The poem "Punishment" by Seamus Heaney was written in 1975 as part of the North anthology. It is part of Heaney's peat bog series, in which he describes Irish peat bogs and the various artefacts and remains that have been found in the peat bogs of Northern Europe. In these poems, the image of the bog is metaphorical of Heaney's Irish homeland, particularly Northern Ireland. Written during the bloodiest year of the Irish Troubles, “Punishment” delves into this metaphor to examine relationships during that time period. In “Punishment,” the poetic character observes the body of a swamp woman, the Windeby Girl. She has a noose around her neck and as she looks at her corpse she imagines the context in which she was hanged. Throughout this first section of the poem, Heaney creates a very empathetic tone through his description of the woman's character and the circumstances surrounding her death. Toward the end of the poem, the character admits that a part of him does not regret his execution, and almost condones it. In “Punishment,” Heaney uses contrasting images of the swamp woman and the metaphor of the Irish Troubles to create tension and explore the internal conflict between empathy and revenge. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayHeaney begins to develop an empathetic tone from the very beginning of "Punishment." The first three lines read: “I feel the tug / of the halter on the nape / of my neck.” Immediately, the word tug draws the reader into the character's experience. Heaney's wonderful use of enjambement in this first stanza also leads to the creation of overwhelming interest. These characteristics work together to draw the reader into the Swamp Woman's story simply from her opening image. Heaney continues to establish empathy through the continued imagery of the character. The character uses very vivid visual analogies to draw attention to the young age and unfortunate situation of the swamp girl. In lines 7-8, the wind “shakes the fragile rigging / of his ribs.” The word fragile highlights his weakness and vulnerability. The person can see his ribs. She is completely exposed. In this, Heaney establishes physical infirmity. Until the fourth stanza, the reader has no sense of age. In line 14, the character calls her a "barked little tree." A sapling is a young, weak tree. Barking is a practice in which a row of bark is stripped from a tree, inevitably killing it. Combined, these two simple terms create an incredibly evocative image of nature being massacred by man. They suggest to the reader that this girl's death is an unnatural act and is inherently wrong. The character continues to describe her this way, until line 20. Perhaps one of the most puzzling lines in "Punishment," refers to the noose around her neck. The character compares it to “a ring / to preserve / the memories of love” (20-22). A noose generally has a negative connotation. However, in this context it is presented with a somewhat ironic and nostalgic tone. In its most basic purpose, the metaphor hints at the revelation in the next line. However, on a deeper level, the line could represent understanding and justification of the swamp girl's crime. This appreciation is further exemplified by the character's personal bond with the girl. Heaney's use of the apostrophe creates a particularly strong sense of empathy in “Punishment.” The character directly addresses the exhibited woman, calling her a “little adulteress” (23). Once again, thecharacter literally draws attention to his youth and paltry size through the use of little. However, this is also a term of endearment, what one would name one's child, further encoding the connection the person feels with the swamp woman. In this line the reader is informed for the first time about the reason for the girl's death. He committed a crime and suffered the punishment for it. In the next few lines, the images move from fragility in death to beauty in life. The character describes his “tar-black face” as once “beautiful” (27). This stark contrast highlights the tension between his life and death and demonstrates the empathy the character feels for the girl. The last definitive sympathy the reader observes is in line 28, as the character addresses the girl as "my poor scapegoat." The possessive adjective my demonstrates the empathy experienced by the person, and the line as a whole shows a great display of sympathy. The implication of the word scapegoat is that she was punished so that others were not. She is an example, even if the character recognizes the injustice of her situation. In subsequent stanzas, the character begins to reveal his personal cowardice and sin. The most touchingly shameful lines come directly after the vehemently expressed empathy. The character addresses the swamp girl directly for the last time: “I almost love you / but I would have thrown, I know, / the stones of silence” (29-31). The images that have developed empathy and tenderness from the first line suddenly dissolve when the character's sympathy proves insufficient. Despite his beliefs, he doesn't feel strong enough to speak out against his peers and save her. If he does, he fails to do so for the simplest reason. Part of him understands why she was killed and agrees with the punishment. In the poem, the character compares the punishment of the swamp girl to the punishment of Catholic girls during the Irish Troubles. During this period, cruel punishments for seemingly minor crimes were not uncommon. The Troubles were a conflict between Irish Catholics and British Protestants. In this poem, Heaney specifically refers to the punishment of fraternization between these two groups. If a Catholic girl was discovered in the company of a British soldier, she was “tarred” and publicly shamed (39). This is comparable to hanging for adultery as public degradation. She is made an example of, just like the swamp girl. The metaphor extends not only to the literal "punishment" but also to the emotional conflict the person experiences. He is the “sly voyeur” of a murdered girl (32). This demonstrates a sense of guilt as he witnesses the atrocity in front of him, yet he just watches. Likewise, he remained “silent” as he watched his own people being punished by his own people (37). He “would connive in the civil outrage,” but would do nothing to stop the act. It is through these contradictions that the person's internal conflict is revealed. The person may “understand the exact / and tribal, intimate vengeance,” but also feel boundless empathy for those being punished (43-44). It is through this conflict that Heaney examines relationships during the Irish Troubles. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay As a prominent figure in the Catholic minority, Seamus Heaney was often called upon to make political statements in his poetry. “Punishment” exemplifies betrayal, not between two parties, but within one. It does not humiliate Protestants, nor is it a rallying cry for Catholics..