In my own Analysis and Interpretation of Rainer Maria Rilke’s Panther , the Poem is not only about confinement, it is also about the inability to imagine, the loss of the panther’s motivation.
Upon first reading the poem it is evident that the author, through detailed writing is describing and depicting a caged animal. the imagery is so good that you can vividly see the panther acting out these movements. The Author is definitely skilled at using diction. I think  he chose to use words such as Powerful and Mighty to give his readers a sense of power and potential. Here he is setting the mood for the next group of words. By using Cramped, Tensed, Arrested and Paralyzed, he can easily allow us to see the Panther’s limitations, the panther’s wasted potential.
The entire first quatrain is about the Panthers VISION. The vision of the cage and its bars. In the last stanza Rilke says that the panther no longer sees beyond the bars, that to him there is no world. To me, this says that he (the panther) has lost his imagination. However,  in the last quatrain theres a slight contradiction, where he goes on to say that at times, the panther has an image. I think that he does this intentionally to trick us and by “image” means a moment of clarity, like an epiphany or an enlightenment. I say enlightenment because he uses the word Curtain specifically, which as we all know is something typically used to close out the light, but can in turn also allow light to enter.  I also believe the author  leaves his audience with an ambiguous feeling about what the image itself was because he wants there to be multiplicity and various interpretations drawing from the reader’s own perspective and relevant experiences.
Perspective meaning, one of those “you see what you want to see depending on how you feel things” (in my case, i see myself stuck, not making necessary progress to get what i want, ultimately leading me to feel in despair and lack ambition.) Maybe this is why i see such a connection?
Furthermore, Rilke makes a reference to the  panthers movements. Comparing the panther’s stride, (the way the panther steps) and the pace to a ritual dance. I think he makes this comparison to let the readers understand the panther’s natural instinct to want to move. Rilke also mentions the panthers will, in this case, the desire to be free, free to move.  Now going back to the panthers image and how it “plunges into the heart and is gone”, here is where i think Rilke is telling us he has lost his drive. I associate this rush and plunge of thoughts and images in my own personal life as inspiration. The word “gone” leads me to come to  the conclusion that the panther just disregards this emotion because he has grown accustomed to being confined; that he no longer wants to be free, because he can no longer imagine the world on the outside.
He has basically, settled into prison.
The in depth look at the word choice for “The Panther” offered in this post was able to give me a better understanding of Rilke’s intentions. At first read, I didn’t look at this poem as an issue of motivation. Upon further investigation with the aid of the post it made more sense to me as to why the character was chosen to be a panther. His/Her explanation for the use of “curtain” (line 9) was as interesting one because at first, I paid it no mind. But as with most short poems, there is more than meets the eye with word choice. The connection to the opening of curtains to enlightenment offered a more clear understanding of the last quatrain. On the surface, the poem visits a man defeated & restricted. This post puts the pieces together and creates a deeper meaning that sheds light on words like “Paralyzed” and “arrested” .
Deicy’s experience reading bxicefire’s post highlights an important technique for us to consider this semester, namely that bxicefire’s attention to the words used in the poem makes this post really enlightening. It helps pinpoint how the poem conveys meaning. Of course, we have to understand the words the same way, but this gives us insight into where the meaning happens, and which words carry the meaning in the poem.
I like how the author, Maria Rilke made a reference to the black panther movement. My knowledge of American history and African-American history and this poem helps me picture the black panther movement. This movement was important because of its effect on the United States and the civil rights of African-Americans. When she describes the panther’s will, it helps me understand the black panther movement even more. The way they fought for equality makes me realize the “panther” movement is a perfect name for this group of people that had a will to overcome racial boundaries. Being an African-American, Rilke’s word choice in this poem increased my pride in my culture. Words like “powerful” and “mighty” make me understand my culture even more.
I am glad mherbert1000 pointed out the reference to the Black Panther Movement, i had completely missed the connection there and i can see how the poem ties in to oppression and confinement in the times of civil rights reform. Thanks for such an interesting point of view.
When exactly did the Black Panther Party begin? It’s an interesting reading of the images in the poem, but Rilke’s poem is from 1927. How could we instead make the connection between those two elements? What reading would lead from one to the other, but still keep the facts in order?
This is a interesting poem. This poem actually brought out the visual aspect of what is being told. I agree that Maria Rilke made reference to the black panther movement. The way the panther steps show a visual imagery of the panther walking and stepping vigorously around its cage. My perspective of the poem is that an animal (panther) is trapped in a cage and the panther tries to move around in its cage hoping to see the outside world again. However, the panthers will of fire burns no more when it looses its sight of outside the cage. The panther now reclaims itself behind the bars as its domain.