One of the goals, described in Ramizani’s headnote, of Wallace Stevens Poetic purpose is to “rediscover the earth.” The headnote also mentions Steven’s constant questioning of his works significance in relation to the rest of the world. The Planet on the Table looks to answer this never-ending question of individual artistic importance by describing the singular relationship between the poet and his poems. It explores the notion that art is important to the creator because it represent a feeling or a desire they had at the specific point and time. Stevens writes that the poet’s words “Were of a remembered time, Or of something seen that he liked.” He goes on to further construct this image of spiritual singularity the poet feels with his work by introducing the earthly symbol of the sun. “His self and the sun were one, And his poems, although makings of his self, were no less makings of the sun.” In this third stanza of the piece Stevens compares the natural singularity of the sun to the unadulterated individual expression of poems. The longevity of the words is not what is important; the value instead lies in the poet himself. The simple fact that the poet noticed something and decided to reflect and document it is the important outcome of writing it. The poet is one with his world when he is writing. The sun is one with the earth as it is it’s only source of light. Steven’s use of naturalistic themes helps the reader to redefine their place on earth as they read his piece.
To address the theme of Stevens “rediscover[ing] the earth”, in “The Planet on the Table,” the creation of poetry by the artist brings to mind the creation of earth and human beings by God. The sun symbolizes God, although not capitalized; it reflects the action of a higher power through the action of “making.” The character Ariel later adopts the title of higher power when he is identified as being one with the sun and his creation of poetry being equal to the sun’s makings of nature. The poetry serves as the people in the description in the last two stanzas. It is not important if the poem survives just as long as it has a memorable affect, stemming from the strength of the words; this is similar to the relationship between God and humans as their survival is not important as long as they fulfill the purpose for which they were created.
Another religious reading of this poem is to look at the poet as an extension of God. Stanza three illustrates this spiritual relationship, “His self and the sun were one / And his poems, although making of himself, / Were no less makings of the sun.” This quote reminds me of the relationship between God and his creatures (humans), people take credit for their work but it is essentially God’s work because he created the human who is a reflection of Him.
Stevens use nature imagery to communicate this idea of a higher power influencing creativity. There is nothing human related in this poem, save the action of creating poetry, which are easily applied to the spirit Ariel. Waste, welter, shrub, and sun, all images of nature supporting the ideas of “rediscover[ing] earth”. The sun acts as a human or a godlike figure, while shrub welter and waste, serve as creations or creatures.
This poem also reflects Steven’s proposal to believe in fiction, found in the headnote. Stevens presents this fiction with realistic ideas, making it more believable for the reader, even though it is understood to be fiction. The truth aspect of this fiction makes the poem more acceptable to the reader. This poem is open to interpretation; this is just what I gathered from engaging it.