Introduction of the Poem:
This small forty - three line poem was first published in 1936 in the Yale Review. The same year it was collected in A Further Range. This poem is a criticism of modern civilization, chiefly its departmentalization and standardization. Through the workings of an ant the poet looks at the unconcern of modern man at what goes around him.
Summary of the Poem:
Lines 1 to 12:
This poem is a light satire on the present day mentality to standardise, specialize and departmentalize things in life as they are done in business offices and colleges and universities. To bring home the message of the poem to the readers the poet has used the allegory of ant with great effect. It is a warning that the ant - order, if bought into human life will kill the very spirit behind loving.
An ant, while going on its way on a table cloth, chanced to come across an insect, which was very much the bigger than the ant and was lying there sleeping. The ant was not the least surprised at the presence of the insect, because it had nothing to do with the likes of it. So much so that the ant hardly touched it and proceeded to perform the duty assigned to it.
But then this ant was not absolutely unconcerned. If in the course of its journey, it chanced to come across a member of the “enquiry squad” of the hive it would certainly report the matter to it. Here the poet jocularly says that this enquiry squad is curious that it even indulges in metaphysical questions pertaining to God, time and space.
In the present lines the poet mocks the regimentation of modern living.
Lines 13 to 32:
Here the poet continues to describe the behaviour of ants. They are indifferent not only to foreigners, but also to those of their own kind if the matter is out of their jurisdiction. Suppose an ant comes across a dead ant it will not stop to look at it. But then it will certainly report the matter to other ants with which it gets an opportunity for a tete - a - tete. Without doubt the latter will report the matters to their superiors at the court of the queen ant. Soon the news will go round and reach the Queen. The queen will issue the notice that Jerry Me Cormie the official supplier of food has died. The notice will order Janizary, the officer - in - charge of burials to bring the body of dead Jerry, and put in state on a leaf of calyx. It will further order that the dead body be wrapped in capital word as shroud or coffin - cloth. Lastly the body be embalmed with the juice of nettle.
Lines 33 to 43:
After a short while, the manager of funerals arrived on the scene took its official position. And then twirling its feelers randomly caught the dead by its middle, lifted it high in the air and carried it away from that place. There was no other ant idly standing and staring, because the burial of the dead was no one else's concern. The poet makes a comment on this situation and says that though it was discourteous, it was perfectly logical or we may say mechanical and correct.
Critical Appreciation of the Poem:
Introduction:
Like “West - Running Brook” and “A Hundred Collars,” “Departmental” too is light in tone and movement. The lines trip in easy, gay movement and the rhythms have the ring of playfulness. Indeed, the poem originally appeared with a substitute, “The End of My Ant Jerry” which is more in tune with the burlesque notes of the verses. However, the poem is not an exercise in burlesque comedy. It is a satire on orderliness, “a criticism of standardization.” It is a warning that the ant - order, if brought into the human way of existence, would kill the very spirit behind living.
Thought-Content:
The ant has a queer habit of by - passing everything big or small, even one of its own dead, unless it is to cross the antennae of another of the race. It always is on the move, hurried and business - like.
Ants are a curious race;
One crossing with hurried tread
The body of one of their dead
Isn't given a moment's arrest-
Seems not even impressed.
But, it appears the ant always reports about the death of one of its own to the higher up, for, soon there will be a number of ants carrying the dead one to some unknown destination:
And presently on the scene
Appears a solemn mortician;
And taking formal position,
With feelers calmly atwiddle,
Seizes the dead by the middle,
And heaving him high in air,
Carries him out of there.
No one stands round to stare.
It is nobody else's affair.
In the last line the “irony of regimentation in wryly pronounced.”
Satire and Criticism of Standardization and Discipline:
The poem, in the form of an ant - fable, is a satire and criticism of standardization and discipline. Ants are famed to be extremely disciplined and industrious. The poem warns us that ant - order should not be brought about among human beings. In the closing couplet the poet satirizes the ant order:
It couldn't be called ungentle
But how thoroughly departmental.
However, we must not commit the mistake of thinking that the poet is moralising in any way. The poem remains a satire from the first to the last. In the words of L. Thompson, the poem is “most easily considered as a burlesque of governmental bureaucracy (lettered and numbered) or of academic specialization in the structure of colleges and universities.” The concluding line wryly pronounces the irony of regimentation.
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