'Purdah' by Sylvia Plath

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The Collected Poems1962Jade --
Stone of the side,
The antagonizedSide of green Adam, I
Smile, cross-legged,
Enigmatical,Shifting my clarities.
So valuable!
How the sun polishes this shoulder!And should
The moon, my
Indefatigable cousinRise, with her cancerous pallors,
Dragging trees --
Little bushy polyps,Little nets,
My visibilities hide.
I gleam like a mirror.At this facet the bridegroom arrives
Lord of the mirrors!
It is himself he guidesIn among these silk
Screens, these rustling appurtenances.
I breathe, and the mouthVeil stirs its curtain
My eye
Veil isA concatenation of rainbows.
I am his.
Even in hisAbsence, I
Revolve in my
Sheath of impossibles,Priceless and quiet
Among these parrakeets, macaws!
O chatterersAttendants of the eyelash!
I shall unloose
One feather, like the peacock.Attendants of the lip!
I shall unloose
One noteShattering
The chandelier
Of air that all day fliesIts crystals
A million ignorants.
Attendants!Attendants!
And at his next step
I shall unlooseI shall unloose --
From the small jeweled
Doll he guards like a heart --The lioness,
The shriek in the bath,
The cloak of holes.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Literary Criticism and Interpretation of Sylvia Plath's "Purdah"

Sylvia Plath is widely known for her confessional poetry, which is a type of poetry that deals with personal and often intimate experiences. Her poem "Purdah" is a perfect example of confessional poetry, as it deals with the poet's own experiences of being a woman and the cultural and social pressures that come with it.

Background

"Purdah" was written in 1961, when Sylvia Plath was living in England with her husband, the poet Ted Hughes. The poem was first published in The Times Literary Supplement in October of that year. The poem is, to a certain extent, autobiographical and is based on Plath's experiences of living in India in the early 1950s.

Analysis

The poem "Purdah" is a complex and layered work that deals with many themes and issues. At its most basic level, the poem deals with the concept of "purdah," which is a term used to describe the practice of secluding women from men and the outside world in some traditional Muslim societies. In the poem, Plath describes how the women in purdah are forced to live in a confined space and how they are denied the freedom to move and act as they please.

Plath uses vivid and powerful imagery to describe the world of purdah. She describes the women as "black cloaked figures" and "shrouded ghosts," which gives the impression that they are almost like ghosts or spirits rather than living, breathing human beings. The use of the word "cloaked" also suggests that the women are hiding something or that they are being hidden from something.

The poem also deals with the theme of identity and how it is shaped by social and cultural factors. Plath describes how the women in purdah are denied the opportunity to develop their own identities and how they are forced to conform to the expectations of their society. She writes:

"They have no faces, / Or if they do, they are all the same, / Dull as pastry."

This suggests that the women are not allowed to express themselves or show their individuality, and that they are forced to conform to a certain ideal of femininity that is determined by their culture.

The poem also deals with the theme of power and how it is distributed in society. Plath describes how the men in purdah have all the power and how they are able to control the women's lives. She writes:

"The men in their white, / Muslin dresses, they pass and repass, / They hire the taxis and buy the drinks, / And whether they smile or frown, / It is not up to the women."

This suggests that the women in purdah are completely dependent on the men and that they have no control over their own lives.

Interpretation

"Purdah" is a powerful and moving poem that deals with many important themes and issues. At its heart, the poem is a critique of the patriarchal societies that exist in some traditional Muslim cultures. Plath is highlighting the ways in which women are oppressed and denied their basic human rights in these societies.

However, the poem is also more than just a critique of another culture. Plath is also exploring the ways in which women are oppressed and denied their rights in Western societies as well. The poem can be read as a commentary on the ways in which women are expected to conform to certain ideals of femininity and how they are denied the opportunity to express themselves and develop their own identities.

Overall, "Purdah" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that deals with important themes and issues. It is a testament to Sylvia Plath's skill as a poet that she is able to explore these themes with such depth and nuance.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Purdah: A Masterpiece by Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath is a name that needs no introduction in the world of literature. Her works have left an indelible mark on the literary world, and her poetry is no exception. One of her most famous poems, Poetry Purdah, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of the poet's struggle with her craft. In this article, we will delve into the poem's meaning, symbolism, and literary devices used by the poet.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a different tone and message. The first stanza sets the tone for the entire poem, with the poet lamenting the fact that she cannot write poetry. She compares herself to a caged bird, unable to fly and express herself freely. The use of the metaphor is significant, as it highlights the poet's frustration with her inability to write. The bird is a symbol of freedom, and the fact that it is caged represents the poet's confinement.

The second stanza takes a different turn, with the poet acknowledging that she has the ability to write poetry. However, she is afraid to do so, as she fears that her words will not be good enough. The use of the metaphor of the "white goddess" is significant, as it represents the ideal of perfection that the poet is striving for. The white goddess is a symbol of purity, beauty, and perfection, and the poet's fear of not being able to reach this ideal is palpable.

The third stanza is the most powerful of the three, with the poet breaking free from her fears and expressing herself freely. She acknowledges that her words may not be perfect, but they are her own, and that is what matters. The use of the metaphor of the "black goddess" is significant, as it represents the poet's acceptance of her imperfections. The black goddess is a symbol of darkness, mystery, and imperfection, and the poet's embrace of this symbol represents her acceptance of her own flaws.

The poem's title, Poetry Purdah, is significant, as it represents the poet's struggle with her craft. Purdah is a term used in Islamic culture to describe the practice of secluding women from public view. The use of this term in the title is significant, as it represents the poet's seclusion from the world of poetry. The poet is trapped in her own mind, unable to express herself freely, and the use of the term purdah highlights this fact.

The poem's structure is also significant, with the use of three stanzas representing the poet's journey from frustration to acceptance. The first stanza represents the poet's frustration with her inability to write, the second stanza represents her fear of not being good enough, and the third stanza represents her acceptance of her imperfections and her willingness to express herself freely.

The use of literary devices in the poem is also significant, with the poet using metaphors, symbolism, and imagery to convey her message. The use of the metaphor of the caged bird in the first stanza is significant, as it represents the poet's confinement. The use of the metaphor of the white goddess in the second stanza is significant, as it represents the poet's ideal of perfection. The use of the metaphor of the black goddess in the third stanza is significant, as it represents the poet's acceptance of her imperfections.

The use of imagery in the poem is also significant, with the poet using vivid descriptions to convey her message. The use of the image of the "white goddess" is significant, as it represents the poet's ideal of perfection. The use of the image of the "black goddess" is significant, as it represents the poet's acceptance of her imperfections.

In conclusion, Poetry Purdah is a masterpiece by Sylvia Plath that captures the essence of the poet's struggle with her craft. The poem's use of metaphors, symbolism, and imagery is significant, as it conveys the poet's message in a powerful and evocative way. The poem's structure is also significant, with the use of three stanzas representing the poet's journey from frustration to acceptance. Overall, Poetry Purdah is a must-read for anyone interested in the world of poetry and literature.

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