'Leaving Early' by Sylvia Plath
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Lady, your room is lousy with flowers.
When you kick me out, that's what I'll remember,
Me, sitting here bored as a loepard
In your jungle of wine-bottle lamps,
Velvet pillows the color of blood pudding
And the white china flying fish from Italy.
I forget you, hearing the cut flowers
Sipping their liquids from assorted pots,
Pitchers and Coronation goblets
Like Monday drunkards. The milky berries
Bow down, a local constellation,
Toward their admirers in the tabletop:
Mobs of eyeballs looking up.
Are those petals of leaves you've paried with them ---
Those green-striped ovals of silver tissue?
The red geraniums I know.
Friends, friends. They stink of armpits
And the invovled maladies of autumn,
Musky as a lovebed the morning after.
My nostrils prickle with nostalgia.
Henna hags:cloth of your cloth.
They tow old water thick as fog.The roses in the Toby jug
Gave up the ghost last night. High time.
Their yellow corsets were ready to split.
You snored, and I heard the petals unlatch,
Tapping and ticking like nervous fingers.
You should have junked them before they died.
Daybreak discovered the bureau lidLittered with Chinese hands. Now I'm stared at
By chrysanthemums the size
Of Holofernes' head, dipped in the same
Magenta as this fubsy sofa.
In the mirror their doubles back them up.
Listen: your tenant mice
Are rattling the cracker packets. Fine flour
Muffles their bird feet: they whistle for joy.
And you doze on, nose to the wall.
This mizzle fits me like a sad jacket.
How did we make it up to your attic?
You handed me gin in a glass bud vase.
We slept like stones. Lady, what am I doing
With a lung full of dust and a tongue of wood,
Knee-deep in the cold swamped by flowers?
Editor 1 Interpretation
Analysis of "Leaving Early" by Sylvia Plath
"Leaving Early" is a poem written by Sylvia Plath in 1960. It is a powerful piece of literature that delves deep into the themes of mortality, depression, and the struggle to find meaning in life. The poem is written in a very personal and intimate style, and Plath's use of language and imagery creates a vivid and haunting picture of her inner turmoil.
Summary
The poem begins with the speaker describing a dream in which she sees herself dead, lying in a coffin. This dream seems to have a profound effect on her, and she is left feeling both scared and fascinated by the thought of her own mortality. She then goes on to describe the feeling of being trapped in her own body, unable to escape the constant pain and sadness that she feels. She compares herself to a "caged bird" and expresses a desire to be free from the confines of her own mind.
The second half of the poem takes on a more hopeful tone, as the speaker talks about the possibility of finding peace and happiness. She describes how she feels when she is in nature, and how the beauty of the world around her can provide a sense of solace and comfort. She also talks about the importance of love and human connection, and how these things can help to ease the pain of life.
Literary Devices
One of the most striking things about "Leaving Early" is Plath's use of language and imagery. She employs a number of literary devices to create a sense of depth and complexity in the poem. Some of these include:
Metaphor
Plath frequently uses metaphor to describe her feelings and experiences. For example, she compares herself to a "caged bird" to convey the sense of being trapped and unable to escape. She also uses the metaphor of a "black lake" to describe the darkness and despair that she feels.
Personification
Plath personifies a number of things in the poem, such as the "wind" and the "trees". This creates a sense of a living, breathing world around the speaker, and adds to the overall atmosphere of the poem.
Imagery
The imagery in "Leaving Early" is incredibly rich and powerful. Plath uses vivid descriptions of nature to evoke a sense of beauty and wonder, as well as darker imagery to convey the themes of death and despair. For example, she describes the "black lake" as a place of "drowned faces", which creates a haunting and eerie tone.
Themes
"Leaving Early" is a poem that explores a number of different themes, including:
Mortality
One of the central themes of the poem is mortality, and the fear and fascination that the speaker feels towards death. She describes herself as being "alive and dead at once", and is haunted by the thought of her own mortality.
Depression
The poem also deals with the theme of depression, and the sense of hopelessness and despair that the speaker feels. She is trapped in her own mind, unable to escape the constant pain and sadness that she experiences.
