'Outside History' by Eavan Boland
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These are outsiders, always. These stars—
these iron inklings of an Irish January,
whose light happened
thousands of years before
our pain did; they are, they have always been
outside history.
They keep their distance. Under them remains
a place where you found
you were human, and
a landscape in which you know you are mortal.
And a time to choose between them.
I have chosen:
out of myth in history I move to be
part of that ordeal
who darkness is
only now reaching me from those fields,
those rivers, those roads clotted as
firmaments with the dead.
How slowly they die
as we kneel beside them, whisper in their ear.
And we are too late. We are always too late.
Submitted by Caroline Ball
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Power of the Unseen: A Critique of Eavan Boland's "Outside History"
Eavan Boland's "Outside History" is an extraordinary poem that captures the essence of invisible history. The poem is a commentary on the buried history of women, which is often overlooked in the writing of official history. It is a powerful indictment of the patriarchal society that has systematically silenced women's voices. Boland's poem is a call to arms for women to reclaim their history and to write it anew. In this critique, I will explore Boland's use of language, imagery, and form in "Outside History" and show how they contribute to its overall meaning.
Language
Boland's use of language in "Outside History" is both simple and profound. She uses plain language to describe the history of women, a history that has been hidden in plain sight. The poem begins with the lines "Here are two girls, strangers / in a field." The use of the word "strangers" suggests that these girls are outsiders, not part of the dominant culture. They are the voiceless, the unseen, the forgotten. Boland gives voice to these girls, and by extension, to all women who have been silenced by history.
Boland's language is also powerful in its imagery. She describes the girls as "two girls / leaning on their saddles / like a door into summer." The image of the girls leaning on their saddles is a metaphor for the way women have been leaning on the margins of history, waiting to be heard. The image of the door into summer suggests that women are poised to enter a new era, one in which their voices will be heard.
Boland's use of language is also effective in its repetition. She repeats the phrase "outside history" throughout the poem, emphasizing the theme of women's invisibility in history. The repetition of this phrase is a reminder that women have been written out of history, and that their stories need to be reclaimed.
Imagery
The imagery in "Outside History" is powerful and evocative. Boland uses images of nature to describe the history of women. She writes, "This is a road / through the woods / girls took walking" and "This is where they were seen / and met and parted." The use of natural imagery suggests that women's history is intertwined with nature. Women have been part of the natural world from the beginning of time, and their stories are as much a part of nature as the trees and the earth.
Boland's use of imagery is also effective in its contrast. She contrasts images of nature with images of civilization, such as "the city's streets / and their blind windows" and "the rusted locks / that fenced the parks." The contrast between nature and civilization highlights the way women have been marginalized by the dominant culture. Women have been pushed to the margins of society, while men have dominated the centers of power.
Form
Boland's use of form in "Outside History" is particularly effective. The poem is structured in four stanzas of six lines each. The first three stanzas describe the history of women, while the fourth stanza is a call to action. The structure of the poem reflects the theme of women's history as hidden and buried. The first three stanzas are like layers of earth, gradually revealing the history of women. The fourth stanza is like a seed planted in the earth, waiting to grow and bloom.
Boland's use of form is also effective in its repetition. She repeats the phrase "outside history" throughout the poem, emphasizing the theme of women's invisibility in history. The repetition of this phrase is a reminder that women have been written out of history, and that their stories need to be reclaimed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Eavan Boland's "Outside History" is a powerful poem that captures the essence of invisible history. Boland's use of language, imagery, and form are all effective in conveying the theme of women's invisibility in history. The poem is a call to arms for women to reclaim their history and to write it anew. It is a reminder that women have always been part of nature, and that their stories are as much a part of nature as the trees and the earth. "Outside History" is a poem that should be read and reread, a reminder of the power of the unseen.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Outside History: A Poem of Feminist Resistance and Empowerment
Eavan Boland’s poem “Outside History” is a powerful and evocative work that speaks to the experiences of women who have been marginalized and excluded from the dominant narratives of history. Through vivid imagery and a lyrical style, Boland explores the ways in which women have been silenced and erased from the historical record, and she offers a vision of feminist resistance and empowerment that is both inspiring and challenging.
At its core, “Outside History” is a poem about the struggle for recognition and agency in a world that has been shaped by patriarchal structures and values. Boland begins the poem by describing a landscape that is both beautiful and haunting, a place where “the oceanic thunder / of history” echoes in the distance. This thunder, she suggests, is the sound of the dominant narrative of history, a story that has been shaped by the voices of men and that has excluded the experiences and perspectives of women.
Boland goes on to describe the ways in which women have been erased from the historical record, their stories and achievements forgotten or dismissed as insignificant. She writes:
“Women who were and were not
my kin who bore me and blamed me
and who were powerless to break
the circle to which they were condemned”
Here, Boland is speaking to the experience of women who have been trapped in a cycle of oppression and marginalization, unable to break free from the constraints of patriarchal society. These women, she suggests, are “outside history,” excluded from the dominant narrative and denied the recognition and agency that they deserve.
Despite this bleak picture, however, Boland offers a vision of feminist resistance and empowerment that is both hopeful and inspiring. She writes:
“But I who am bound by my mirror
as well as my bed
see causes in colour
as well as sex
and sit here wondering
which me will survive
all these liberations.”
Here, Boland is suggesting that women have the power to resist and challenge the dominant narrative of history, to assert their own voices and perspectives, and to create a new vision of the world that is more inclusive and just. She acknowledges the complexity of this process, however, recognizing that it is not a simple matter of breaking free from the constraints of patriarchy, but rather a process of self-discovery and self-creation that requires courage, creativity, and resilience.
Throughout the poem, Boland uses vivid and evocative imagery to convey the emotional and psychological landscape of women who have been excluded from history. She writes of “the dark pools of the country,” “the grey hills,” and “the black caves,” all of which suggest a sense of isolation and alienation from the dominant culture. At the same time, however, she also uses images of light and color to suggest the possibility of liberation and empowerment. She writes of “the red fox” and “the green land,” both of which suggest a sense of vitality and resilience in the face of oppression.
Overall, “Outside History” is a powerful and evocative work that speaks to the experiences of women who have been marginalized and excluded from the dominant narratives of history. Through vivid imagery and a lyrical style, Boland offers a vision of feminist resistance and empowerment that is both inspiring and challenging. She acknowledges the complexity of this process, recognizing that it is not a simple matter of breaking free from the constraints of patriarchy, but rather a process of self-discovery and self-creation that requires courage, creativity, and resilience. Ultimately, however, she suggests that women have the power to resist and challenge the dominant narrative of history, to assert their own voices and perspectives, and to create a new vision of the world that is more inclusive and just.
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