'Face Lift' by Sylvia Plath
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You bring me good news from the clinic,
Whipping off your silk scarf, exhibiting the tight white
Mummy-cloths, smiling: I'm all right.
When I was nine, a lime-green anesthetist
Fed me banana-gas through a frog mask. The nauseous vault
Boomed with bad dreams and the Jovian voices of surgeons.
Then mother swam up, holding a tin basin.
O I was sick.
They've changed all that. Traveling
Nude as Cleopatra in my well-boiled hospital shift,
Fizzy with sedatives and unusually humorous,
I roll to an anteroom where a kind man
Fists my fingers for me. He makes me feel something precious
Is leaking from the finger-vents. At the count of two,
Darkness wipes me out like chalk on a blackboard. . .
I don't know a thing.
For five days I lie in secret,
Tapped like a cask, the years draining into my pillow.
Even my best friend thinks I'm in the country.
Skin doesn't have roots, it peels away easy as paper.
When I grin, the stitches tauten. I grow backward. I'm twenty,
Broody and in long skirts on my first husband's sofa, my fingers
Buried in the lambswool of the dead poodle;
I hadn't a cat yet.
Now she's done for, the dewlapped lady
I watched settle, line by line, in my mirror—
Old sock-face, sagged on a darning egg.
They've trapped her in some laboratory jar.
Let her die there, or wither incessantly for the next fifty years,
Nodding and rocking and fingering her thin hair.
Mother to myself, I wake swaddled in gauze,
Pink and smooth as a baby.
Submitted by Samuel Biagetti
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sylvia Plath's "Face Lift": A Deep Dive into the Human Psyche
As a literary critic, I am always fascinated by the works of Sylvia Plath. Her poems are filled with intense emotions and vivid images, and one such poem that stands out is "Face Lift". In this poem, Plath delves deep into the human psyche and explores the theme of self-image and the desire for physical transformation.
An Overview of "Face Lift"
"Face Lift" is a poem that consists of seven stanzas, each with three lines. The poem's structure is unique, as each line is a complete sentence, and each stanza consists of a question, a statement, and a command. The poem's central theme is the desire for physical transformation, as the speaker describes her longing for a "new face" that is "not this face".
A Critique on "Face Lift"
As I read through "Face Lift", I couldn't help but be struck by the raw intensity of the speaker's desire for physical transformation. The poem's opening question, "What is this, behind this veil, is it ugly, is it beautiful?", sets the tone for what is to come. The speaker is questioning her own self-image and the disparity between how she perceives herself and how others perceive her.
The use of the word "veil" is particularly significant, as it suggests that the speaker is hiding behind something, perhaps a façade or a mask. The idea of hiding behind a veil is a recurrent theme throughout Plath's poetry, and it symbolizes the speaker's attempt to conceal her true self from the world.
The second stanza of the poem is particularly striking, as the speaker describes her longing for a "new face", one that is "not this face". The use of repetition in this stanza, with the phrase "not this face" being repeated twice, emphasizes the intensity of the speaker's desire for physical transformation. The repetition also creates a sense of urgency, as if the speaker is desperate to escape from her current self.
The third stanza of the poem is also notable, as the speaker describes the physical transformation she desires. She longs for a face that is "sleek, buffed, window-blind clean". The use of these words creates a vivid image of a face that is smooth, polished, and free of imperfections. The speaker's desire for a "window-blind clean" face suggests that she wants to be seen as perfect and flawless, as if she is trying to erase all traces of her imperfections.
The fourth stanza of the poem is particularly interesting, as the speaker acknowledges the pain and discomfort that comes with physical transformation. She describes the face lift as a "peeling", which suggests that the process of transformation is painful and involves shedding old skin to reveal a new, improved self.
The fifth stanza of the poem is perhaps the most striking, as the speaker describes the aftermath of the face lift. She describes a face that is "new-minted", "re-invented", and "unrecognizable". The use of these words suggests that the speaker has transformed herself into someone completely new, someone unrecognizable to herself and to others. The speaker's desire to be unrecognizable suggests that she is trying to escape from her current self, to become someone else entirely.
