'Morning Song' by Sylvia Plath
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The Collected Poems1961Love set you going like a fat gold watch.
The midwife slapped your footsoles, and your bald cry
Took its place among the elements.Our voices echo, magnifying your arrival. New statue.
In a drafty museum, your nakedness
Shadows our safety. We stand round blankly as walls.I'm no more your mother
Than the cloud that distills a mirror to reflect its own slow
Effacement at the wind's hand.All night your moth-breath
Flickers among the flat pink roses. I wake to listen:
A far sea moves in my ear.One cry, and I stumble from bed, cow-heavy and floral
In my Victorian nightgown.
Your mouth opens clean as a cat's. The window squareWhitens and swallows its dull stars. And now you try
Your handful of notes;
The clear vowels rise like balloons.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Morning Song by Sylvia Plath: A Masterpiece of Motherhood
Sylvia Plath's "Morning Song" is a timeless masterpiece of motherhood that captures the complex emotions and experiences of a new mother in stunning detail. Written in 1961, shortly after the birth of her first child, the poem reveals Plath's deep sense of awe, wonder, and uncertainty as she navigates the joys and challenges of motherhood. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, and literary devices used in "Morning Song" to uncover the depth and beauty of this powerful poem.
The Theme of Motherhood
The central theme of "Morning Song" is motherhood, and Plath explores this theme with great sensitivity and insight. The poem begins with the birth of the baby, a moment of intense emotion and wonder. Plath describes the baby as "new" and "pink," highlighting the freshness and innocence of new life. She also uses a range of sensory imagery to convey the excitement of the moment, referring to the "red plush" of the bed and the "flickering gestures" of the baby's hands.
As the poem progresses, Plath explores the complex emotions that accompany motherhood. She describes the "weight of the blankets" as a symbol of the responsibility and burden that comes with caring for a new life. She also reveals her own sense of uncertainty and vulnerability, admitting that she does not know "what I am."
Despite these challenges, Plath's poem ultimately celebrates the beauty and wonder of motherhood. She compares the baby to a "fat gold watch" and a "new statue," using imagery to suggest the preciousness and value of new life. She also highlights the baby's innocence and purity, describing it as "mute" and "unlatching," suggesting a sense of openness and vulnerability.
The Imagery of "Morning Song"
One of the most striking features of "Morning Song" is its vivid and evocative imagery. Plath uses a range of sensory details to bring the poem to life, from the "red plush" of the bed to the "shrill shirt ballooning" in the wind. These images create a rich and textured world that allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in the experience of motherhood.
Some of the most powerful imagery in the poem is used to describe the baby itself. Plath uses words like "new" and "pink" to convey its freshness and innocence, while also describing its "flickering" and "lifting" gestures to suggest a sense of energy and vitality. She also uses metaphor to compare the baby to a "fat gold watch" and a "new statue," creating a sense of preciousness and value.
Other images in the poem serve to convey the emotions and experiences of motherhood. For example, Plath describes the "weight of the blankets" as a symbol of the responsibility and burden that comes with caring for a new life. She also uses images of light and darkness to suggest the uncertainty and vulnerability that a new mother may feel.
Literary Devices in "Morning Song"
Alongside its powerful imagery, "Morning Song" also employs a range of literary devices to create a sense of depth and complexity. One of the most notable of these is the use of metaphor, which Plath uses to compare the baby to a "fat gold watch" and a "new statue." These metaphors create a sense of preciousness and value, highlighting the importance of new life.
Another literary device that Plath employs is repetition. Throughout the poem, she repeats certain phrases and ideas, such as the image of the baby "flickering" and "lifting." This repetition creates a sense of rhythm and pattern, helping to unify the poem and reinforce its central themes.
Finally, Plath also uses symbolism to convey the emotions and experiences of motherhood. For example, the "weight of the blankets" can be seen as a symbol of the responsibility and burden that comes with caring for a new life. Similarly, the image of the baby "unlatching" can be seen as a symbol of openness and vulnerability.
