Page 2: The Doctor's Ritual and the Narrator's Imagination
The second page of Seamus Heaney's "Out of the Bag" delves deeper into the ritualistic aspects of the doctor's visits and the narrator's growing imagination. The poem continues to explore the symbolic significance of the doctor's actions and the childlike interpretation of these events.
The preparation of water for the doctor is described in sensory detail, emphasizing its importance in the ritual. The water is "Not plumping hot, and not lukewarm, but soft, / Sud-luscious, saved for him from the rain-butt." This description not only highlights the care taken in preparing for the doctor's visit but also subtly touches on the family's social status, as they use rainwater rather than tap water.
Example: The use of rainwater instead of tap water might indicate the family's rural location or lower economic status compared to the doctor.
The poem then focuses on the doctor's efficient and professional manner as he washes and dries his hands "hard and fast." His movements are described with precision, reinforcing the image of a man who is respected and admired by the family.
A significant moment occurs when the doctor turns his eyes upon the narrator. Heaney describes the doctor's eyes as "Hyperborean, beyond-the-north-wind blue," introducing a mythological reference that adds depth to the doctor's character.
Vocabulary: Hyperborean - In Greek mythology, referring to a race of people who lived beyond the North Wind in a land of perfect happiness.
This description suggests that the narrator sees the doctor as almost otherworldly, living a perfect existence beyond the understanding of ordinary people. It's a moment that hints at the narrator's growing awareness and curiosity about the adult world.
The poem then shifts to the narrator's imagination of what happens in the "locked room" where the doctor disappears. The imagery becomes more clinical and somewhat frightening, with descriptions of "steel hooks, chrome surgery tools, / And blood dreeps in the sawdust." This stark contrast to the earlier, more innocent descriptions suggests the narrator's developing understanding of the realities of childbirth and medical procedures.
Highlight: The shift from innocent wonder to more realistic, even frightening imagery marks a transition in the narrator's perspective, hinting at the loss of childhood innocence.
The use of color imagery, particularly the contrast between white (milk, ice, porcelain) and red (blood), further emphasizes this transition from innocence to a more complex understanding of life and death.
The poem ends this section with a powerful image of blood thickening "At the foot of each cold wall," creating a sense of the clinical and somewhat intimidating nature of medical procedures as imagined by the young narrator. This imagery stands in stark contrast to the earlier, more magical perceptions of the doctor and his bag, signaling a shift in the narrator's worldview.
