The Juggler Richard Wilbur Summary
Humans often overlook the beauties in life that seem ordinary and common, but are actually magnificent, such as humans’ ability to break boundaries previously considered unbreakable. In “The Juggler” by Richard Wilbur, the speaker employs detailed imagery and a praising tone in order to express the speaker’s admiration towards multitaskers and his criticism for the lack of recognition they recieve. The speaker admires the juggler’s talent of controlling multiple objects at once, and does so through imagery appealing to sight. While juggling, the juggler manages to perform and complete the act without dropping a single ball. The speaker compares the balls to heaven and describes the juggler’s flawless act of controlling the heavens, saying
“He reels the heavens in, landing it ball by ball” (17-18). Unlike the audience, who may not ponder the talent required to multitask, the speaker vocalizes his fascination and reverence for the juggler. For some, taking on more than one task or emotion is near impossible without feeling overwhelmed, yet the juggler defies limits without a complaint. In addition to juggling, the juggler is praised for his act of balancing numerous objects at once, as described in lines 20-23. The description of each object balanced on the juggler’s body and on the broom paints a picture for readers, allowing them to share the awe the speaker feels. Once again, the juggler defies the expectations that balancing a large object at a single point is futile by balancing not one, but three objects simultaneously. Thanks to the speaker precisely depicting the scene, the audience can respect the difficulty of the stunt that they may have otherwise not considered. The speaker also admires the juggler’s humility that accompanies each act, employing elegant word choice to set a praising tone when describing the juggler in order to accentuate the admirable feat. For instance, when the juggler catches the balls, the speaker remarks that he does so “with a gesture sure and noble” (16). In addition, the speaker relates that, after the act, the juggler simply “bows and says goodbye” (26). The speaker recognizes the juggler’s humility because he ends each act without causing a scene, rather than boasting and waiting for the crowd’s applause. Moreover, the juggler is aware that few are as skilled as he, yet he does not undermine the members of the audience. The speaker thus characterizes the juggler as humble and sincere, both of which are traits he presumably admires in a person. Along with the fondness the speaker holds for the juggler, he also expresses his unhappiness with the lack of acknowledgement the juggler receives. In the first stanza, he mentions how the audience often forgets the beauties of human capabilities and takes them for granted. In order to “shake up or gravity” (7), or to help the audience remember, he describes the juggler with meticulous detail. At the end of the poem, after the acts, the speaker shifts to remind the audience that, even if multitaskers lose some of their strengths in balancing and handling various tasks at once, they will remain as people who once defied expectations and exceeded limits. The criticism therefore reveals the speaker’s sympathy and affection for jugglers.
The speaker writes to bring attention to an aspect of life he feels people tend to overlook. Like the parents who work diligently in the background for their kids, the juggler does what is expected from his title, and reminds the onlookers that limits are not impossible to surpass.
“He reels the heavens in, landing it ball by ball” (17-18). Unlike the audience, who may not ponder the talent required to multitask, the speaker vocalizes his fascination and reverence for the juggler. For some, taking on more than one task or emotion is near impossible without feeling overwhelmed, yet the juggler defies limits without a complaint. In addition to juggling, the juggler is praised for his act of balancing numerous objects at once, as described in lines 20-23. The description of each object balanced on the juggler’s body and on the broom paints a picture for readers, allowing them to share the awe the speaker feels. Once again, the juggler defies the expectations that balancing a large object at a single point is futile by balancing not one, but three objects simultaneously. Thanks to the speaker precisely depicting the scene, the audience can respect the difficulty of the stunt that they may have otherwise not considered. The speaker also admires the juggler’s humility that accompanies each act, employing elegant word choice to set a praising tone when describing the juggler in order to accentuate the admirable feat. For instance, when the juggler catches the balls, the speaker remarks that he does so “with a gesture sure and noble” (16). In addition, the speaker relates that, after the act, the juggler simply “bows and says goodbye” (26). The speaker recognizes the juggler’s humility because he ends each act without causing a scene, rather than boasting and waiting for the crowd’s applause. Moreover, the juggler is aware that few are as skilled as he, yet he does not undermine the members of the audience. The speaker thus characterizes the juggler as humble and sincere, both of which are traits he presumably admires in a person. Along with the fondness the speaker holds for the juggler, he also expresses his unhappiness with the lack of acknowledgement the juggler receives. In the first stanza, he mentions how the audience often forgets the beauties of human capabilities and takes them for granted. In order to “shake up or gravity” (7), or to help the audience remember, he describes the juggler with meticulous detail. At the end of the poem, after the acts, the speaker shifts to remind the audience that, even if multitaskers lose some of their strengths in balancing and handling various tasks at once, they will remain as people who once defied expectations and exceeded limits. The criticism therefore reveals the speaker’s sympathy and affection for jugglers.
The speaker writes to bring attention to an aspect of life he feels people tend to overlook. Like the parents who work diligently in the background for their kids, the juggler does what is expected from his title, and reminds the onlookers that limits are not impossible to surpass.