Snow Man by Wallace Stevens

The Snow Man by Wallace Stevens is a philosophically interesting poem, whose theme is mainly the conflict between imagination and reality. The poet encourages humans to separate themselves from imagination and human feelings in order to appreciate what winter brings, as well as to get a better understanding of reality.

Stevens emphasizes the importance of "the mind of winter" and the experience of "having been cold a long time" , in that humans can fully appreciate what the season brings when they become part of the scene stripped of any personal emotions.

Can humans become such persons that cannot think "of any misery in the sound of the wind"? Actually, this case only takes place when people completely clear their mind in order to view the reality.

"Nothing that is not there and the nothing that is", in which nothingness stands for the lack of personal experience, emotion and imagination and can only take place if humans accomplish the task of separating consciousness and reality.

After reading the poem, we know that Stevens wants the readers to consider the reality without the influence of all imagination and human feeling. If people actually remove themselves from their past experience, then the reality can be truly appreciated.The poet encourages humans to separate themselves from imagination and human feelings in order to appreciate what winter brings, as well as to get a better understanding of reality.

humans can fully appreciate what the season brings when they become part of the scene stripped of any personal emotions.