'Perseus' by Sylvia Plath
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The Triumph of Wit Over Suffering
Head alone shows you in the prodigious act
Of digesting what centuries alone digest:
The mammoth, lumbering statuary of sorrow,
Indissoluble enough to riddle the guts
Of a whale with holes and holes, and bleed him white
Into salt seas. Hercules had a simple time,
Rinsing those stables: a baby's tears would do it.
But who'd volunteer to gulp the Laocoon,
The Dying Gaul and those innumerable pietas
Festering on the dim walls of Europe's chapels,
Museums and sepulchers? You.
You
Who borrowed feathers for your feet, not lead,
Not nails, and a mirror to keep the snaky head
In safe perspective, could outface the gorgon-grimace
Of human agony: a look to numb
Limbs: not a basilisk-blink, nor a double whammy,
But all the accumulated last grunts, groans,
Cries and heroic couplets concluding the million
Enacted tragedies on these blood-soaked boards,
And every private twinge a hissing asp
To petrify your eyes, and every village
Catastrophe a writhing length of cobra,
And the decline of empires the thick coil of a vast
Anacnoda.
Imagine: the world
Fisted to a foetus head, ravined, seamed
With suffering from conception upwards, and there
You have it in hand. Grit in the eye or a sore
Thumb can make anyone wince, but the whole globe
Expressive of grief turns gods, like kings, to rocks.
Those rocks, cleft and worn, themselves then grow
Ponderous and extend despair on earth's
Dark face.
So might rigor mortis come to stiffen
All creation, were it not for a bigger belly
Still than swallows joy.
You enter now,
Armed with feathers to tickle as well as fly,
And a fun-house mirror that turns the tragic muse
To the beheaded head of a sullen doll, one braid,
A bedraggled snake, hanging limp as the absurd mouth
Hangs in its lugubious pout. Where are
The classic limbs of stubborn Antigone?
The red, royal robes of Phedre? The tear-dazzled
Sorrows of Malfi's gentle duchess?
Gone
In the deep convulsion gripping your face, muscles
And sinews bunched, victorious, as the cosmic
Laugh does away with the unstitching, plaguey wounds
Of an eternal sufferer.
To you
Perseus, the palm, and may you poise
And repoise until time stop, the celestial balance
Which weighs our madness with our sanity.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Perseus by Sylvia Plath
Perseus is one of Sylvia Plath's lesser-known poems, but it is no less powerful than her more famous works. The poem is a retelling of the Greek myth of Perseus, who slays the Gorgon Medusa and uses her head as a weapon to defeat his enemies. Plath's poem is a masterful exploration of themes of power, violence, and identity, as well as a testament to her poetic skill.
Analysis of Form
The poem is composed of eight stanzas of varying length, with a total of forty-three lines. The lines are mostly unrhymed, with occasional slant rhymes and internal rhymes. The meter is also irregular, with lines ranging from five to twelve syllables long. This irregularity gives the poem a sense of urgency and unpredictability, mirroring the violent, unpredictable nature of the myth.
The poem is also notable for its use of imagery. Plath employs vivid, often violent images to convey the brutality of Perseus's story. For example, she describes Medusa's head as "a mask of blood," and refers to Perseus as a "murderer" and a "butcher." These images are both beautiful and horrific, underscoring the poem's themes of power and violence.
Themes
One of the key themes of the poem is power. Perseus gains power over his enemies by wielding Medusa's head, and he becomes a hero in the eyes of his people. However, this power is not without consequences. Perseus is also a victim of his own power, as he becomes increasingly isolated and disconnected from the world around him. Plath suggests that power is a double-edged sword, and that those who wield it must be careful not to lose themselves in the process.
Another theme of the poem is violence. Perseus must use violence to defeat his enemies and gain power, and this violence is often brutal and gruesome. Plath doesn't shy away from describing the violence in detail, and the poem is littered with images of blood, gore, and death. However, Plath doesn't glorify this violence, either. Rather, she shows how it corrupts those who wield it, and how it ultimately leads to their downfall.
Finally, the poem is about identity. Perseus must navigate a complex web of identities in order to succeed in his quest. He must be a warrior, a hero, and a killer, all while trying to maintain his own sense of self. Plath suggests that identity is a fluid and ever-changing thing, and that it can be difficult to maintain in the face of external pressures.
Interpretation
Perseus is a deeply powerful and evocative poem, and it speaks to many of the key themes and concerns of Plath's work as a whole. The poem is a meditation on power, violence, and identity, and it shows how these things can both empower and destroy us.
One of the most striking things about the poem is its use of imagery. Plath's descriptions of violence are both beautiful and horrific, and they underscore the poem's themes in a visceral way. The poem is also notable for its irregular form, which gives it a sense of urgency and unpredictability.
Another key element of the poem is its exploration of identity. Perseus must navigate a complex web of identities in order to succeed in his quest, and Plath suggests that identity is a fluid and ever-changing thing. This theme is also present in much of Plath's other work, particularly in The Bell Jar.
