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The Naked and the Nude

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The Naked and the Nude Essay
Tolulope Olatunbosun The naked and the nude. Separate yet linked terms. Why then are these terms ‘separate’ when they are so often linked? In his poem, “The Naked and the Nude,” Robert Graves illustrates extreme distinction between these terms and their use while he develops his composition. Incorporating poetic devices, diction, and insight, Graves effectively manipulates the definitions and shows the reader how extremely different these terms are, despite their common substitutions. The diction Graves utilizes throughout the poem emphasizes the marked differences between the distinctive terms ‘naked’ and ‘nude’. “As synonyms should express, the same deficiency of dress or shelter, stand as wide apart as love from lies, or truth from art,” (lines 3 -6). Immediately, Graves demonstrates his interpretation of naked and nude by juxtaposing these terms being as different as “love from lies, or truth from art.” Nakedness is intimacy, nakedness is privacy, as love may be. In contrast, nudeness is secretive, nudeness suggests dishonorable behavior as lying always ensures. Love is uncompromising, pure and honest, while lies are the byproduct of poor virtues. Truth is firm, objective, and unyielding whereas art is opinionated, subjective, and dependent on user interpretation. Graves opposes the terms naked and nude as polar opposites, as he does concepts of love to lies, and truth from art.
The speaker demonstrates an abrupt change in tone in the following stanzas of his poem. Graves eulogizes a Goddess using the word “naked” in line 11 while he demeans nudity in lines 13-14 defining the nude as “sly” and “[held] with treasonable eye.” Such usages of diction denote the purity and lightness of nakedness, against the impurity and disdain for nudity. Despite a smooth, succinct stanza of praise for those that see nakedness (The Hippocratic eye will see – line 9), lines 13 – 14 demonstrate a defiant, cunning underlying tone to nudity. In regards to the physical world, nakedness is often the term coined for special moments of intimacy, or infancy. Nakedness is honesty, for the fact nakedness suggests confidentiality. Nakedness does not impose immoral sexual thrill in the way nudity does. On the other hand nudity is often used when defining a disdainful display of the human body. Nudity is sin. Nudity is a flagrant display of the body so as to condone immoral behavior, instead of the pure love nakedness implies. Clearly, the author addresses these bare forms of the anatomy as different in nature.
Graves makes efficient use of his succinct yet meaningful stanzas. Unlike many poems Graves’ composition does not make captivating use of imagery but instead, strong development and smooth progression of his interpretation stanza by stanza. Utilizing coherent distinctions, Graves establishes a clear difference between the two terms. Graves compels the reader to understand and consider the individual terms for their individuality and reason them accordingly.

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