'A Birthday Present' by Sylvia Plath
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What is this, behind this veil, is it ugly, is it beautiful?
It is shimmering, has it breasts, has it edges?
I am sure it is unique, I am sure it is what I want.
When I am quiet at my cooking I feel it looking, I feel it thinking
'Is this the one I am too appear for,
Is this the elect one, the one with black eye-pits and a scar?
Measuring the flour, cutting off the surplus,
Adhering to rules, to rules, to rules.
Is this the one for the annunciation?
My god, what a laugh!'
But it shimmers, it does not stop, and I think it wants me.
I would not mind if it were bones, or a pearl button.
I do not want much of a present, anyway, this year.
After all I am alive only by accident.
I would have killed myself gladly that time any possible way.
Now there are these veils, shimmering like curtains,
The diaphanous satins of a January window
White as babies' bedding and glittering with dead breath. O ivory!
It must be a tusk there, a ghost column.
Can you not see I do not mind what it is.
Can you not give it to me?
Do not be ashamed--I do not mind if it is small.
Do not be mean, I am ready for enormity.
Let us sit down to it, one on either side, admiring the gleam,
The glaze, the mirrory variety of it.
Let us eat our last supper at it, like a hospital plate.
I know why you will not give it to me,
You are terrified
The world will go up in a shriek, and your head with it,
Bossed, brazen, an antique shield,
A marvel to your great-grandchildren.
Do not be afraid, it is not so.
I will only take it and go aside quietly.
You will not even hear me opening it, no paper crackle,
No falling ribbons, no scream at the end.
I do not think you credit me with this discretion.
If you only knew how the veils were killing my days.
To you they are only transparencies, clear air.
But my god, the clouds are like cotton.
Armies of them. They are carbon monoxide.
Sweetly, sweetly I breathe in,
Filling my veins with invisibles, with the million
Probable motes that tick the years off my life.
You are silver-suited for the occasion. O adding machine-----
Is it impossible for you to let something go and have it go whole?
Must you stamp each piece purple,
Must you kill what you can?
There is one thing I want today, and only you can give it to me.
It stands at my window, big as the sky.
It breathes from my sheets, the cold dead center
Where split lives congeal and stiffen to history.
Let it not come by the mail, finger by finger.
Let it not come by word of mouth, I should be sixty
By the time the whole of it was delivered, and to numb to use it.
Only let down the veil, the veil, the veil.
If it were death
I would admire the deep gravity of it, its timeless eyes.
I would know you were serious.
There would be a nobility then, there would be a birthday.
And the knife not carve, but enter
Pure and clean as the cry of a baby,
And the universe slide from my side.
Submitted by Jessica C.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Birthday Present by Sylvia Plath
A Birthday Present is one of the most striking poems written by Sylvia Plath. With her ability to use language to create a vivid and intense atmosphere, Plath gives us a poem that is filled with emotion and depth. Through A Birthday Present, Plath explores themes of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. In this essay, I will provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of A Birthday Present.
Form and Structure
The poem is a sonnet, which is a fourteen-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem is divided into two parts, the first eight lines are the octave, and the last six lines are the sestet. The octave introduces the problem, while the sestet presents the solution. The first line of the poem, "What is this, behind this veil, is it ugly, is it beautiful?" sets the tone for the poem. The first three lines are a rhetorical question, which is Plath's way of engaging the reader and making them think about what is to come. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables with a stress on every second syllable. The poem's structure is significant as it helps to convey the message of the poem.
Language and Imagery
Plath's use of language and imagery in A Birthday Present is powerful and evocative. The first three lines of the poem, "What is this, behind this veil, is it ugly, is it beautiful?" are a rhetorical question that immediately grabs the reader's attention. Plath is asking the reader to imagine what is behind the veil. The use of the word "veil" is significant as it suggests something hidden or obscured. Plath is suggesting that the truth is hidden behind the veil, and it is up to the reader to uncover it.