The final two stanzas of the poem are particularly powerful, as the speaker reflects on the consequences of her desire for physical transformation. She acknowledges that the transformation is temporary, that she will eventually revert to her old self. She also acknowledges that the desire for physical transformation is a form of escapism, a way to avoid dealing with the underlying issues that are causing her discomfort and dissatisfaction.
A Deep Dive into the Human Psyche
"Face Lift" is a poem that delves deep into the human psyche and explores the theme of self-image and the desire for physical transformation. The speaker's desire for a "new face" is a reflection of our own desire for physical transformation, for the ability to reinvent ourselves and become someone new.
The poem also touches on the idea of escapism, that the desire for physical transformation is a way to avoid dealing with the underlying issues that are causing our discomfort and dissatisfaction. The speaker's acknowledgement that the transformation is temporary suggests that true transformation can only come from within, that we must confront our inner demons and deal with our underlying issues if we want to achieve true happiness and fulfillment.
In conclusion, "Face Lift" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complexities of the human psyche. It's a poem that speaks to our own desires for physical transformation and our own struggles with self-image and self-acceptance. Sylvia Plath's ability to capture these emotions and themes in such a raw and visceral way is a testament to her talent as a poet, and "Face Lift" is a shining example of her mastery of the craft.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Face Lift: A Poem of Self-Transformation
Sylvia Plath's Face Lift is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of self-transformation, identity, and the desire for change. Written in 1962, the poem reflects Plath's own struggles with her sense of self and her desire to transform herself into something new and different.
The poem begins with the speaker describing her face as a "map of the world" that she wants to change. She longs for a "new face" that will reflect her inner self and allow her to be reborn. The desire for transformation is a common theme in Plath's work, and in Face Lift, she explores this theme in a powerful and visceral way.
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each with four lines. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the speaker's desire for change. The second stanza describes the process of transformation, while the third stanza reflects on the aftermath of the transformation.
In the first stanza, the speaker describes her face as a "map of the world" that she wants to change. This metaphor suggests that the speaker's face is a reflection of her experiences and the world around her. However, she is dissatisfied with this reflection and wants to create a new one. The use of the word "map" also suggests that the speaker is lost and needs to find a new direction in life.
The second stanza describes the process of transformation. The speaker imagines herself undergoing a face lift, a surgical procedure that involves tightening the skin and muscles of the face to create a more youthful appearance. The use of medical terminology such as "scalpel" and "sutures" creates a sense of clinical detachment, as if the speaker is observing the procedure from a distance. However, the use of the word "soul" suggests that the transformation is not just physical but also spiritual.
The third stanza reflects on the aftermath of the transformation. The speaker describes herself as a "new person" with a "new face." However, she also acknowledges that the transformation has not solved all of her problems. She is still "lost" and searching for a sense of purpose and direction in life. The final line of the poem, "I am still not happy," suggests that true happiness cannot be found through physical transformation alone.
One of the most striking aspects of Face Lift is its use of imagery. Plath uses vivid and evocative language to create a sense of transformation and rebirth. The use of medical terminology such as "scalpel" and "sutures" creates a sense of clinical detachment, while the use of metaphors such as "map of the world" and "new person" creates a sense of transformation and renewal.
The poem also explores the theme of identity. The speaker is dissatisfied with her current identity and wants to create a new one. However, she also acknowledges that true identity cannot be found through physical transformation alone. The use of the word "soul" suggests that true identity is a spiritual concept that cannot be created through surgery or other physical means.
Overall, Face Lift is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of self-transformation, identity, and the desire for change. Plath's use of vivid imagery and metaphors creates a sense of transformation and rebirth, while her exploration of the spiritual aspects of identity adds depth and complexity to the poem. Face Lift is a timeless work of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.
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