readers to adopt a gentler, more harmonious approach to life.

5. Message or Moral

The poem’s message is a call for peace, unity, and self-reflection. Neruda emphasizes that silence and introspection are essential for personal and global harmony. He urges readers to stop harmful actions, reconsider their impact on nature and each other, and choose a path of peaceful coexistence. By advocating a pause from war and environmental destruction, Neruda conveys the idea that understanding and peace can only emerge from within.

6. Characters and Speaker

• Characters:
  No specific characters are present in the poem, but the poet makes references to “fishermen” and “those who prepare wars,” representing individuals involved in environmental destruction and conflict.

• Speaker (Poet):
  The speaker is Pablo Neruda himself, a reflective, socially-conscious voice advocating for a universal pause. His tone is instructional yet gentle, encouraging readers to adopt silence and stillness as paths to deeper understanding.

7. Context and Background Information

Pablo Neruda (1904–1973) was a Chilean poet known for his passionate writings about politics, peace, and social justice. Written in the context of the Cold War era, Keeping Quiet reflects his concerns about global conflicts and environmental degradation. Influenced by the principles of introspection and mindfulness, Neruda’s poem urges humanity to step back from its destructive habits, making it a timeless message on peace, unity, and environmental awareness.

8. Additional Notes

• Symbols and Motifs:

  • Silence and Stillness: Silence is a recurring motif, symbolizing peace and self-awareness.

  • Counting to Twelve: The act of counting represents unity and completeness, suggesting that a momentary pause could lead to profound change.

• Keywords:

  • “Sadness,” “threatening,” “quiet,” “exotic moment”—these words reinforce the contrast between the current state of the world (violence and destruction) and the peaceful vision Neruda advocates.

Master Passage

In Keeping Quiet, Pablo Neruda urges humanity to embrace a moment of silence and introspection to foster peace, unity, and environmental harmony. He suggests that if everyone paused to reflect, putting aside differences of language, culture, and profession, it could create an “exotic moment” of togetherness. The poet envisions a world where people momentarily stop their rush and harmful activities, including environmental exploitation and warfare, to contemplate their actions. This silence, he believes, would enable individuals to confront their own sadness and the self-destructive nature of their lives. By advocating non-violence and peace, Neruda emphasizes the importance of mindful living and self-awareness. His message is a universal call for empathy, urging people to rethink their role in the world and choose a path of harmony with both nature and each other.