Which of the following statements BEST conveys the theme of the poem?

The poem builds tension through several key elements:

• The unstable, shaking ceiling fan
• The "hot ideas" causing the fan to work harder
• "Crazy eyes" intensifying the fan's instability
• The fan's dream of transforming into a spider lily

Looking at the given options:

a) While there is conflict, there's no clear resolution or balance being restored
b) The imagery strongly supports fear and instability - the trembling fan, the destabilizing presence, the sense of impending chaos
c) This doesn't fit - there's no clear argumentative structure
d) While transformation is present (fan to spider lily), it's more about instability than escape
e) There is emotional turmoil, but not necessarily a quest for self

Option B appears to best capture the poem's central theme. The entire piece builds a sense of mounting instability and anxiety - from the physical shaking of the fan to the destabilizing effect of the "hot ideas" and "crazy eyes," culminating in the surreal image of the fan wanting to break free. The progression from physical instability to emotional/psychological unease effectively conveys fear and anxiety due to the loss of stability.

The spider lily image at the end, rather than suggesting escape or transformation as its primary meaning, serves to heighten this sense of instability - it's an impossible transformation that further emphasizes the loss of natural order and stability.