Gubbinal Case

In the poem, "Gubbinal", Stevens' purpose is to explain to his audience that they have the ultimate choice to "have it their way". He achieves this purpose by the unending use of metaphors throughout his poem. He wants people to understand that everyone is entitled to their own interpretation of everything around them. In this case, it is the sun. "That strange flower/Is just what you say/ have it your way" (Lines 1-3). Stevens is metaphorically comparing the sun to a flower then he informs the people that it is whatever they think it is. In this case it could be called a flower or the sun. Another example is, "That tuft of jungle feathers,/That animal eye,/Is just what you say." (Lines 6-8) Here, Stevens metaphorically compares the rays of the suns to a "savage fire" and the sun itself as an animal eye. By use of repetition he tells his audience, again, to "have it their way." The last example is, "That savage fire,/ That seed, have it your way." (Lines 9-11) Again, the sun is compared, metaphorically, to a savage fire and a seed. Once again, Stevens informs his audience to "have it their way". He wants the audience to understand that there is more than one way to looking at something. It all depends on the perception of the individual.