THE SECRET OF THE MACHINES
Rudyard Kipling
In this poem, the poet presents a critical exploration of the relationship between humans and machines, delving into their creation, capabilities, limitations, and the responsibilities associated with their use. The poem invites readers to contemplate the significance of machines in human society and the potential consequences of mishandling them.
The poet begins by describing the process of creating machines, symbolizing their formation from raw materials as being "melted in the furnace and the pit" and then meticulously shaped and designed. This depiction emphasizes the craftsmanship and expertise involved in their creation.
The poem highlights the versatility of machines by listing a wide range of tasks they can accomplish, using hyperbole to amplify their capabilities. Machines are portrayed as being able to pull, haul, push, lift, drive, print, plow, weave, heat, light, run, race, swim, fly, dive, see, hear, count, read, and write. This exhaustive list emphasizes their immense usefulness across various fields, showcasing their potential to enhance human productivity.
However, alongside the celebration of machines' abilities, the poet reminds us of their inherent limitations. Machines lack emotional understanding and the capacity for forgiveness, love, and pity. They are not built to comprehend lies. This emphasizes the responsibility and caution required in their operation. Even the slightest error in handling can have dire consequences, as indicated by the line "If you make a slip in handling us you die!" This serves as a cautionary reminder of the potential dangers involved in relying too heavily on machines without proper knowledge and care.
The poem's tone takes a reflective and cautionary stance, encouraging readers to remember the laws that govern machines and to approach them with respect and understanding. By personifying machines and comparing them to children of the human brain, the poet suggests that their existence is a product of human ingenuity and intelligence. The machines depend on humans for their creation, maintenance, and guidance.
The final stanza of the poem offers a moment of reflection, acknowledging that although machines may produce smoke that obscures the heavens temporarily, the smoke will eventually dissipate, allowing the stars to shine again. This serves as a metaphorical reminder that despite the power and utility of machines, they are ultimately subordinate to human intellect and control. It emphasizes the significance of human agency and the reminder that we are responsible for the consequences of our actions with regard to machines.
Overall, the poem provides a critical examination of the relationship between humans and machines. It celebrates their capabilities while warning of the potential dangers if mishandled or misused. By employing various figures of speech such as metaphor, personification, hyperbole, alliteration, and repetition, the poem engages the reader's imagination and invites contemplation on the role and responsibilities associated with the integration of machines into human society.
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Metaphor: The entire poem employs extended metaphor by comparing machines to human creations, specifically children of the human brain. This metaphorical comparison highlights the dependence of machines on human intellect and their lack of emotional understanding.
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Personification: The machines are personified throughout the poem. They are described as being "melted," "cast and wrought," "cut and filed," and "tooled and gauged to fit," suggesting that they undergo human-like processes. Furthermore, the machines are given human-like abilities such as pulling, hauling, pushing, lifting, and so on.
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Hyperbole: The poem uses hyperbole to emphasize the power and capabilities of machines. For instance, it states that the machines can "run and race and swim and fly and dive," which exaggerates their range of functions. The line "We will serve you four and twenty hours a day!" also emphasizes the unwavering dedication of machines.
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Alliteration: There are instances of alliteration in the poem, such as in the line "We can print and plough and weave and heat and light." The repetition of the initial consonant sounds adds rhythm and musicality to the line.
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Repetition: The repetition of the phrase "We can" throughout the poem serves as a form of repetition. It emphasizes the various abilities and functions of machines, creating a sense of accumulation and showcasing their versatility.