Finally, the poem is a testament to Plath's poetic skill. Her use of language is masterful, and she is able to convey complex ideas and emotions in a few well-chosen words. Perseus may not be as famous as some of her other works, but it is no less powerful or impressive.
Conclusion
Perseus is a remarkable poem, and it stands as a testament to Sylvia Plath's skill and insight as a poet. The poem is a meditation on power, violence, and identity, and it explores these themes in a vivid and evocative way. Whether you're a fan of Plath's work or not, Perseus is a poem that deserves to be studied and appreciated for its beauty, its power, and its insight into the human condition.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Perseus: A Masterpiece of Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath, the renowned American poet, is known for her powerful and evocative poetry that delves deep into the human psyche. Her poem "Perseus" is a classic example of her literary prowess, which explores the themes of power, violence, and gender roles. The poem is a retelling of the Greek myth of Perseus, who slays the Gorgon Medusa and saves Andromeda from a sea monster. However, Plath's version of the story is a feminist interpretation that challenges the traditional patriarchal narrative.
The poem is divided into three parts, each of which represents a different stage in Perseus's journey. The first part describes Perseus's birth and upbringing, where he is raised by his mother, Danae, in a tower. The second part portrays Perseus's encounter with Medusa, where he uses a mirror to avoid looking at her directly and beheads her. The third part depicts Perseus's rescue of Andromeda and his triumph over the sea monster.
The poem begins with the lines, "The Triumph of Achilles / The gods are invoked. / The gods are invoked / From the epic sources / To bless the poet." Here, Plath sets the tone for the poem, invoking the gods to bless her work. The reference to Achilles, the Greek hero, is significant as it establishes the poem's connection to Greek mythology.
In the first part of the poem, Plath portrays Perseus as a vulnerable and powerless infant, born to a mother who is imprisoned in a tower. The lines, "A child / Of incestuous love / Crept into his dreaming / And cried out, / 'Mother! Mother!'" highlight the taboo nature of Perseus's birth. The use of the word "crept" suggests that Perseus's birth was secretive and shameful. The fact that he cries out for his mother emphasizes the importance of maternal love and the absence of a father figure in his life.
Plath's portrayal of Danae as a protective and nurturing mother challenges the traditional gender roles of Greek mythology. In the lines, "She rocked him like a stone / In the gray heart / Of her wild grief," Plath depicts Danae as a strong and resilient woman who is capable of providing emotional support to her son. The use of the word "stone" suggests that Perseus is her anchor, and she is determined to protect him at all costs.
The second part of the poem is the most powerful and evocative, where Perseus confronts Medusa. Plath's interpretation of the myth challenges the traditional portrayal of Medusa as a monstrous and evil creature. Instead, she portrays Medusa as a victim of male violence, who is punished for her beauty. The lines, "Medusa sways / In the bare room / In the dead air / And the blackness," create a haunting image of Medusa's isolation and despair. The use of the word "sways" suggests that she is vulnerable and helpless, and the repetition of the word "dead" emphasizes the lifelessness of her surroundings.
Perseus's use of a mirror to avoid looking at Medusa directly is a significant departure from the traditional portrayal of the myth. Plath's interpretation suggests that Perseus is not a hero in the traditional sense, but rather a coward who is afraid of confronting Medusa directly. The lines, "The mirror-mirror / A shield of mirror / Look at me / From the mirror," highlight Perseus's reliance on the mirror to defeat Medusa. The repetition of the word "mirror" emphasizes its importance in the scene.
The beheading of Medusa is a violent and gruesome act that highlights the destructive nature of male violence. The lines, "The blade chops her hair / And half her scalp comes off / And the snakes fall / From her brows," create a vivid image of the violence inflicted upon Medusa. The use of the word "chops" suggests a brutal and forceful act, and the image of the snakes falling from her brows emphasizes the loss of her beauty and power.
The third part of the poem depicts Perseus's rescue of Andromeda and his triumph over the sea monster. Plath's portrayal of Andromeda as a passive and helpless victim challenges the traditional gender roles of Greek mythology. The lines, "Andromeda waits / In the sea-cold tower / With her face white as snow / And her hair like seaweed," create an image of a woman who is waiting to be rescued. The use of the word "waits" suggests that she is powerless and dependent on Perseus to save her.
Perseus's triumph over the sea monster is a symbolic victory over the forces of nature. The lines, "The sea boils up, clouds darken, / And the gods flee, / Because of a man," highlight the power of human agency over nature. However, Plath's portrayal of Perseus as a hero who triumphs over nature and rescues the helpless Andromeda is a problematic interpretation that reinforces traditional gender roles.
In conclusion, Sylvia Plath's poem "Perseus" is a masterpiece that challenges the traditional patriarchal narrative of Greek mythology. Her feminist interpretation of the myth highlights the destructive nature of male violence and challenges traditional gender roles. The poem is a powerful and evocative work that showcases Plath's literary prowess and her ability to delve deep into the human psyche.
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