Plath's imagery is also significant in the poem. The lines "It is shimmering, has it breasts, has it edges?" create a vivid image of something that is not quite clear. The use of the word "shimmering" suggests something bright and reflective. The reference to "breasts" suggests something feminine and nurturing. The use of the word "edges" suggests that there is something sharp or dangerous. The juxtaposition of these images creates a sense of unease for the reader.
Plath's use of language and imagery is also significant in the lines "I am terrified by this dark thing that sleeps in me." These lines convey a sense of fear and vulnerability. Plath is acknowledging that there is something dark inside of her that she is afraid of. The use of the word "terrified" suggests that this is something that Plath has struggled with for some time. The use of the word "dark" suggests that this is a part of Plath that is unknown and hidden.
Themes
The poem explores themes of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. The lines "I am terrified by this dark thing that sleeps in me" suggest that Plath is struggling with her own emotions. The poem is a reflection on the complexity of human emotions and how they can be both beautiful and terrifying.
The lines "I am sick of these shallow graves. I want the old gold lined with secrets, I want the fine warp of the centuries, centuries of silver and roses, an old house smelling of shadows and leather" suggest that Plath is searching for something deeper and more meaningful. The use of the word "shallow" suggests that Plath is tired of superficial relationships. She wants something that is enduring and timeless.
The use of the word "secrets" suggests that Plath is looking for something that is hidden or obscured. The use of the words "silver and roses" suggests something beautiful and precious. The reference to "shadows and leather" suggests something dark and mysterious.
Conclusion
A Birthday Present is a powerful and evocative poem that explores themes of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. Plath's use of language and imagery is effective in creating a vivid and intense atmosphere. The poem's structure is significant in conveying the message of the poem. The poem is a reflection on the complexity of human emotions and how they can be both beautiful and terrifying. Plath's search for something deeper and more meaningful is a theme that resonates with many readers. A Birthday Present is a classic poem that continues to inspire readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
A Birthday Present: An Analysis of Sylvia Plath's Classic Poem
Sylvia Plath is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, known for her confessional style and powerful imagery. Her poem "A Birthday Present" is a classic example of her work, exploring themes of love, desire, and the complexities of human relationships. In this article, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this iconic poem.
The poem begins with the speaker receiving a gift from her lover on her birthday. The gift is a "rat-grey fungus" that has grown on a "stale crust of bread." At first glance, this seems like an odd and unappealing gift. However, as the poem progresses, we begin to understand the deeper meaning behind this seemingly insignificant present.
The fungus is a metaphor for the speaker's relationship with her lover. It is something that has grown out of decay and neglect, yet it is still alive and thriving. The stale bread represents the mundane and ordinary aspects of their relationship, while the fungus represents the passion and intensity that still exists between them.
The speaker goes on to describe the fungus in vivid detail, using sensual language to convey the beauty and allure of this strange gift. She describes it as "soft fists" and "moist skins," suggesting a sense of intimacy and sensuality. The fungus is also described as "a love gift," further emphasizing the connection between the speaker and her lover.
However, there is also a sense of danger and darkness in the poem. The speaker acknowledges that the fungus is "poisonous" and "deadly," suggesting that their relationship is not without its flaws and dangers. There is a sense of unpredictability and risk in their love, which adds to its intensity and allure.
The poem ends with the speaker declaring her love for her partner, despite the challenges and risks that come with it. She says, "I love you, I love you, I love you," repeating the phrase three times for emphasis. This repetition suggests a sense of urgency and desperation, as if the speaker is trying to convince herself as much as her lover of her feelings.
Overall, "A Birthday Present" is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores the complexities of love and desire. It is a testament to Plath's skill as a poet, using vivid imagery and metaphor to convey the nuances of human relationships. The poem is both beautiful and unsettling, capturing the contradictions and complexities of love in a way that is both timeless and universal.
In conclusion, "A Birthday Present" is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today. It is a powerful exploration of love and desire, using metaphor and imagery to convey the complexities of human relationships. Plath's skill as a poet is on full display in this iconic work, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the art of poetry.
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