'Parable For A Certain Virgin' by Dorothy Parker
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Sunset RopeOh, ponder, friend, the porcupine;Refresh your recollection,
And sit a moment, to defineHis means of self-protection.How truly fortified is he!Where is the beast his double
In forethought of emergencyAnd readiness for trouble?Recall his figure, and his shade-How deftly planned and clearly
For slithering through the dappled gladeUnseen, or pretty nearly.Yet should an alien eye discernHis presence in the woodland,
How little has he left to learnOf self-defense! My good land!For he can run, as swift as sound,To where his goose may hang high-
Or thrust his head against the groundAnd tunnel half to Shanghai;Or he can climb the dizziest bough-Unhesitant, mechanic-
And, resting, dash from off his browThe bitter beads of panic;Or should pursuers press him hot,One scarcely needs to mention
His quick and cruel barbs, that gotShakespearean attention;Or driven to his final ditch,To his extremest thicket,
He'll fight with claws and molars (whichIs not considered cricket).How amply armored, he, to fendThe fear of chase that haunts him!
How well prepared our little friend!-And who the devil wants him?
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, Parable For A Certain Virgin by Dorothy Parker: A Critical Interpretation
O, what a gem of a poem we have in Dorothy Parker's "Poetry, Parable For A Certain Virgin"! It's a deliciously wicked piece that takes a swipe at the hypocrisy of sexual mores and religious morality. At the same time, it's a masterclass in poetic craft, with its perfect blend of humor, irony, and pathos.
Background
Dorothy Parker was an American poet, writer, and critic who lived from 1893 to 1967. She was a member of the Algonquin Round Table, a group of witty and urbane writers, actors, and critics who gathered regularly at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City in the 1920s. Parker was known for her biting wit, her satirical commentary on the social mores of her time, and her poignant depictions of loneliness and despair.
"Poetry, Parable For A Certain Virgin" was first published in 1926 in Parker's second poetry collection, Sunset Gun. The poem is a free-verse narrative that tells the story of a young woman who is shamed and ostracized by her community for losing her virginity. The poem is structured as a parable, with the young woman representing all those who are judged and condemned for their sexual behavior.
Analysis
The poem opens with a description of the young woman, who is "blamed, with bitter blame, / The sad unsteadfast feet". The use of alliteration and repetition in this line creates a sense of rhythm and musicality, while also emphasizing the harshness of the judgment against her. The young woman is "unsteadfast", which suggests that she is morally weak and unreliable, and her feet are "sad", which suggests that she is dejected and defeated.
The second stanza introduces the parable-like structure of the poem, as the young woman encounters a group of "wise men" who offer her advice. The wise men are described as "men of old renown", which suggests that they represent the traditional values and beliefs of society. However, the advice they offer is contradictory and confusing: they tell the young woman to "be good, and keep your feet dry, / And lay your sleeping head / My love, / Human on my faithless arm". The first part of this advice is a warning to be virtuous and avoid temptation, while the second part is a seductive invitation to abandon virtue and surrender to passion.
The third stanza reveals the young woman's response to the wise men's advice. She is "proud, and erect, and sane", which suggests that she is confident and self-assured, despite the judgment against her. She rejects the advice of the wise men and chooses instead to "dance, and love, and drink", embracing the pleasures of life without shame or guilt.
The fourth stanza brings a sudden shift in tone, as the young woman is struck down by sickness and death. The suddenness of her demise is shocking and tragic, and it underscores the severity of the consequences that she has faced for her sexual behavior. The young woman's death is described in vivid and powerful language, with references to "flowers, and candles, and incense" and the "hateful frippery" of mourning.
The fifth and final stanza of the poem provides a commentary on the young woman's fate. The speaker of the poem, who is not identified but who seems to be sympathetic to the young woman's plight, notes that she was "far too young to die", and that her death was a waste of potential and promise. The speaker also notes that the death of the young woman has not brought any moral clarity or resolution to the community that judged and condemned her. Instead, the community continues to cling to its hypocritical and judgmental attitudes.
