"All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace" by Richard Brautigan

In the poem, “All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace”, Richard  Brautigan allows his readers to interpret his views of technology. In each of the stanzas Brautigan has a phrase inside quotations. These phrases can be viewed as sarcasm and thoughts of his he had while writing this poem. “ I like to think (and the sooner the better!)” lines 1-2, he opens the poem with a tone of annoyance. The reason he put these phrases in parenthesis is to show the reader that these are almost under his breath and simply thoughts instead of words actually being spoken. In lines 9-10, “I like to think (right now, please!)” I believe Brautigan is referring to society’s need to technology to be quick, efficient and always improving. He is using these parenthetical phrases to mock society’s need for a modern and convenient lifestyle through technology.  

Without interpreting the phrases in parenthesis  as sarcasm and mockery, the diction in the rest of the poem creates a message of pro-technology to the readers. Lines 3-5, “of a cybernetic meadow where mammals and computers live together” and “pines and electronics where deer stroll peacefully pas computers”, lines 12-14 have a calm and content tone.  It is as if these scenes were normal and accepted.  By pairing together things of nature and technology it makes the scenes seem natural instead of strange. Technology will free society from work will connect us back to nature while, “all watched over by machines of loving grace” lines 24-25. The technology will take care of us and nature will mess peacefully with the new modern improvements.

I believe the poem is anti-technology, the diction and parenthetical phrases jump out at the reader in order to show them that this is what Brautigan is really thinking and that he not agreeing with the poem. Nature, something that is uncontrollable and technology, which is completely controllable are paired together in hopes that readers with see the path society is on, will led to nature being mechanical. This poem was written in a time that untouched nature was beautiful and loved and society didn’t want technology to overtake their daily lives. In conclusion I believe that through Brautigan’s diction and imagery the anti-technology reading is more convincing.