Anti or Pro?

“All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace” as interpreted from an anti-technology point of view may bring many to the conclusion that technology is driving us further away from nature. By defining the contrast between natural beauty and the computer world through images such as deer walking by computers in the forest, Richard Brautigan is able to make fun of the idea of our society ever being able to function in a combination of these two worlds.

The author uses a progression in each stanza to signify the progressive take-over effect technology has on earth. The last word of the third line of each stanza progresses from “meadow” to “forest” to “ecology” to indicate the course of action that technology is using to take over the earth. This simple technique adds a great amount of power to the anti-technology base that this poem possesses.

It is apparent that the poem can be interpreted in a pro-technology light. By using the words harmony, pure, and peacefully to describe how technology could be one day when meshed together with nature, the reader gets a sense of optimism that perhaps it is possible. Although the author may or may not agree with the direction of technology, he hopes that because it is not going to go away, we must instead work towards the day when technology will work with nature as opposed to against it.

One may argue that Brautigan brings about the idea that we will be protected by technology. I disagree, however, because as a unique individual I am not keen about the idea of being “watched over by machines” (lines 24 and 25). The sarcastic mood of the poem appears to me that the author is poking fun at the idea of technology ever coinciding with nature which leads me to believe that this poem is in no way pro-technology.