Pichayathida

Siriwechdaruk (Bee) 1204

On Nantucket

In the poem Nantucket, the diction reveals the incorporation of intelligence into the

poem and accentuates that Williams is a Metaphysical Poet by using word play. Nantucket is

a poem written by William Carlos Williams in 1934. The poem describes the image of a hotel

room within Nantucket, an island and a famous vacation spot in the US. From a line within

the poem stating that a glass pitcher, the tumbler / turned down (7-8), it was shown that

Williams had used the word tumbler instead of the word glass which is simpler. Another

line that could be interpreted in two different ways due to the diction is a key is lying... (9).

With the usage of the word tumbler despite that the simpler word glass exists, two

drastically different images could be given. One of the reasons to be used to explain the usage

of the word tumbler is the practical concern of Williams. Due to the mentioning of the

word glass twice before the word tumbler, Williams used the word tumbler instead in

order to avoid over-repetition and the image that is meant to be is the image of an upside-

down glass. On the contrary, the word tumbler could be used to express an entirely

different image, which is the piece within the lock that holds the bolt and lock it. It was stated

that the tumbler is turned down, meaning that the lock is intact. Another word that could be

used to express two different images is the word lying that describes the key. The word

lying could be the direct, physical description of the key, stating that the key is merely

lying on the bed. In contrast, the word lying could be used to indirectly describe the key

that it is false or unfitting for the lock, which ties back to the turned down tumbler or the

locked lock. The alternative meanings accentuate the incorporation of intelligence within the

poem and create more depth to the poem. The diction chosen could give out two drastically

different images and meaning to the poem, making the poem ambiguous and affect the

overall theme of the poem by making it ambiguous too. Also, it reflects the Metaphysical

Poet self of Williams through the wits and intelligence in word choice.