Influences on Pablo Neruda's Poetry: Biographical Meanings in "Body of Woman," "Lean into Evenings," and Other Selections Trinity Jackson 10th Grade

Pablo Neruda’s unique style of poetry has been undoubtedly shaped by the events from his life, whether that be from his early adolescence engulfed in the nature of Chile to his political activism as an adult. Although these influences may not be upfront for those unaware of the timeline of his life, in-depth analysis exemplifies the weight each of his major life events had on a wide range of his poetry that spanned over multiple decades.

One of Neruda’s most significant life events was his childhood spent growing up in Chile. Enveloped by the plants, animals, and climate, Chile acted as a basis for many of his values and outlooks on life. Neruda speaks highly of the nature that influenced him as a child, choosing to open his memoir with a chapter titled The Chilean Forest and boldly claiming it was “unforgettable”. Neruda frequently used nature as a framework for the imagery and symbolism within his poetry; his exposure to nature translated into poems such as Body of Woman, in which he proclaims his lasting love for his country by using figurative terms that disguise the land of Chile as a beautiful woman. He opens the poem with, “Body of woman, white hills, white thighs” (“Women” 1), emphasizing the lust he has for Chile by...