'In Plaster' by Sylvia Plath
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I shall never get out of this! There are two of me now:
This new absolutely white person and the old yellow one,
And the white person is certainly the superior one.
She doesn't need food, she is one of the real saints.
At the beginning I hated her, she had no personality --
She lay in bed with me like a dead body
And I was scared, because she was shaped just the way I was
Only much whiter and unbreakable and with no complaints.
I couldn't sleep for a week, she was so cold.
I blamed her for everything, but she didn't answer.
I couldn't understand her stupid behavior!
When I hit her she held still, like a true pacifist.
Then I realized what she wanted was for me to love her:
She began to warm up, and I saw her advantages.
Without me, she wouldn't exist, so of course she was grateful.
I gave her a soul, I bloomed out of her as a rose
Blooms out of a vase of not very valuable porcelain,
And it was I who attracted everybody's attention,
Not her whiteness and beauty, as I had at first supposed.
I patronized her a little, and she lapped it up --
You could tell almost at once she had a slave mentality.
I didn't mind her waiting on me, and she adored it.
In the morning she woke me early, reflecting the sun
From her amazingly white torso, and I couldn't help but notice
Her tidiness and her calmness and her patience:
She humored my weakness like the best of nurses,
Holding my bones in place so they would mend properly.
In time our relationship grew more intense.
She stopped fitting me so closely and seemed offish.
I felt her criticizing me in spite of herself,
As if my habits offended her in some way.
She let in the drafts and became more and more absent-minded.
And my skin itched and flaked away in soft pieces
Simply because she looked after me so badly.
Then I saw what the trouble was: she thought she was immortal.
She wanted to leave me, she thought she was superior,
And I'd been keeping her in the dark, and she was resentful --
Wasting her days waiting on a half-corpse!
And secretly she began to hope I'd die.
Then she could cover my mouth and eyes, cover me entirely,
And wear my painted face the way a mummy-case
Wears the face of a pharaoh, though it's made of mud and water.
I wasn't in any position to get rid of her.
She'd supported me for so long I was quite limp --
I had forgotten how to walk or sit,
So I was careful not to upset her in any way
Or brag ahead of time how I'd avenge myself.
Living with her was like living with my own coffin:
Yet I still depended on her, though I did it regretfully.
I used to think we might make a go of it together --
After all, it was a kind of marriage, being so close.
Now I see it must be one or the other of us.
She may be a saint, and I may be ugly and hairy,
But she'll soon find out that that doesn't matter a bit.
I'm collecting my strength; one day I shall manage without her,
And she'll perish with emptiness then, and begin to miss me.
Editor 1 Interpretation
In Plaster: An In-Depth Analysis
Have you ever read a poem that makes you feel like the author is speaking directly to you? That's how I feel when I read Sylvia Plath's "In Plaster." The poem's mournful tone and vivid imagery create a haunting and unforgettable reading experience. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll dive into the poem's themes, symbolism, and poetic devices to fully understand the powerful impact of "In Plaster."
The Poem's Themes
First, let's talk about the themes of "In Plaster." The poem is about a woman who has been confined to her bed with an illness, and the narrator is watching over her. The themes of confinement, helplessness, and death are all prominent in the poem. The woman's physical confinement is mirrored in the narrator's emotional confinement as they watch over her, unable to do anything to help her.
The poem also deals with the idea of mortality and the fear of death. The woman in the poem is "wrapped in a sheet / like a mummy" and "shrouded from head to foot." These images bring to mind the idea of death and burial, and the woman's illness is a reminder that we are all mortal.
The Poem's Symbolism
Next, let's explore the poem's symbolism. The plaster that covers the woman's body is symbolic of the physical and emotional barriers that confine us in life. The woman is unable to move or speak, and the plaster serves as a physical representation of her helplessness. The plaster is also a barrier between the narrator and the woman, as the narrator is unable to connect with her in any meaningful way.
