Analysis- Dog

Dog

BY LAWRENCE FERLINGHETTI

Alicia Hillier

The dog trots freely in the street

and sees reality

and the things he sees

are bigger than himself

and the things he sees

are his reality

Drunks in doorways

Moons on trees

The dog trots freely thru the street

and the things he sees

are smaller than himself

Fish on newsprint

Ants in holes

Chickens in Chinatown windows

their heads a block away

The dog trots freely in the street

and the things he smells

smell something like himself

The dog trots freely in the street

past puddles and babies

cats and cigars

poolrooms and policemen

He doesn’t hate cops

He merely has no use for them

and he goes past them

and past the dead cows hung up whole

in front of the San Francisco Meat Market

He would rather eat a tender cow

than a tough policeman

though either might do

And he goes past the Romeo Ravioli Factory

and past Coit’s Tower

and past Congressman Doyle

He’s afraid of Coit’s Tower

but he’s not afraid of Congressman Doyle

although what he hears is very discouraging

very depressing

very absurd

to a sad young dog like himself

to a serious dog like himself

But he has his own free world to live in

His own fleas to eat

He will not be muzzled

Congressman Doyle is just another

fire hydrant

to him

The dog trots freely in the street

and has his own dog’s life to live

and to think about

and to reflect upon

touching and tasting and testing everything

investigating everything

without benefit of perjury

a real realist

with a real tale to tell

and a real tail to tell it with

a real live

              barking

                         democratic dog

engaged in real

                      free enterprise

with something to say

                             about ontology

something to say

                        about reality

                                        and how to see it

                                                               and how to hear it

with his head cocked sideways

                                       at streetcorners

as if he is just about to have

                                       his picture taken

                                                             for Victor Records

                                  listening for

                                                   His Master’s Voice

                      and looking

                                       like a living questionmark

                                                                 into the

                                                              great gramaphone

                                                           of puzzling existence

                 with its wondrous hollow horn

                         which always seems

                     just about to spout forth

                                                      some Victorious answer

                                                              to everything

“Dog” written by Lawrence Ferlinghetti is strongly believed to be based on the author himself and his best friend Homer. Although it is said to “never judge a book by its cover”, and this piece of literature is a prime example since it contains a more in depth meaning in terms of societal and political beliefs.

At the very beginning of the poem Lawrence Ferlinghetti states “The dog trots freely in the street and sees reality”. This quote refers to the innocence and freedom that the dog has, and how it may observe and view the world from a different perspective than humans.  Also notice the contrast methods Ferlinghetti uses while talking about what the dog sees in the streets in comparison with what the human sees. For example someone walking on the street might see “Drunks in doorways”, meanwhile the dog would see “Fish on Newsprint” or “Ants in holes”.

A dog has a totally different perspective on the world than we do, and perhaps observes more than we do. This is illustrated through the slight tone change following the discussion on policemen; a dog doesn’t necessarily dislike them but simply has no use for them. It is very evident later on in the poem that the dog is walking in San Francisco due to the diction used. Also, the repetition of the same letter in a sentence is very eye catching in this literature for example "cats and cigars"and "poolrooms and policemen".  

When Congressman Doyle is mentioned the diction sets a more serious or gloomy mood. He does so through using the words “Depressed” “Absurd”. Congressman Clyde Doyle worked for the “House Un-American Activities Committee” in the 1950’s and the purpose of this committee was essentially to investigate American citizens who were believed to be communists or support/participate in communist activities. Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s opinion is expressed through the dog as quotes that “He will not be muzzled”, yet shows the dog’s innocence using “Congressman Doyle is just another fire hydrant to him”.

Finally, “Victor Records” is and allusion to the “Victor Talking machine Company” which produced phonographs and phonographic records. Their logo featured a dog looking into a phonograph with a confused look with the words “His Master’s Voice” below.  The last few lines in the poem are all referring to the dog’s confusion, this may connect to how Lawrence Ferlinghetti views the modern world. In conclusion I believe the main theme of this poem is that everyone will always have a different perspective on a given situation.