HOW DOES TED HUGHES BRING OUT THE BRUTALITY OF

NATURE/DEATH/THE TRANSIENCE OF LIFE?

“CONTINUE THE BEGINNING.” in the poem, “Relic” by Ted Hughes, denotes

that Death marks the “continuation” of “the beginning”, and the vicious circle of

life goes on and on, signifying that creation and destruction are inevitable parts of

an ongoing, infinite cycle in the natural world and that there is no ultimate finality;

rather, there is renewal and transformation, thereby displaying brutality of death.

"Relic" by Ted Hughes is a free verse poem that explores the relentless cycle of

life and death in the natural world. The speaker contemplates the ocean as a

destructive force and a jawbone, which is a relic from a bygone era, possibly a

piece of pottery or artifact. The poem delves into the concept of the vicious circle

of existence, where everyone gets drawn in eventually and death marks a new

beginning, leaving the readers in the mood of intrigue and creating gory

impressions of death over life. Ted Hughes, in “Relic”, employs the theme of

death’s ruthlessness, symbolism, and form and structure to starkly portray the cycle

of creation and destruction. It makes the readers understand the tone of

contemplation and reminds us of the cruelty of death.

Ted Hughes' "Relic" vividly explores the theme of death's ruthlessness, providing

profound insights into death’s cruelty. Hughes explores the raw ferocity of nature

and the inevitability of death. The poem's imagery paints the sea as a merciless

entity where "crabs, dogfish, [are] broken by the breakers or tossed." Such diction

not only evokes a visceral scene of carnage but also underscores the sea's role as a

force of natural destruction. These powerful breakers, indifferent to the creatures

they rend apart, reflect the inherent violence of the life-death cycle. Impressively,

this brutality of the sea's force leaves an indelible mark on readers, thereby casting

beastly impressions of death, deepening the poem's exploration of death's ferocity.

The poem also vividly portrays the isolation of the underwater world. The “deeps”

of this world are “cold” and there, “camaraderie does not hold." This desolate

underwater realm is a powerful metaphor, encapsulating the heartless essence of

the natural order. The reference to the depths being "cold" not only denotes the

physical temperature but also underscores the emotional coldness and camaraderie,

symbolizing a harsh reality where survival becomes a solitary, fleeting struggle.

This leaves readers reflecting on the stark reality of nature's indifference to

individual suffering and reminds them of the gory nature of death over life. Hughes

delves into the brutality of the natural cycle with the motif of the jawbone. The

statement, “Eat and are finished and the jawbone comes to the beach,” captures the
essence of life’s impermanence. This line brings the cycle full circle: the jawbone,

once part of a living predator, now lies inert, symbolizing the transition from life to

death to an object of the past. It is a stark reminder of nature's impartiality and the

role each creature plays in this grand and brutal cycle, reinforcing the idea that

life's fleeting dominance is invariably followed by death. Consequently, it evokes

a somber recognition in the readers of life’s fleeting nature in the face of nature’s

inexorable march.

In Ted Hughes' "Relic," symbolism is deftly employed to illustrate the relentless

cycles of life and death in nature. Hughes vividly embodies death's inhumanity in

the relentless ocean. "broken by the breakers” or waves, that serve as harbingers of

destruction, reducing life to debris. The ocean’s symbolism of an unsympathetic

force frames the ocean as an unfeeling arbiter of life and death, powerfully

amplifying the overarching theme of nature's inhumanity, and the stark imagery

intensifies the harsh realities of mortality. It fosters an empathetic and

contemplative connection with the poem's thematic exploration of death's brutality.

The jawbone, once a tool of predation, now symbolizes the inevitability of death.

