The Fish

Throughout “The Fish,” Bishop uses imagery of war and violence to communicate the essential struggle for animal life to sustain itself, particularly among humanity. She describes the fish as being unable or unwilling to put up a fight (Lines 5-6), yet she later describes him in terms of an honorable and war-weary veteran. Her penetrating human’s gaze notes the fish’s vulnerabilities, from his feather-like flesh (Line 28) and big and little bones (Line 29), to his “shiny entrails” (Line 31) and peony-like bladder (Lines 32-33). The gaze is a dissecting one, that projects forward to the eventual preparation of the fish as food.

However, the fish is not defenseless, and while examining the fish’s gills, she remarks that they have the power to “cut so badly” (Line 26) and wound her hands. The fish’s lips are described as “weaponlike” (Line 50), and the broken lines dangling from his mouth are “medals with their ribbons / frayed and wavering” (Lines 61-62). By the poem’s close, Bishop’s revelation of “victory” (Line 66) reinforces the association of the fish’s struggles as battles fought in a war, and one that once again defeats the human captor.