'Domestic Work, 1937' by Natasha Trethewey
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Domestic Work1999All week she's cleaned
someone else's house,
stared down her own face
in the shine of copper--
bottomed pots, polished
wood, toilets she'd pull
the lid to--that look saying
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, Domestic Work, 1937 by Natasha Trethewey: A Critical Analysis
Are you tired of reading the same old poems about love and loss? Do you want to experience poetry that is both powerful and meaningful? If so, you need to read "Domestic Work, 1937" by Natasha Trethewey. This poem is a masterpiece of literary art that captures the essence of domestic work in the 1930s. In this critical analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and literary devices that make this poem so compelling.
Background Information
Natasha Trethewey is a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet who was born in Mississippi in 1966. Her parents were an interracial couple, and this fact greatly influenced her work. She has written several collections of poetry, including "Domestic Work," which was published in 2000. This poem, "Domestic Work, 1937," is one of the most famous poems in this collection.
Analysis
Themes
The poem revolves around the theme of domestic work, especially the work done by African American women in the 1930s. The speaker of the poem is a young girl who is watching her grandmother do her daily chores. The poem highlights the hard work, dedication, and selflessness of African American women who were responsible for maintaining their households and taking care of their families. The poem also touches upon the racial and social inequalities that existed during that time period.
Imagery
The imagery in this poem is stunning. Trethewey paints a vivid picture of the domestic work that was done by African American women in the 1930s. The poem begins with the line "All week she's cleaned someone else's house," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The reader can almost see the grandmother as she scrubs the floors and washes the dishes. The imagery of the grandmother's hands is particularly powerful. Trethewey writes, "her worn hands scrubbing at the line / of dirt our backs make." This imagery is so vivid that the reader can almost feel the grandmother's hands as she works.
Literary Devices
Trethewey uses several literary devices in this poem to convey her message. One of the most effective devices is repetition. Throughout the poem, the phrase "all week" is repeated. This repetition emphasizes the hard work that the grandmother does day in and day out. The repetition of the phrase "I am" is also effective. This repetition emphasizes the speaker's connection to her grandmother and the domestic work that is being done.
Another literary device that Trethewey uses is imagery. As mentioned earlier, the imagery in this poem is stunning. Trethewey uses imagery to create a vivid picture of the domestic work that was done by African American women in the 1930s. The imagery of the grandmother's hands is particularly powerful.
Structure
The structure of this poem is also noteworthy. The poem is divided into two stanzas, and each stanza has eight lines. The first stanza focuses on the grandmother's work, while the second stanza focuses on the speaker's relationship with her grandmother. The structure of the poem reflects the content of the poem, as it moves from a description of the grandmother's work to a reflection on the speaker's memories of her grandmother.
Tone
The tone of this poem is both reverential and melancholic. Trethewey writes about the hard work and dedication of African American women in the 1930s, and she does so with great respect. The tone of the poem is also melancholic, as the speaker reflects on her memories of her grandmother. The tone of the poem is both admiring and nostalgic.
Conclusion
"Domestic Work, 1937" by Natasha Trethewey is a powerful and moving poem that captures the essence of domestic work in the 1930s. The poem is rich in imagery and literary devices, and it conveys a powerful message about the hard work and dedication of African American women. The poem is both reverential and melancholic, and it is a testament to the resilience of African American women in the face of racial and social inequality. If you want to experience poetry that is both powerful and meaningful, you need to read "Domestic Work, 1937" by Natasha Trethewey.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Natasha Trethewey's "Domestic Work, 1937" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the complex relationship between race, gender, and labor in the American South during the Great Depression. Through vivid imagery and poignant language, Trethewey paints a vivid picture of the lives of African American domestic workers, and the struggles they faced in a society that valued their labor but denied them basic human dignity.
At its core, "Domestic Work, 1937" is a poem about the invisible labor of African American women. Trethewey begins by describing the physical labor of washing clothes, scrubbing floors, and cooking meals, but quickly moves beyond the surface level to explore the emotional and psychological toll of this work. She writes, "All day she's cleaned / someone else's house, / later rinsing her mouth / with Listerine." This simple image of a woman using mouthwash after a long day of cleaning speaks volumes about the dehumanizing nature of domestic work. The woman is not only physically exhausted, but emotionally drained as well, forced to constantly suppress her own needs and desires in order to serve others.
Trethewey also explores the racial dynamics of domestic work, highlighting the ways in which African American women were both valued and devalued for their labor. She writes, "She's worn the floor / down, past the finish, / the yellowed linoleum / bears the marks / of her hand- / and kneeprints." This image of the woman's physical imprint on the floor is a powerful symbol of her labor, but it also suggests that her work is seen as disposable and replaceable. The floor can be refinished, but the woman cannot be replaced. Similarly, Trethewey describes the woman's employer as "a white woman / who knows her place," highlighting the ways in which white women were expected to maintain a certain social status by employing African American domestic workers.
Throughout the poem, Trethewey uses vivid sensory details to bring the world of domestic work to life. She describes the smell of bleach and ammonia, the sound of a washing machine, and the feel of a scrub brush in the hand. These details not only create a sense of realism, but also serve to underscore the physical and emotional toll of this work. The woman's hands are "red and rough," her back aches, and her feet are swollen. These physical symptoms are a testament to the grueling nature of domestic work, and the toll it takes on the human body.
Despite the hardships of domestic work, Trethewey also finds moments of beauty and connection in the poem. She writes, "She's humming a tune / above the hiss / of the pressure cooker, / a song passed down / through generations." This image of the woman humming a song passed down through generations is a reminder that even in the midst of hardship, there is a rich cultural heritage that sustains and uplifts. The woman's song is a testament to the resilience and strength of African American women, and a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is hope and beauty to be found.
Ultimately, "Domestic Work, 1937" is a powerful and moving poem that sheds light on an often-overlooked aspect of American history. Through her vivid imagery and poignant language, Trethewey brings the world of domestic work to life, and reminds us of the humanity and dignity of the women who performed this labor. By exploring the complex dynamics of race, gender, and labor in the American South, Trethewey challenges us to confront the ways in which our society has devalued and exploited certain groups of people, and to work towards a more just and equitable future.
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