A Jelly-Fish

       “A Jelly-Fish” by Marianne Moore is a short, concise poem with a much deeper theme. Moore opens it with a juxtaposition of opposites, “visible, invisible, / a fluctuating charm” (1-2). This second line provides insight into the use these contrasting adjectives. The jellyfish shifts. It is unstable. It “quivers” (7). Thus, Moore employs this technique to portray the altering state of the jellyfish. Its “ fluctuating charm” (2) is seen again in Moore’s contrasting word choice of “opens / and it closes” (5-6). These lines also mimic the  movement of the jellyfish. This undulation is seen, not only in the word choice, but the structure of the poem as well. The lines alternate from no indentation to an indentation. By doing this, Moore further emphasizes the jellyfish’s swimming pattern.

      Another way Moore illustrates the swimming of the jellyfish is through the rhyme scheme. Moore rhymes lines 2 and 4 (“charm” and “arm”), as well as 6 and 8 (“meant” and “intent”). This variation highlights the changes in the jellyfish and human. The jellyfish is not the only creature in this poem that changes. The person begins with the intention of grabbing the jellyfish, which he then deserts.

The human and the jellyfish are also paralleled through movement. As the hand opens and closes, it imitates the manner in which the jellyfish swims.

     I was unsure how to take this poem. After reading it the first time, I thought Moore was referencing a human’s ever-changing, and sometimes fickle, desires. Just as the person in “Jelly-fish” gives up his plan to grab the jellyfish, many people abandon their dreams or ideas. I then read it a second time and thought a little more about the metaphorical use of the jellyfish. When one touches a jellyfish, they get stung. Perhaps, Moore uses this animal for more than what I initially assumed. A jellyfish is beautiful, yet harmful to the touch. What if its purpose was to exemplify the idea that not everything that is attractive and the one desires should be attained? Maybe it is a cautionary tale. I am still uncertain on this.