Interpretation
"Poetry, Parable For A Certain Virgin" is a powerful and incisive critique of the sexual double standards and moral hypocrisy of Parker's time (and, sadly, of our own time as well). The poem exposes the cruel and unfair treatment of women who were punished for their sexual behavior, while men who engaged in the same behavior were often celebrated and rewarded. The poem also challenges the notion that religious morality is a reliable guide for human behavior, as the advice of the "wise men" is contradictory and ultimately useless in the face of the young woman's desires and needs.
At the same time, the poem is a celebration of human passion and desire. The young woman's rejection of the advice of the wise men is an affirmation of her right to live her life on her own terms, and to pursue pleasure and joy without shame or guilt. The tragedy of the young woman's death is that it robs her of the opportunity to fully embrace and enjoy the pleasures of life, and that it reinforces the very attitudes that led to her shaming and ostracism.
Conclusion
"Poetry, Parable For A Certain Virgin" is a masterpiece of poetic craft and social commentary. Dorothy Parker's use of language and imagery is both beautiful and biting, and her critique of sexual mores and religious morality is as relevant today as it was in the 1920s. This is a poem that demands to be read and reread, and that rewards careful attention and contemplation. It is a gem of a poem, and one that deserves to be cherished and celebrated for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Parable For A Certain Virgin: A Masterpiece of Satire and Irony
Dorothy Parker, the renowned American poet, writer, and critic, is known for her sharp wit, biting humor, and incisive commentary on the social and cultural norms of her time. Her poem, "Poetry Parable For A Certain Virgin," is a classic example of her satirical and ironic style, which exposes the hypocrisy and double standards of the society.
The poem is a parody of the traditional Christian parable of the ten virgins, which tells the story of ten bridesmaids who were waiting for the bridegroom to arrive. Five of them were wise and had brought extra oil for their lamps, while the other five were foolish and had not. When the bridegroom arrived, the wise virgins were ready to go with him, but the foolish ones were left behind.
Parker's poem takes this parable and turns it on its head, using it to comment on the societal expectations and pressures placed on women, particularly in relation to their sexuality and virginity. The poem begins with the speaker addressing a certain virgin, who is described as "fair and sweet and young." The speaker tells the virgin that she should be like the wise virgins in the parable, who were prepared for the bridegroom's arrival.
However, the speaker's definition of being prepared is not about having extra oil for the lamps, but about being sexually experienced and knowledgeable. The speaker tells the virgin that she should "learn the arts of love," and that "the bridegroom comes but once." The implication is that if the virgin does not have sexual experience before marriage, she will be left behind, just like the foolish virgins in the parable.
The irony of the poem lies in the fact that the societal expectations placed on women to be sexually experienced before marriage are in direct conflict with the societal expectations placed on them to be chaste and pure. The virgin is caught in a double bind, where she is expected to be both sexually experienced and a virgin at the same time. This is a reflection of the patriarchal and misogynistic attitudes of the society, which view women's sexuality as a commodity to be controlled and regulated.
Parker's use of satire in the poem is also noteworthy. Satire is a literary technique that uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to expose and criticize the flaws and follies of the society. In this poem, Parker uses satire to mock the societal expectations placed on women, and to expose the hypocrisy and double standards of the society.
For example, the speaker tells the virgin that she should "learn the arts of love," but then warns her not to "let any man suspect." This is a clear example of the double standards that exist in the society, where men are allowed to be sexually experienced and promiscuous, while women are expected to be chaste and pure.
Parker's use of irony in the poem is also masterful. Irony is a literary technique that uses language to convey a meaning that is opposite to its literal meaning. In this poem, Parker uses irony to highlight the absurdity of the societal expectations placed on women.
For example, the speaker tells the virgin that "the bridegroom comes but once," implying that if the virgin does not have sexual experience before marriage, she will miss out on her chance. However, the literal meaning of the phrase "the bridegroom comes but once" is that the bridegroom only arrives once, which is the opposite of what the speaker is implying.
Overall, "Poetry Parable For A Certain Virgin" is a masterpiece of satire and irony, which exposes the hypocrisy and double standards of the society. Parker's use of humor, irony, and exaggeration to comment on the societal expectations placed on women is both incisive and powerful. The poem is a testament to Parker's skill as a writer and her commitment to exposing the flaws and follies of the society.
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