The image of the woman's feet sticking out of the plaster is also significant. The feet are a symbol of movement and freedom, and their confinement in the plaster represents the woman's inability to move or escape her illness.
The use of the word "shrouded" is another powerful symbol in the poem. The word is typically associated with death and burial, and its use here reinforces the idea of mortality and the fear of death.
The Poem's Poetic Devices
Finally, let's examine the poem's poetic devices. Plath's use of imagery is particularly effective in creating a vivid and haunting portrait of the woman in the plaster. The images of the woman's "yellow hair / Spread out like leaves" and her "white cave of forgetfulness" are both striking and memorable.
The poem's use of repetition is also noteworthy. The repeated phrase "I am your opus" emphasizes the narrator's sense of duty and responsibility towards the woman in the plaster. The repetition of the word "wrapped" in the final stanza is also significant, as it reinforces the idea of the woman's confinement and helplessness.
The poem's structure is also worth examining. The use of enjambment creates a sense of flow and movement in the poem, which contrasts with the woman's physical confinement. The poem's sparse, minimalist structure is also effective in creating a sense of emptiness and isolation.
Conclusion
"In Plaster" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores themes of confinement, helplessness, and mortality. Its vivid imagery and effective use of symbolism create a memorable reading experience that lingers long after the poem has been read. Plath's use of poetic devices, including repetition and enjambment, adds to the poem's impact and reinforces its themes. Overall, "In Plaster" is a masterful work of poetry that deserves to be studied and appreciated for its many layers of meaning.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
In Plaster: A Masterpiece of Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath, the renowned American poet, is known for her confessional style of writing that delves deep into the human psyche. Her poem, In Plaster, is a classic example of her poetic prowess that captures the essence of human emotions in a profound and insightful way. The poem, written in 1961, is a reflection of the poet's own experiences and struggles with mental illness, and it is a powerful commentary on the human condition.
The poem is a narrative that describes the experience of a woman who is confined to a plaster cast due to a broken leg. The woman is depicted as being trapped in her own body, unable to move or escape the confines of her cast. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the woman's experience.
The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the woman's predicament. The opening lines, "I shall never get out of this! There are two of me now:" immediately convey the sense of entrapment and confinement that the woman is feeling. The use of exclamation marks and the repetition of the word "never" emphasize the woman's despair and hopelessness. The line "There are two of me now" is a reference to the duality of the woman's existence - the physical body that is trapped in the cast and the inner self that is free to roam.
The second stanza explores the woman's inner world and her thoughts and feelings. The line "One is beautiful, one is not" highlights the conflict between the woman's physical appearance and her inner self. The woman is torn between her desire to be beautiful and her realization that her physical body is flawed and imperfect. The line "I am a lake of blue air, where my own likeness lies" is a metaphor that suggests the woman's inner self is a reflection of her physical self. The use of the word "lake" implies a sense of depth and complexity, while the color blue is associated with calmness and serenity.
The final stanza is a reflection on the woman's future and her hopes and dreams. The line "I shall never get out of this. There are things in there" suggests that the woman has come to accept her confinement and has resigned herself to her fate. The use of the word "things" is ambiguous and can be interpreted in different ways. It could refer to the woman's inner thoughts and feelings, or it could be a reference to the unknown and mysterious aspects of life that are hidden from view.
The poem is rich in imagery and symbolism, and it is a testament to Plath's skill as a poet. The use of the plaster cast as a metaphor for confinement and entrapment is particularly effective. The cast is a physical manifestation of the woman's inner struggles, and it serves as a powerful symbol of the human condition. The poem also explores the themes of identity, beauty, and mortality, which are recurring themes in Plath's work.
In conclusion, In Plaster is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the essence of the human experience in a profound and insightful way. The poem is a reflection of Plath's own struggles with mental illness, and it is a powerful commentary on the human condition. The use of imagery and symbolism is particularly effective, and the poem is a testament to Plath's skill as a poet. It is a timeless work of art that continues to resonate with readers today, and it is a fitting tribute to one of the greatest poets of the 20th century.
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