Transforming into a "cenotaph," it memorializes a life within nature's predatory

cycle. Hughes intricately captures the ephemerality of dominance in nature, where

every creature is locked in silent battles culminating in inevitable demise. The

jawbone's metamorphosis serves as a poignant reminder that in the cycle of

existence, life is inevitably followed by death, depicting nature's impartiality. The

jawbone becomes a poignant and empathetic symbol for the readers of the

relentless march of time and the inevitability of mortality. Hughes masterfully

portrays the cyclical nature of life, where significant roles dwindle into

obsolescence. The ouroboros motif, "Time in the sea [that] eats its tail," introduces

constant self-consumption. This symbol of the ouroboros, a serpent that devours its

own tail, conjures a sense of endlessness and self-consumption, symbolizing that

nature’s creatures are locked in a perpetual cycle where their end is inevitable, and

their purposes, once so vital, become futile. Thereon, suggesting that existence is

just a struggle for survival, where in the end, death is eventually met. This evokes

awe in the readers at nature's enduring power, thereby reflecting death’s harshness.

Ted Hughes utilizes form and structure in "Relic" to vividly illustrate the

ruthlessness of death over life. The title, "Relic," reflects the idea of something that

remains from the past, typically as a remnant or reminder of what once was, and

anticipates a reflection on the cyclical nature of life and death, preparing readers

for a profound exploration. The poem's shifting stanzas, from cinquain to sestet

and back, mirror the endless cycle of birth and death, eating and being eaten, that is

the fate of all life, evoking wonder and bewilderment in the readers. Written in free
verse, the poem's varying line lengths capture life's unpredictability and

vulnerability, intensifying the impact of its exploration of mortality. The rhymed

couplet in lines 4,5 emphasizes the absence of friendship in the wild, and the

"deeps" metaphorically and literally embody the cold and unfeeling nature of the

sea, instilling fear and isolation in readers. The poem's first and last lines, each

consisting of eight words, symbolize the cycle of life and death, where, in the end,

you are left with what you began with, creating a contemplative mood in readers.

The rotation of the number 8 also suggests the notation infinity, emphasizing this

ongoing, infinite cycle. Line 16's irony underscores the struggle for survival,

prompting somber introspection in the readers’ minds. The term "cenotaph"

connects the jawbone to countless unseen lives lost at sea, epitomizing the

ceaseless cycle of predation and highlighting the brutality of death. Personifying

the sea and time as eternal forces, the poem presents them as powerful architects of

nature's cycle. The sea's conscious "achievement" of remains symbolizes its role in

the grand scheme, evoking awe and reverence in the readers. Moreover in line 12,

time, likened to an ouroboros, reinforces the idea of all individuals being subject to

these immortal entities, thereby crafting a visceral depiction of the marine food

chain, emphasizing life's relentless cycle that eventually leads to death. The

repetition of plosive 'b' in ‘broken by the breakers’ and the recurrence of "jaws"

create rhythmic intensity, conveying nature's impending force and the inevitability
of death. Asyndeton in the list in line 11 suggests countless deaths, emphasizing

the ceaseless struggle for survival of all beings. Alliteration in phrases like "deeps

are cold" and "sea's achievement" creates a rhythm that echoes the repetitive nature

of life and death, while the assonance in "Nothing touches but, clutching, devours"

provides a dark musicality, connecting the sounds with the actions they describe,

enhancing the grim imagery of predation, and thereby strengthening the reader’s

grasp on the ruthless nature of life and death. Synecdoche is particularly striking,

as the "jawbone" represents the entirety of marine life, blurring the lines between

species and highlighting the universal struggle to live and the certainty of death,

immersing the reader in the grim atmosphere displayed in the poem.

CONCLUSION:

The reconnaissance of the poem, “Relic”, brings to the surface the utilization of the

theme of death’s ruthlessness, symbolism, and form and structure to arouse the

mood of pathos in the readers’ minds, highlighting the overwhelming nature of

death. “Relic” by Ted Hughes, written in free verse, delves into the relentless cycle

of life and death, portraying the ocean as a destructive force and the jawbone as a

symbol of life's impermanence. Hughes' exploration serves as a poignant reflection

for the readers, urging them to confront nature's indifference and the inevitable,

cyclic nature of life and death.