'The Arrival Of The Bee Box' by Sylvia Plath

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The Collected Poems1962I 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: A Stunning and Haunting Poem by Sylvia Plath

When we think of Sylvia Plath, we often associate her with her powerful and haunting confessional poetry that reflects her deep sense of despair and isolation. Her poem, "The Arrival of the Bee Box," is no exception. This 28-line poem, published posthumously in 1965, is a stunning and eerie work that explores themes of power, control, and the struggle for autonomy.

The Arrival of the Bee Box: A Close Reading

At the heart of this poem is a simple yet powerful image: a bee box. The box represents a kind of power and control that the speaker has over the bees. But as the speaker struggles to open the box, she realizes that the bees are just as powerful as she is. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of this struggle for power.

Stanza One: The Speaker's Fear and Curiosity

The poem begins with the speaker describing the bee box, which she has received in the mail. She is both excited and terrified by its arrival. She wonders what is inside and what kind of power it represents. She describes the box in vivid terms, saying that it is "square as a chair / And almost too heavy to lift."

But it is not just the physical properties of the box that fascinate the speaker. She is also intrigued by what it represents: "I am no source of honey / So why should they turn on me?" Here, the speaker is acknowledging that the bees have their own kind of power. They are not just mindless insects, but creatures with their own motivations and desires.

Stanza Two: The Struggle for Control

In the second stanza, the speaker attempts to open the bee box. But as she does so, she realizes that she is facing a powerful and unpredictable force. She describes the bees as "black on gold"; their bodies are like "african hands" that are "so many / Flutterings." This vivid imagery adds to the sense of danger and unpredictability that the speaker feels.

As she struggles to open the box, the speaker recognizes that she is in a battle for control. She is trying to gain control over the bees, but they are resisting her efforts. "They can die, I need feed them nothing, I am the owner," she says. But despite her ownership of the bees, she cannot control them. They are their own creatures, with their own will and power.

Stanza Three: The Speaker's Realization

The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. Here, the speaker comes to a realization: "I have simply ordered a box of maniacs." This line is a turning point in the poem. The speaker recognizes that the power she thought she had over the bees was an illusion. In fact, it is the bees who have the power over her.

The speaker concludes the poem by describing the bees as "dangerous," yet "beautiful." This final image is a reminder that power is not always straightforward. The bees may be dangerous, but they are also a thing of beauty. And in the end, the speaker must learn to accept that she cannot control them.

Interpretation: The Arrival of the Bee Box

So, what does this poem mean? At its heart, "The Arrival of the Bee Box" is a meditation on power and control. The bee box represents a kind of power that the speaker desires, but as she struggles to open it, she realizes that the bees are just as powerful as she is.

But the poem is not just about power. It is also about the struggle for autonomy. The bees represent a kind of wildness and freedom that the speaker longs for. But she cannot control them, no matter how hard she tries.

Finally, the poem is about the dangers of attempting to control something that is inherently unpredictable and powerful. The bees are dangerous, but they are also beautiful. And in the end, the speaker must accept that she cannot control them.

Conclusion

"The Arrival of the Bee Box" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of power, control, and the struggle for autonomy. Through vivid imagery and a skillful use of language, Sylvia Plath creates a work that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.

This poem is a reminder that power is not always straightforward and that attempting to control something that is inherently unpredictable and powerful can be dangerous. But it is also a reminder that beauty and danger can coexist, and that sometimes, the best we can do is to accept what we cannot control.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Arrival of the Bee Box: A Masterpiece of Poetry by Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, is known for her confessional style of writing that delves into the depths of human emotions and psyche. Her poem, The Arrival of the Bee Box, is a prime example of her mastery of language and imagery that captures the essence of human existence. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of this poem and explore its themes, symbols, and meanings.

The Arrival of the Bee Box is a poem that describes the arrival of a box of bees that the speaker has ordered. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with its own distinct tone and imagery. The first stanza sets the scene for the arrival of the bee box and the speaker's initial reaction to it. The second stanza describes the speaker's struggle to open the box and the fear that arises from the possibility of being stung. The third stanza concludes the poem with a sense of triumph and power as the speaker gains control over the bees.

The poem begins with the line, "I ordered this, clean wood box / Square as a chair and almost too heavy to lift." This line sets the tone for the poem and establishes the speaker's sense of ownership over the bee box. The use of the word "clean" suggests that the speaker is in control of the situation and has ordered the box for a specific purpose. The description of the box as "square as a chair" and "almost too heavy to lift" creates a sense of solidity and weight, which contrasts with the delicate and fragile nature of the bees inside.

In the second stanza, the speaker describes the struggle to open the box and the fear that arises from the possibility of being stung. The line, "I have to live with it overnight / And I can't keep away from it" suggests that the speaker is both fascinated and repelled by the box. The use of the word "it" instead of "them" emphasizes the speaker's fear of the bees as a collective entity. The line, "The box is locked, it is dangerous" further emphasizes the danger that the speaker perceives in the bees.

The third stanza is the climax of the poem, where the speaker gains control over the bees. The line, "Now I am a lake. A woman bends over me" suggests that the speaker has become a receptacle for the bees, and that they are now under her control. The use of the word "lake" creates a sense of calm and stillness, which contrasts with the chaos and danger of the previous stanza. The line, "The bees are flying. They are dancing" suggests that the bees are now under the speaker's command, and that she has gained power over them.

The Arrival of the Bee Box is a poem that is rich in symbolism and meaning. The bee box itself can be seen as a metaphor for the human psyche, with the bees representing the various emotions and thoughts that reside within us. The struggle to open the box can be seen as a metaphor for the struggle to confront and understand our own inner selves. The fear of being stung can be seen as a metaphor for the fear of confronting our own inner demons.

The third stanza can be seen as a metaphor for the process of self-discovery and empowerment. The speaker's transformation into a "lake" can be seen as a metaphor for the process of self-reflection and introspection. The bees' transformation into a dance can be seen as a metaphor for the process of transformation and growth.

In conclusion, The Arrival of the Bee Box is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of human existence. Through its use of language and imagery, it explores the themes of fear, control, and transformation. The poem is a testament to Sylvia Plath's mastery of language and her ability to capture the complexities of the human psyche. It is a poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.

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