'The Daughter Goes To Camp' by Sharon Olds


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In the taxi alone, home from the airport,
I could not believe you were gone. My palm kept
creeping over the smooth plastic
to find your strong meaty little hand and
squeeze it, find your narrow thigh in the
noble ribbing of the corduroy,
straight and regular as anything in nature, to
find the slack cool cheek of a
child in the heat of a summer morning—
nothing, nothing, waves of bawling
hitting me in hot flashes like some
change of life, some boiling wave
rising in me toward your body, toward
where it should have been on the seat, your
brow curved like a cereal bowl, your
eyes dark with massed crystals like the
magnified scales of a butterfly's wing, the
delicate feelers of your limp hair,
floods of blood rising in my face as I
tried to reassemble the hot
gritty molecules in the car, to
make you appear like a holograph
on the back seat, pull you out of nothing
as I once did—but you were really gone,
the cab glossy as a slit caul out of
which you had slipped, the air glittering
electric with escape as it does in the room at a birth.


Anonymous submission.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Daughter Goes To Camp: A Masterpiece of Maternal Love and Fear

As I read Sharon Olds' poem "The Daughter Goes To Camp," I couldn't help but feel a wave of emotions. The poem is a beautiful portrayal of the complex relationship between a mother and her daughter. It captures the essence of maternal love, fear, and anxiety in a way that is both raw and tender. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve deeper into the themes and imagery used by Olds, and what they signify in the larger context of the poem.

Context and Background

Before we dive into the poem itself, it is important to understand the context and background that inspired Olds to write it. Sharon Olds is an American poet, born in San Francisco in 1942. She is known for her candid and often controversial poems that explore the complexities of human relationships, particularly those between family members. "The Daughter Goes To Camp" was published in Olds' 1984 collection, "The Dead and the Living." This collection was inspired by the death of Olds' father and explores the theme of mortality and loss.

Overview of the Poem

"The Daughter Goes To Camp" is a free-verse poem that consists of ten stanzas of varying lengths. It follows the journey of a mother as she sends her daughter off to summer camp. The poem begins with the mother packing her daughter's bags and outlining the rules for her time at camp. As the poem progresses, the mother becomes increasingly anxious and paranoid about the dangers that her daughter might face at camp. She imagines all sorts of scenarios, from bears attacking the campsite to her daughter drowning in the lake. However, in the end, the mother comes to the realization that she cannot protect her daughter from everything and must let her go.

Analysis

Imagery

One of the most striking features of Olds' poem is the vivid and evocative imagery that she uses. The poem is filled with sensory details that paint a picture of the mother's emotions and anxieties. For example, in the first stanza, Olds writes:

We pack the trunk with olive drab, her favorite swimsuit and sneakers, we stack the metal cages of her bed, her desk, her typewriter, we lay in the snakes and baseball mitt, the insect repellent, the diary.

The imagery here is powerful as it captures the mundane details of packing for camp while also conveying the mother's love and care for her daughter. The use of color ("olive drab") and specific items ("her favorite swimsuit and sneakers") adds depth and texture to the scene.

The imagery becomes more intense and anxiety-inducing as the poem progresses. For example, in the fifth stanza, Olds writes:

I see her sitting by the lake, fishing, I see her legs sticking up like sticks from under the overturned boat, I see her floating face-up and naked, the hair trailing, her arms out like wings, her palms upturned, white and empty.

Here, Olds uses the image of the daughter drowning in the lake to tap into the mother's deepest fears. The image is haunting and visceral, and it conveys the mother's sense of powerlessness in the face of danger.

Themes

At its core, "The Daughter Goes To Camp" is a poem about maternal love and fear. Olds explores the complex emotions that a mother experiences as she watches her child grow up and become more independent. The poem captures the tension between the mother's desire to protect her daughter and her realization that she cannot control everything.

The theme of separation is also present in the poem. The mother is sending her daughter off to camp for the summer, and this separation is a significant event in both of their lives. Olds captures the bittersweet nature of this separation, as the mother simultaneously cheers on her daughter's independence while also mourning the loss of her child's innocence.

Structure and Form

"The Daughter Goes To Camp" is a free-verse poem, which means that it does not follow a strict rhyme or meter. This lack of structure reflects the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the mother's emotions. However, the poem does have a loose structure, with ten stanzas of varying lengths that guide the reader through the mother's journey.

One interesting feature of the poem is Olds' use of enjambment. Enjambment is a literary device where a sentence or phrase breaks across two lines of poetry. Olds uses enjambment throughout the poem to create a sense of momentum and fluidity. This technique is particularly effective in the fifth stanza, where the imagery of the daughter drowning is broken across multiple lines:

I see her sitting by the lake, fishing, I see her legs sticking up like sticks from under the overturned boat, I see her floating face-up...

This use of enjambment creates a sense of urgency and heightens the impact of the image.

