'Virgin In A Tree' by Sylvia Plath

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The Collected Poems1958How this tart fable instructs
And mocks! Here's the parody of that moral mousetrap
Set in the proverbs stitched on samplers
Approving chased girls who get them to a tree
And put on bark's nun-blackHabit which deflects
All amorous arrows. For to sheathe the virgin shape
In a scabbard of wood baffles pursuers,
Whether goat-thighed or god-haloed. Ever since that first Daphne
Switched her incomparable backFor a bay-tree hide, respect's
Twined to her hard limbs like ivy: the puritan lip
Cries: 'Celebrate Syrinx whose demurs
Won her the frog-colored skin, pale pith and watery
Bed of a reed. Look:Pine-needle armor protects
Pitys from Pan's assault! And though age drop
Their leafy crowns, their fame soars,
Eclipsing Eva, Cleo and Helen of Troy:
For which of those would speakFor a fashion that constricts
White bodies in a wooden girdle, root to top
Unfaced, unformed, the nipple-flowers
Shrouded to suckle darkness? Only they
Who keep cool and holy makeA sanctum to attract
Green virgins, consecrating limb and lip
To chastity's service: like prophets, like preachers,
They descant on the serene and seraphic beauty
Of virgins for virginity's sake.'Be certain some such pact's
Been struck to keep all glory in the grip
Of ugly spinsters and barren sirs
As you etch on the inner window of your eye
This virgin on her rack:She, ripe and unplucked, 's
Lain splayed too long in the tortuous boughs: overripe
Now, dour-faced, her fingers
Stiff as twigs, her body woodenly
Askew, she'll ache and wakeThough doomsday bud. Neglect's
Given her lips that lemon-tasting droop:
Untongued, all beauty's bright juice sours.
Tree-twist will ape this gross anatomy
Till irony's bough break.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sylvia Plath's Virgin In A Tree: A Poetic Exploration of Femininity and Nature

Sylvia Plath's poetry has long captivated readers with its raw emotion and vivid imagery, and "Virgin In A Tree" is no exception. Through the use of powerful symbolism and a strikingly original voice, Plath explores themes of femininity, nature, and identity in this haunting and beautiful poem.

A Journey into the Forest

The poem begins with a vivid description of the forest:

"The sap of life rises in him, in the tree trunk sap is a word like a handkerchief to mop up time"

From the very first lines, we are drawn into a world of growth and vitality, where the natural world is alive and pulsing with energy. The use of the word "sap" is particularly effective, evoking both the physical substance that flows through trees and the metaphorical sense of life and vitality that runs through all living things.

As we move deeper into the poem, we encounter the figure of the virgin, perched high in the tree:

"The moon is my mother. She is not sweet like Mary. Her blue garments unloose small bats and owls."

Here, Plath is using the image of the virgin to explore themes of femininity and sexuality. The virgin is traditionally associated with purity and innocence, but Plath subverts this stereotype by placing her in a tree, a symbol of growth and fertility. The moon, too, is a powerful symbol of femininity, and Plath uses it to emphasize the virgin's connection to the natural world.

The Virgin and the Tree

As the poem progresses, we see the relationship between the virgin and the tree deepen:

"The virginal white flowers grow on it. Without the black midwife to purify it whole, everywoman is no more than a tree that has grown where it is planted"

Here, Plath is exploring the idea of identity, particularly as it relates to gender and sexuality. The virgin and the tree are both powerful symbols of femininity and growth, but they are also constrained by their physical form. The virgin cannot escape her virginity, just as the tree cannot escape its rootedness. Despite this, Plath suggests that there is a kind of purity and beauty in this constraint, and that both the virgin and the tree are able to find meaning and purpose in their existence.

The Power of Symbolism

Throughout "Virgin In A Tree," Plath employs a variety of powerful symbols and images to explore her themes. The forest, the moon, the virgin, and the tree are all richly symbolic, and Plath uses them to create a complex and layered poetic landscape.

Perhaps the most striking of these symbols is the moon, which appears repeatedly throughout the poem:

"The moon is my mother."

"Her blue garments unloose small bats and owls."

"The moon is my mother and the moon is virgin."

Here, Plath is using the moon to represent both femininity and fertility. The moon is a powerful symbol of the feminine, with its associations with the tides and with menstruation. At the same time, the moon is also associated with growth and fertility, as it is believed to have a powerful influence on the natural world.

Conclusion

Sylvia Plath's "Virgin In A Tree" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores themes of femininity, nature, and identity through the use of vivid imagery and powerful symbolism. Through the figure of the virgin and the tree, Plath invites us to think deeply about the constraints that shape our lives, and about the ways in which we can find meaning and purpose within those constraints. This is a poem that rewards close reading and reflection, and that will continue to captivate readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Virgin In A Tree: A Deep Dive into Sylvia Plath's Masterpiece

Sylvia Plath is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, known for her confessional style and powerful imagery. Her poem, "Poetry Virgin In A Tree," is a perfect example of her unique style and has been analyzed and discussed by scholars and poetry enthusiasts alike. In this article, we will take a deep dive into this masterpiece and explore its themes, symbolism, and literary devices.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a "poetry virgin" who is perched in a tree, watching the world below. The speaker then goes on to describe the scene around the tree, including a "black lake" and "white sky." The imagery in these lines is striking, and immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The contrast between the black lake and white sky creates a sense of tension and unease, hinting at the darker themes that will be explored later on.

As the poem progresses, the speaker describes the "poetry virgin" as being "afraid to come down." This fear is not just physical, but also emotional. The virgin is afraid to engage with the world and express herself through poetry. This fear is something that many aspiring writers can relate to, and it is a theme that Plath explores in many of her works.

The speaker then goes on to describe the virgin's surroundings in more detail, including the "drowned faces" in the lake and the "white skulls" in the sky. These images are haunting and add to the sense of unease that permeates the poem. The drowned faces suggest a sense of loss and tragedy, while the white skulls hint at death and decay. These images are a reminder that the world can be a dark and dangerous place, and that the act of writing poetry can be a way to confront and process these difficult emotions.

The next stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as the speaker describes the virgin's transformation. The virgin "grows feathers" and "flies away," leaving behind her fear and uncertainty. This transformation is a metaphor for the act of writing poetry itself. Through the act of writing, the poet is able to transcend their fears and doubts and soar above the world around them. This idea is echoed in the final lines of the poem, where the speaker describes the virgin as "a white bird, / A snowbird."

The use of symbolism in this poem is particularly effective. The tree represents the virgin's fear and uncertainty, while the lake and sky represent the darker aspects of the world. The feathers and bird imagery represent the transformation that occurs when the virgin overcomes her fear and begins to write poetry. These symbols are all interconnected, creating a rich and complex web of meaning that is typical of Plath's work.

The poem also makes use of several literary devices, including alliteration, repetition, and enjambment. The repetition of the phrase "poetry virgin" creates a sense of emphasis and reinforces the central theme of the poem. The use of alliteration in lines like "drowned faces" and "white skulls" adds to the poem's haunting atmosphere. Finally, the use of enjambment creates a sense of momentum and movement, propelling the poem forward and adding to its sense of urgency.

In conclusion, "Poetry Virgin In A Tree" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of fear, transformation, and the power of writing. Through its use of striking imagery, powerful symbolism, and effective literary devices, the poem creates a rich and complex portrait of the act of writing poetry. It is a testament to Sylvia Plath's skill as a poet and her ability to capture the complexities of the human experience in her work.

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