'The Arrival Of The Bee Box' by Sylvia Plath
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I ordered this, clean wood box
Square as a chair and almost too heavy to lift.
I would say it was the coffin of a midget
Or a square baby
Were there not such a din in it.
The box is locked, it is dangerous.
I have to live with it overnight
And I can't keep away from it.
There are no windows, so I can't see what is in there.
There is only a little grid, no exit.
I put my eye to the grid.
It is dark, dark,
With the swarmy feeling of African hands
Minute and shrunk for export,
Black on black, angrily clambering.
How can I let them out?
It is the noise that appalls me most of all,
The unintelligible syllables.
It is like a Roman mob,
Small, taken one by one, but my god, together!
I lay my ear to furious Latin.
I am not a Caesar.
I have simply ordered a box of maniacs.
They can be sent back.
They can die, I need feed them nothing, I am the owner.
I wonder how hungry they are.
I wonder if they would forget me
If I just undid the locks and stood back and turned into a tree.
There is the laburnum, its blond colonnades,
And the petticoats of the cherry.
They might ignore me immediately
In my moon suit and funeral veil.
I am no source of honey
So why should they turn on me?
Tomorrow I will be sweet God, I will set them free.
The box is only temporary.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Arrival Of The Bee Box by Sylvia Plath
An Analysis of Sylvia Plath's Poem
Sylvia Plath's poem "The Arrival Of The Bee Box" is a complex and layered work that explores themes of power, vulnerability, and the struggle for control. The poem captures the sense of unease and anxiety that can arise when we are confronted with something unpredictable and potentially dangerous, such as a box full of bees.
At its heart, "The Arrival Of The Bee Box" is a meditation on the human condition, and the ways in which we attempt to exert control over our lives despite the fact that we are ultimately at the mercy of forces beyond our control. This is a theme that runs throughout Plath's work, and is particularly evident in her later poems, which are often characterized by a sense of despair and disillusionment.
The Poem's Structure
The poem is composed of five stanzas of varying lengths, with a total of 28 lines. The stanzas are not arranged in a consistent pattern, and there is no regular rhyme scheme or meter. This contributes to the sense of instability and unpredictability that is central to the poem's meaning.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the arrival of a bee box, which she has ordered from a supplier. She is struck by the weight of the box, which represents the weight of responsibility that comes with owning a colony of bees. The speaker is aware of the danger that the bees represent, but is also intrigued by their power and vitality.
In the second stanza, the speaker imagines what it would be like to release the bees from the box, and the sense of chaos and danger that would ensue. She is aware that the bees would swarm around her, and that she would be powerless to stop them. This sense of vulnerability is a recurring theme throughout the poem.
The third stanza is the longest in the poem, and is characterized by a sense of tension and unease. The speaker describes the bees inside the box, and their efforts to escape. She is aware that they are confined, and that they are struggling to break free. This is a metaphor for the human condition, and the struggle for freedom and autonomy in a world that often seems oppressive and limiting.
The fourth stanza is brief, and is characterized by a sense of resignation. The speaker acknowledges that she cannot keep the bees forever, and that eventually they will escape. She is aware that she is powerless to control their actions, and that she must simply wait and see what happens.
The final stanza is the most enigmatic in the poem, and is open to a range of interpretations. The speaker describes the box as a "dark room," and suggests that it represents a psychological or emotional state. She is aware that there is "nothing to do" but to wait for the bees to escape, and seems to suggest that the only way to gain control over the situation is to let go of the need for control altogether.
Themes and Interpretations
One of the central themes of "The Arrival Of The Bee Box" is power and control. The speaker is aware of the power that the bees represent, but is also aware of the danger that they pose. This creates a sense of unease and anxiety, as the speaker struggles to assert control over the situation. This theme is reflected in the structure of the poem, which is characterized by a lack of regularity and predictability.
Another theme explored in the poem is vulnerability. The speaker is aware of her own vulnerability in the face of the bees, and imagines the chaos and danger that would ensue if they were released. This sense of vulnerability is a metaphor for the human condition, and the struggle for autonomy and control in a world that is often unpredictable and dangerous.
The poem also explores the tension between confinement and freedom. The bees are confined to the box, and are struggling to break free. This is a metaphor for the human struggle for autonomy and freedom, and the ways in which our desires for freedom can be thwarted by outside forces.
Finally, the poem can be read as a meditation on the nature of consciousness itself. The box represents a kind of psychological or emotional confinement, and the struggle of the bees to break free can be read as a metaphor for the struggle to achieve self-awareness and self-realization.
Conclusion
"The Arrival Of The Bee Box" is a complex and layered poem that explores themes of power, vulnerability, and the struggle for control. The poem is characterized by a lack of regularity and predictability, which contributes to the sense of instability and unease that is central to its meaning. The poem can be read as a metaphor for the human condition, and the struggle for autonomy and self-realization in a world that is often unpredictable and dangerous.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Arrival Of The Bee Box: A Masterpiece of Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and her works continue to inspire and captivate readers to this day. Among her many masterpieces, "The Arrival of the Bee Box" stands out as a haunting and powerful exploration of the human psyche and the struggle for control.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the arrival of a bee box, which she has ordered and is now waiting to open. The box is described as "square as a chair and almost too heavy to lift," and the speaker is immediately struck by its ominous presence. She notes that the box is "dangerous" and "black," and wonders what kind of creatures might be inside.
As the speaker contemplates the box, she begins to feel a sense of fear and anxiety. She imagines the bees inside as "the swarmy feeling of African hands," and wonders if they will attack her when she opens the box. She also notes that the box is "locked, it is dangerous," suggesting that she is aware of the potential danger but is still drawn to it.
As the poem progresses, the speaker becomes increasingly obsessed with the bee box. She describes it as a "miracle" and a "treasure," and wonders what kind of power she might have over the bees inside. She imagines herself as a "queen" who can control the bees with her "red heart," and wonders if she can use them to "make honey" or "dress" herself in their "gold and red" colors.
Despite her fascination with the bee box, the speaker is also aware of the danger it represents. She notes that the bees inside are "dangerous," and wonders if they will "sting" her or "burn" her with their "hot irons." She also notes that the box is "locked," suggesting that she is aware of the potential danger but is still drawn to it.
As the poem reaches its climax, the speaker finally opens the bee box. She describes the bees as "black on black," and notes that they are "furious." She also notes that they are "not in a mood for humming," suggesting that they are angry and aggressive.
Despite the danger, the speaker is still drawn to the bees. She describes them as "mine," and wonders if she can use them to "make honey" or "dress" herself in their "gold and red" colors. She also notes that the bees are "dangerous," but suggests that she is willing to take the risk in order to gain control over them.
In the final lines of the poem, the speaker acknowledges the danger of the bee box and the bees inside. She notes that they are "dangerous," and suggests that they are "evil." She also notes that she is "no magician," and that she cannot control the bees with her "red heart."
Despite this, the speaker is still drawn to the bee box and the bees inside. She notes that they are "mine," and suggests that she is willing to take the risk in order to gain control over them. She also notes that the bees are "dangerous," but suggests that she is willing to take the risk in order to gain control over them.
In conclusion, "The Arrival of the Bee Box" is a powerful and haunting exploration of the human psyche and the struggle for control. Through the speaker's fascination with the bee box and the bees inside, Sylvia Plath explores themes of power, danger, and obsession. The poem is a masterpiece of modern poetry, and continues to inspire and captivate readers to this day.
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