Dr SIGMUND FREUD DISCOVERS THE SEA SHELL

Science, that simple saint…

Right from the opening stanza, MacLeish warns the scientist of the pitfalls prevalent in believing anything with absolute certainty; by marrying science to religion:

Science, that simple saint…

Proposing, just as religion instills a sense of entitlement regarding all things omniscient; so too, scientists can also crown themselves king.

rosary of perfect answers

In the third and fourth stanzas, Mr. MacLeish paints a picture of the scientist lying comfortably in bed at night, unfettered by the worries of a spirit world; fearing not an unknown fate, of heaven or hell; egotistically boasting her certainty; again by the use of the rosary symbol, MacLeish correlates closed minds:

Her religion is to tell

By rote her rosary of perfect answers.

Her faith is perfect!

Although the scientist knows with certainty the nature of things; God or Man or Nature produces a sea shell upon the shore; challenging the scientist to consider the deep mysteries buried within; knowing, no matter how many answers may be ascertained, the questions will never cease; as the surf forever pounds the shore.

…knows the world she sees

Is all the world there is! Her faith is perfect!

And still he offers the sea shell…

What surf

Of what far sea upon what unknown ground