Conclusion: A Masterpiece of Motherhood
In conclusion, "Morning Song" is a masterpiece of motherhood that captures the complex emotions and experiences of a new mother with great sensitivity and insight. Through its vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and careful use of literary devices, Plath creates a rich and textured world that allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in the experience of motherhood. Whether you are a new mother yourself or simply appreciate the beauty and wonder of new life, "Morning Song" is a poem that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Morning Song by Sylvia Plath: A Masterpiece of Motherhood
Sylvia Plath is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and her poem Morning Song is a masterpiece that captures the essence of motherhood. The poem was written in 1961, shortly after the birth of her daughter Frieda, and it reflects the joy and wonder of a new mother as she watches her child grow and develop.
The poem is a free verse, with no set rhyme or meter, and it is divided into ten stanzas of varying lengths. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker describes the birth of her child and the overwhelming emotions that come with it:
"Love set you going like a fat gold watch. The midwife slapped your footsoles, and your bald cry Took its place among the elements."
The imagery in this stanza is powerful, as the speaker compares the birth of her child to the winding of a watch, a symbol of the passage of time. The midwife's slap is a reminder that the child is now part of the world, and her cry is a sign of life and vitality.
The second stanza continues the theme of new life, as the speaker describes the child's first moments in the world:
"Our voices echo, magnifying your arrival. New statue. In a drafty museum, your nakedness Shadows our safety. We stand round blankly as walls."
The metaphor of the child as a "new statue" emphasizes the child's stillness and vulnerability, while the image of the "drafty museum" suggests the fragility of life. The speaker and those around her are "blankly" standing, as if in shock at the miracle of birth.
The third stanza shifts the focus to the speaker's own emotions, as she tries to come to terms with her new role as a mother:
"I'm no more your mother Than the cloud that distills a mirror to reflect its own slow Effacement at the wind's hand."
The comparison of the speaker to a cloud emphasizes her own sense of impermanence and uncertainty. She is still trying to understand her new role as a mother, and the image of the cloud reflects her own sense of confusion and vulnerability.
The fourth stanza returns to the child, as the speaker describes her as a "new statue" that is "soft as a nursery rhyme." The image of the child as a "nursery rhyme" emphasizes her innocence and vulnerability, while the use of the word "soft" suggests her malleability and potential.
The fifth stanza is a turning point in the poem, as the speaker begins to embrace her role as a mother:
"I am no more your mother Than the sun that sets and the stars that shine, Awed by what has been done in my name."
The comparison of the speaker to the sun and stars suggests her own sense of wonder and awe at the miracle of birth. She is beginning to understand the enormity of her role as a mother, and the power that comes with it.
The sixth stanza continues this theme, as the speaker describes the child's growth and development:
"I am a means, a stage, a cow in calf. I've eaten a bag of green apples, Boarded the train there's no getting off."
The metaphor of the speaker as a "cow in calf" emphasizes her own sense of being a vessel for new life, while the image of the "bag of green apples" suggests the potential for growth and development. The final line, "Boarded the train there's no getting off," suggests the speaker's own sense of commitment to her role as a mother, and the realization that there is no turning back.
The seventh stanza returns to the child, as the speaker describes her as a "red balloon" that is "bright as a cherry." The image of the balloon emphasizes the child's buoyancy and lightness, while the use of the word "cherry" suggests her sweetness and innocence.
The eighth stanza is a reflection on the child's future, as the speaker imagines her growing up and leaving home:
"Someday I'll have a daughter who will wear my shoes, And laugh at the way I dance in them."
The image of the daughter wearing the mother's shoes suggests the passing of time and the continuity of life. The mother's dance is a symbol of her own joy and vitality, and the daughter's laughter suggests the continuation of that joy and vitality in the next generation.
The ninth stanza returns to the present moment, as the speaker watches her child sleep:
"Love, love, I have hung our cave with roses, With soft rugs— The last of Victoriana."
The image of the "cave" suggests the safety and security of the child's sleeping space, while the use of the word "Victoriana" suggests a sense of nostalgia and tradition. The mother's love is evident in the care she has taken to create a comfortable and nurturing environment for her child.
The final stanza is a reflection on the child's future, as the speaker imagines her growing up and leaving home:
"Morning Song" is a powerful and moving poem that captures the essence of motherhood. Through vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, Sylvia Plath conveys the joy and wonder of a new mother as she watches her child grow and develop. The poem is a celebration of life and love, and a testament to the enduring power of motherhood.
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