Hi, I am in desperate need of assistance. Can anyone give me an idea of what they think this poem means? What is it's central theme, and how does the author use symbolism?

What do you think the Wall represents? Interpretations please:



The Great Wall by Patrick Lane

There is a moment on the wall when a man looks out
over the far horizon and wonders when
they will come. He does not know who they are.
The wall was built many years ago, long
before he was born and before his father was
born. All his life has been spent
repairing the wall, replacing the fallen
stones, clearing away the tough grass
that grows like fingers in the masonry.

Inside the wall the land is the same
as outside and once, when he was confused
by the hot wind, he could not remember
which side of the wall he lived on and he
has never forgotten the doubt of that day.
He has seen no one but his family for years.
They were given this work by someone
a long time ago or so his father said
but who it was he did not remember,
it was before his time.

But there comes a moment, there always does,
When a man stops his work, lays down his tools,
looks out over the dry brown distance
and wonders when they will come, the ones
the wall is meant for. At that moment
he sees between the earth and the sky
a cloud of dust like the drifting spores
of a puffball exploded by a foot.

He knows there is nothing to do but wait,
nothing he can do but stand on the wall. Everything
is in order, the wall as perfect as a man
can make it. It does not occur to him
that the cloud might only be a cloud of dust,
something the wind has raised out of nothing
and which will return to nothing. For a moment
he wonders what will happen when they come.
Will they honor him for his work, the hours
And years he has spent? But which side
Of the wall do they come from?
No one has ever told him what would happen.

He will have to tell his son, he thinks,
His wife. He wishes his father were alive
To see him coming, but he is not,
And his son, who has already learned,
The secrets of stone, is asleep.
It is a day to remember.
In all his life he has never been more
afraid, he has never been happier.

The man is preparing for danger-- the wall is meant to protect, but against what? Perhaps the enemy is within, perhaps it's all just a waste of time.

Finally, a cloud of dust appears, and the man can believe that a real enemy is approaching-- his life, and the lives of his ancestors and of his children have not been wasted-- the wall IS necessary, and he's on the right side of it. (or so he thinks.....)

pam

The wall might very well be a metaphor for religion?... maybe?..who knows, just a guess.

I tend to think that it's both a real and a metaphorical wall-- all in how deep you want to go in reading it.

pam

"The wall might very well be a metaphor for religion?... maybe?..who knows, just a guess."

One of my classmates thought the same thing. Although I couldn't make it fit:

"He has seen no one but his family for years."

How can you relate that to a religion?


I have 3 theories:

1. The author is describing the life of a career soldier.
2. The poem is about parenthood and parenting
3. The poem is about the Futility of Man and Man’s inconsequentiality


Any Ideas??? Feedback??

What about different cultures? People build there own walls by thinking their way is the right way and are not very open to listen to others. (this is where religion fits in as well). But they don't have a clue what they have built that wall for, since they don't know what the enemy is, and even if there is an enemy. They are just doing what their fathers did before them, and most likely they didn't have a clue either.