From reading an array of Theodore Roethke’s poems, one can begin to find certain patterns and themes that are prevalent throughout his work. The naturalistic style, evolutionary theme and his experience with depression all affected his work greatly.
As a child, Theodore spent most of his time in his father’s greenhouses. Here, he challenged his imagination and became fascinated with nature. From this he developed a creative writing style which intern blossomed into a naturalistic style of poetry. Each one of Roethke’s poems uses details of nature to portray different feelings and emotions. Roethke viewed and analyzed the world, seeing things that most of us neglect to ever see or experience. He would take something as minute as bacteria, slithery as a snake, or as big as a sloth and create a poem of personified imagery that forces the reader to experience the world through these creature’s eyes. In his poem “Minimal”, Roethke examines the life too small for the human eye to see. He incorporates the little creepers that affect us every day. From lice to the microscopic healing bacteria, Roethke persuades you to think of those “minimal” organisms that we often take for granted. By incorporating his naturalistic style and his internal connection to the land, the theme of individual evolution comes into play.
Roethke incorporates his ideas of individual evolution into many of his poems (Michelle Martin). In his poem, “I knew a woman,” not only does he talk of his attraction to a particular woman but also the ways in which he evolved internally throughout their encounter. In lines 2-3 in the second stanza, he talks of the ways in which this woman had changed him. His sensual imagery demonstrates his strong emotions. His personal link with nature also helps support this theme of evolution. In his poem “The Far Field”, Roethke talks of the struggles he faces and the internal growing that occurs during many points in his life. At the end of his third stanza he writes, “I am renewed by death, thought of my death”. This suggest that he had gained the wisdom and appreciation for death that so many are afraid of and rarely understand.
Like many poets, Theodore Roethke went through many episodes of depression. Although he experienced bouts of severe lows and eccentric highs, these manic states had a large impact on his writing style along with many of his poems. One poem in particular, “Epidermal Macabre”, Roethke discusses the effects self-loathing has on an individual. By reading this, one begins to experience the negative feelings Roethke portrayed throughout this poem. Similar, in his poem “Open House”, Roethke seems to use his poetry as a means of releasing built up emotion. He lets his guard down and expresses himself for everyone to read. By sharing honest emotions, Roethke is able to connect with both the audience and himself on an even higher level than many of his other poems.