Nature
Nature is also an important theme in the poem, and the speaker finds solace and comfort in the beauty of the natural world. She describes how being in nature can provide a sense of peace and healing.
Love and Connection
Finally, "Leaving Early" explores the importance of love and human connection in our lives. The speaker talks about how these things can help to ease the pain of life, and how they are essential for finding happiness and meaning.
Interpretation
"Leaving Early" is a poem that can be interpreted in a number of different ways, depending on the reader's own experiences and perspectives. Some possible interpretations include:
Mental Illness
One interpretation of the poem is that it is a reflection of Plath's own struggles with mental illness. Plath suffered from depression and other mental health issues throughout her life, and "Leaving Early" can be seen as a representation of these struggles.
Existentialism
Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a commentary on the human condition and the struggle to find meaning in life. The speaker is haunted by the thought of her own mortality and is searching for a sense of purpose and direction.
Nature as Healing
Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a celebration of the healing power of nature. The speaker finds solace and comfort in the beauty of the natural world, and this suggests that nature can be a source of healing and renewal for those who are struggling.
Conclusion
Overall, "Leaving Early" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores a number of important themes. Plath's use of language and imagery creates a vivid and evocative picture of the speaker's inner turmoil, and the poem can be interpreted in a number of different ways. Despite its dark and despairing tone, the poem also contains a message of hope and the possibility of finding peace and happiness in life.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Exploring the Depths of Sylvia Plath's "Leaving Early"
Sylvia Plath is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, known for her confessional style and hauntingly beautiful imagery. Her poem "Leaving Early" is a prime example of her ability to capture the complexities of human emotion in just a few lines.
In this analysis, we will delve into the depths of "Leaving Early," exploring its themes, structure, and language to gain a deeper understanding of Plath's poetic genius.
Theme
At its core, "Leaving Early" is a poem about the struggle between life and death. The speaker is torn between the desire to live and the temptation to give in to the darkness that surrounds her.
The poem opens with the line, "Lady, your room is lousy with flowers." This image of an overabundance of life is juxtaposed with the speaker's own sense of despair. She describes herself as "a white bee / suckled by darkness," suggesting that she is drawn to the darkness even as she struggles to survive.
Throughout the poem, the speaker vacillates between hope and despair. She longs for the warmth of the sun and the beauty of the natural world, but she is also haunted by the specter of death. Ultimately, she chooses to leave early, suggesting that she has given in to the darkness and chosen death over life.
Structure
"Leaving Early" is a short poem, consisting of just six lines. However, within those six lines, Plath manages to create a powerful sense of tension and conflict.
The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. This allows Plath to experiment with the structure of the poem, using line breaks and enjambment to create a sense of movement and flow.
For example, in the second line, Plath uses enjambment to connect the image of the "lousy" room with the speaker's own sense of despair. The line reads, "Lady, your room is lousy with flowers / When you kick me out, that's what I remember." The break between "flowers" and "When" creates a sense of pause, emphasizing the contrast between the beauty of the flowers and the speaker's own sense of darkness.
Language
One of the most striking aspects of "Leaving Early" is Plath's use of language. She creates vivid, sensory images that capture the reader's attention and draw them into the speaker's world.
For example, in the third line, Plath writes, "I have been flickering, off, on, / The sheets grow heavy as a lecher's kiss." The image of flickering suggests the speaker's own sense of instability, while the comparison to a lecher's kiss creates a sense of discomfort and unease.
Throughout the poem, Plath uses metaphor and simile to create a sense of depth and complexity. The image of the "white bee / suckled by darkness" is particularly striking, suggesting both the speaker's own sense of fragility and her attraction to the darkness.
Conclusion
"Leaving Early" is a powerful poem that captures the struggle between life and death in just a few lines. Plath's use of language and structure creates a sense of tension and conflict that draws the reader in and leaves them with a haunting sense of unease.
As with much of Plath's work, "Leaving Early" is deeply personal and reflective of her own struggles with mental illness and the desire for release. However, it also speaks to universal themes of mortality and the human condition, making it a timeless work of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.
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