Diction And Symbolism In Old Couple By Charles Simic

The poem “Old Couple” by Charles Simic uses diction and symbolism to show the idea that it is necessary to accept the approaching of death and old age in order to fully enjoy the remaining days of life. In order to do this it is necessary to have a sense of honesty with yourself that death is unavoidable. . The poem starts off with narrator describing the observations being made of the old couple. The narrator makes the statement that “They’re waiting to be murdered, or evicted. Soon they expect to have nothing to eat. As far as I know, they never go out.” The language in this stanza seems to be very somber and detached. “Murdered” means the killing of another human unlawfully. The word “murdered” in the poem creates a sense of savagery, but

“Evicted” means to expel by legal process. The word “evicted” in the poem gives a sense of being unwanted. In the poem “evicted” is another thing that the couple is waiting. The word “evicted” gives a sense of being let go and having the ability to move one. By waiting to be “murdered” or “evicted” gives the sense that the couple is ready to accept death and move on from this world. Both of these things are caused by an outside force. It seems to be the acceptance of not having control over when or where their deaths will occur. In the next stanza the narrator starts to talk about the experience of death and the sensations that occur. The narrator states, “A vicious pain’s coming, they think. It will start in the head and spread down to the bowels. They’ll be carried off on stretchers, howling.” The description is a very vicious and dark interpretation of death through the “howling” and “A vicious pain’s coming” spreading all over the body. The word “howling” means an animal cry. In the poem it gives a sense of agony and distress. “Vicious” means a very violent or cruel. The word in poem gives a sense of torture and