English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 8

English - Essay Example The major divide that Reid draws is that between the conformist and adventurous outlooks. The curiosity of the cats and the laid-back disposition of the dogs are what serve as the general imagery of the poem through which the poet tries to demonstrate how an adventurous spirit could make a lot of difference while one is alive. The poet executes a cynical tone towards the conventional ideas of people towards the business of living. This serves the purpose of striking the point hard with crude persuasive power. The first couple of lines, â€Å"Curiosity may have killed the cat; more likely/ the cat was just unlucky†¦Ã¢â‚¬  are in fact indicative of the poet’s attempt to question the conventions. Reid explores the many possibilities that would take off from disapproval of a set belief. The moral tales that dissuade young minds from exploring the possibilities of life away from the much-trodden paths would make their lives boring and devoid of any essence, as the poet reveals. Reid compares the lives of the adventurous cats and the incriminating dogs and observes irreverently that the dogs are restricted to â€Å"†¦doggy circles/ where well-smelt baskets, suitable wives, good lunches/ are the order of things, and where prevails/ much wagging of incurious heads and tails†. The cynicis m and sarcasm that define the poem are best revealed here. The imagery of the poem is vivid. It makes use of the metaphorical lives of cats and dogs as the general image, but also explores the small details from everyday life to talk in both descriptive and figurative terms. The most striking image is that of â€Å"the other side of the hill†. Though this can remain an abstract image, the idea of adventure in a cat’s life, thereby our lives too, is best represented through this pictorial reference. The life on the other side of the hill could either be an â€Å"idyll† or â€Å"hell†, but one could find it out for sure only by being there. Whatever be the result of one’s