Fighting for Freedom

The poem, "The Fish," by Elizabeth Bishop can have two meanings and interpretations but is more than likely a mixture of both. The poem tells the story of a fish being caught and let go again, which can literally mean that the this occurred. Bishop is known to write poems about nature and landscapes and the fish can possibly be just a story or something that she experienced. On the other hand the story of this fish could allude to something more personal. Bishop could be describing herself in that she has been held by society but somehow continues to be set free. The fish in the story is described as having in his mouth, "hung five old pieces of fish-line," showing that the fish was resilient and fought for his freedom (51). The most likely case is that the poem is a mixture of both nature and personal experience. Bishop probably did catch a fish and saw the results of many fights to survive in it and let the fish go because it reminded her of herself.