A Man Said to the Universe

Crane’s poem fits into many genres, including lyric, narrative, parable, and epigram. The poem qualifies as a lyric because lyric poems are short and express some of the beliefs and ideas of the poet. In his lyric, Crane communicates his idea about the relationship between humankind and the world. The poem could be a narrative since it tells a story about a man, the universe, and their interaction. As this story conveys a lesson about a person’s place in the world, the poem fits into the parable category as parables are simple stories that aim to teach the reader something about life. Finally, the poem meets the criteria for an epigram since it conveys a brief, surprising statement; it is possible to read it as an ironic quip about the universe and the role humans play in it.

The speaker’s role is not big in Crane’s poem. As the speaker comes across as an omniscient third-person narrator, the speaker could be anyone, so one can simply refer to the speaker as they/them. The main job of the speaker is to stay out of the way and only appear to help illustrate the story, or conversation, between the man and universe. These are the two main characters, which means Crane uses the literary device of personification, because he gives human traits to the universe—which is how the universe can respond to the man.

Line 1 belongs to the speaker, as the speaker sets up the action when they declare, “A man said to the universe.” The tone is blunt. There is no indirect diction or puzzling syntax. What’s taking place is clear: A man is saying something to the universe.

The man says, “Sir, I exist!” (Line 2). Like the speaker, the man uses a frank tone. The man is not obfuscating his message; he does not bury his statement beneath symbols or metaphors. The man exists—he is alive—and he tells the universe this forthrightly. The presence of "sir" (Line 2) introduces a formal element to the man’s tone. The man is respectful and addresses the universe in a dignified manner. The "sir" (Line 2) also reveals the gender of the universe since a man is a sir. The gender element adds to personification since humans have gender, not the universe. Here, the universe is assigned a gender by the man speaking to it, and one that reflects his own gender. Finally, the exclamation mark indicates the man is speaking in an excited tone. The man is not whispering that he exists or announcing his existence in an even keel voice. The man is shouting or proclaiming his presence, so the man is proud or happy that he is alive.

The universe’s tone is contrary. The universe counters the man’s loud declaration of existence: “‘However,’ replied the universe” (Line 3). Here, the tone is somewhat elusive. The one-world reply is mysterious. It alerts the reader that the universe is about to go against the man’s proclamation but to find out how the universe’s response undercuts the man’s belief, the reader must move on to the next two lines. Midway through this short poem, Line 3 brings suspense and tension to the poem.

Line 3 also reinforces the objective, supporting role of the speaker, who says, “[R]eplied the universe[.]” Like a narrator in a story or novel, the poem's speaker is just here to keep the story moving; they have no discernable personality or preferences. Impartial, the speaker is not on the side of the man or universe. The speaker is just here in the poem to note the action, so they only say a total of nine words.

Line 4 picks up where Line 3 ended as the universe says, “The fact has not created in me[.]” As with Line 3, Line 4 is not a complete thought. There is suspense and mystery. Once again, the reader knows the universe is antagonizing the man, but it is still unclear what the universe feels. However, with Line 4, there is a point of agreement between the man and universe. The universe supports the man’s point that he exists, which is why the universe calls it a “fact” (Line 4). The word "fact" (Line 4) advances the blunt tone of the poem, as facts proper are straightforward and should not require much debate. For example, it is a fact that the American Civil War started in 1861. Whatever a person thinks about the Civil War, it is hard to question the fact that the war formally began in 1861. Like the man, the universe is confident and sure the man exists.

However, the fact that the man is on earth has not instilled in the universe “[a] sense of obligation” (Line 5). Now the thought is complete, and the tone is both direct and abstract. The universe tells the man there exists no duty towards him. At the same time, it is not entirely clear what this lack of duty entails. It is up to the reader to infer what it is the universe is not obliged to do.

The poem carries a sharp, harsh tone. There is not a lot of room for feelings and emotions, so perhaps the universe does not feel responsible for the man’s life. Whether the man lives or dies, whether his life is happy or sad, the universe’s cold, contrary tone makes it logical to argue the universe does not care. Yes, people exist, but people should not expect the universe to worry if their lives are wonderful and long or miserable and short. In the poem, the universe is not an empathetic or benevolent character: it is indifferent to humans.