Assignment 3 10/7

In Richard Brautigan’s poem “All Watched over by Machines of Loving Grace” is a complex poem with evidence that there is both an anti-technology and pro-technology tone in the poem.

            The anti-technology tone in the poem comes in the perceived meaning behind certain lines and the allusions to certain objects or ideas. In each stanza of the poem he refers to a mixture of computers and nature, “cybernetic meadow”, “cybernetic forest”, and “cybernetic ecology”, Brautigan seems to be referring to a fake computer filled world that humans created for themselves, much like a virtual world. There is also a line where he writes, “where we are free of our labors”, this could be Brautigan imagining a future where computers do all the hard work and humans relax. He could be seeing a future where humans have lost a sense of delayed gratification when he writes “and the sooner the better!”, right now, please!”, and “it has to be!” He also has two lines, “and all watched over/by machines of loving grace.”, at the end of the poem. This seems to be referring to something along the lines of a artificial defense system, like in I, Robot, or Terminator, where robots replace humans as peace keepers.

            There is also evidence that Brautigan had a pro-technology tone in his poem. He continuously has images of animals living peacefully alongside of machines merged into their habitat. In his poem he writes, “where mammals and computers live together in mutually programming harmony like pure water touching clear sky.” It draws a vivid picture of a clean world where computers enhance our lives and help preserve the beauty of our planet. Brautigan writes, “and joined back to nature to return to our mammal brothers and sisters,” like he’s picturing a future where we can connect more with nature through computers.

            I think that the anti-technology tone is more convincing because the poem plays more on the fears we have of the rapidly advancing technology we are creating. When I read this poem I could picture things from bad sci-fi movies, where a super computer-like big brother is always watching us humans through mechanical animals or other devices.