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

Blog Assignment #2-

Richard Brautigan’s poem “All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace” can be interpreted with an anti-technology message because of the sarcasm he uses when describing nature and technology. For example, he compares “computers as if they were flowers,” which people today may find silly. Brautigan makes it sound like technology intertwined in nature is ridiculous and that technology has no use of purpose in nature. It seems that Brautigan is stating that technology cannot and should not be accepted into nature. Therefore, he can be trying to convince his readers of considering an anti-technology point of view.

On the other hand, Brautigan may be sending a pro-technology message to his readers. Phrases such as “programming harmony” may be used to explain that technology and nature should be able to work together in our society. He is hoping that in the future, technology can be less of a part of life associated with busyness and stress, and more related to comfort by saying we can be “watched over by machines of loving grace.” Technology can possibly become helpful to nature and the environment. From these points, Brautigan may be trying to convey a message towards pro-technology.

After reading this poem many times and considering both sides of the argument, I believe that Richard Brautigan is trying to communicate an anti-technology point of view. The tone in this poem is sarcastic and said in a joking matter. When he uses phrases such as “the sooner the better” and “right now, please!” he is saying that soon technology can become intertwined in our society when it should not be. He is saying that we should be aware of technology becoming too big of a part of our lives whereas we should still be able to appreciate nature and the environment around us. Richard Brautigan is trying to prove that technology and nature are not equal and should not be one in the same in our society.