Tone

The tone of "The Daughter Goes To Camp" is one of tenderness and fear. Olds captures the mother's love and care for her daughter, while also conveying her anxiety and paranoia. There is a sense of vulnerability in the mother's voice, as she grapples with the realization that she cannot protect her daughter from everything.

One notable feature of the poem is the use of repetition. Olds repeats the phrase "I see her" multiple times throughout the poem, which creates a sense of fixation and obsession. This repetition reinforces the mother's anxiety and fear, while also highlighting her deep emotional connection to her daughter.

Interpretation

"The Daughter Goes To Camp" is a deeply personal and emotional poem that speaks to the universal experience of motherhood. Olds captures the complex emotions that a mother feels as she watches her child grow up and become more independent. The poem is a testament to the power of maternal love, as well as the fear and anxiety that comes with it.

One way to interpret the poem is as a meditation on the nature of love and loss. The mother's fear and anxiety stem from her deep love for her daughter, and her realization that she cannot protect her forever. The poem captures the bittersweet nature of parenting, as the mother must let go of her child in order for her to grow and flourish.

Another interpretation of the poem is as a reflection on the fragility of life. The mother's paranoia and anxiety stem from her awareness of the dangers that exist in the world. The poem is a reminder that life is unpredictable and fragile, and that we must cherish the moments that we have with our loved ones.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Daughter Goes to Camp" is a masterful poem that captures the complexity of maternal love and fear. Olds' use of vivid imagery, loose structure, and repetition creates a sense of urgency and emotion that resonates with readers. The poem is a reminder of the power of love and the vulnerability that comes with it. As a reader, I was deeply moved by the mother's journey, and I believe that this poem will continue to inspire and touch readers for years to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Daughter Goes To Camp: A Poem of Growth and Independence

Sharon Olds’ poem, “The Daughter Goes To Camp,” is a beautiful and poignant exploration of a young girl’s journey towards independence and self-discovery. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Olds captures the emotional complexity of a mother-daughter relationship and the transformative power of leaving home for the first time.

The poem begins with the mother’s perspective, as she watches her daughter prepare for camp. The mother is filled with a mix of emotions, ranging from pride and excitement to anxiety and fear. She watches as her daughter packs her bags, “folding the underwear into a little square” and “rolling up the socks.” These small details highlight the mother’s attention to her daughter’s needs and her desire to protect her from harm.

As the daughter prepares to leave, the mother reflects on her own experiences at camp, remembering “the smell of the lake, the feel of the paddle, the sun on my back.” These memories are bittersweet, as they remind the mother of her own youth and the passage of time. She is both excited for her daughter to have these experiences and sad to see her grow up so quickly.

The daughter, on the other hand, is filled with excitement and anticipation. She is eager to explore the world outside of her home and to make new friends. She packs her bags with a sense of purpose, carefully selecting her favorite clothes and toys. She is ready for adventure and eager to embrace the unknown.

As the daughter sets off for camp, the mother is left alone with her thoughts. She imagines her daughter’s journey, picturing her “in a bus, on a road, in a landscape.” This image is both beautiful and haunting, as it captures the mother’s sense of loss and longing. She is proud of her daughter’s independence, but also afraid of what the future holds.

The poem then shifts to the daughter’s perspective, as she arrives at camp and begins to explore her new surroundings. She is struck by the beauty of the lake and the trees, and she is excited to meet her fellow campers. She describes the other girls as “a tribe of girls, a nation,” highlighting the sense of community and belonging that she feels.

As the daughter settles into camp life, she begins to discover new parts of herself. She learns to swim and paddle, and she makes new friends. She is filled with a sense of freedom and possibility, as she explores the world outside of her home. She describes the “wilderness” as a place where “anything could happen,” and she is eager to embrace this sense of adventure.

The daughter’s journey towards independence is not without its challenges, however. She experiences homesickness and loneliness, and she struggles to adjust to the new routines and expectations of camp life. She longs for the comfort and familiarity of home, but she also knows that she must push herself to grow and learn.

As the poem comes to a close, the mother and daughter are reunited. The mother is filled with pride and joy, as she sees her daughter’s growth and independence. She is amazed by the “new person” that her daughter has become, and she is grateful for the experience of watching her grow.

The daughter, too, is grateful for the experience of camp. She has discovered new parts of herself and made new friends, and she is filled with a sense of possibility and potential. She is excited to return home, but she also knows that she will carry the lessons of camp with her for the rest of her life.

In conclusion, “The Daughter Goes To Camp” is a beautiful and powerful poem that captures the emotional complexity of a mother-daughter relationship and the transformative power of leaving home for the first time. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Sharon Olds explores the themes of growth, independence, and self-discovery, highlighting the challenges and joys of the journey towards adulthood. This poem is a testament to the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit, and it is sure to resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds.

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