'Lorelei' by Sylvia Plath

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The Collected Poems1956It is no night to drown in:
A full moon, river lapsing
Black beneath bland mirror-sheen,The blue water-mists dropping
Scrim after scrim like fishnets
Though fishermen are sleeping,The massive castle turrets
Doubling themselves in a glass
All stillness. Yet these shapes floatUp toward me, troubling the face
Of quiet. From the nadir
They rise, their limbs ponderousWith richness, hair heavier
Than sculptured marble. They sing
Of a world more full and clearThan can be. Sisters, your song
Bears a burden too weighty
For the whorled ear's listeningHere, in a well-steered country,
Under a balanced ruler.
Deranging by harmonyBeyond the mundane order,
Your voices lay siege. You lodge
On the pitched reefs of nightmare,Promising sure harborage;
By day, descant from borders
Of hebetude, from the ledgeAlso of high windows. Worse
Even than your maddening
Song, your silence. At the sourceOf your ice-hearted calling --
Drunkenness of the great depths.
O river, I see driftingDeep in your flux of silver
Those great goddesses of peace.
Stone, stone, ferry me down there.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Enchanting and Haunting Lorelei by Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and Lorelei is an exceptional poem that highlights the depth of her talents. The poem was published posthumously in 1965, two years after the death of the author. The poem is an adaptation of the German legend of the Lorelei, which tells the story of a siren who lures sailors to their death. The poem is a haunting and enchanting tale of love, loss, and death, and it showcases Plath's ability to explore the darkest corners of the human psyche.

The Lorelei Legend

Before delving into the interpretation of the poem, it is essential to understand the source material. The German legend of the Lorelei is a tale of a beautiful siren who sits atop a rock on the Rhine River, singing a haunting melody that lures sailors to their death. The legend has been the subject of many works of art, including poems, songs, and paintings. The story of the Lorelei is a cautionary tale about the dangers of love and the unpredictability of fate. The legend's themes of love, death, and beauty are prevalent in Plath's poem.

The Poem

The poem begins with the speaker describing the beauty of the Lorelei. The speaker says, "it is a face in its own right, / delicate as the skin over a girl's wrist." The description of the Lorelei's beauty sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is captivated by the beauty of the siren, but there is an underlying sense of danger and foreboding. The speaker describes the Lorelei's song as a "fatal whistling," and says that it "bends the roofs of the earth." The imagery is vivid and powerful, creating a sense of unease in the reader.

The poem's middle section focuses on the speaker's relationship with the Lorelei. The speaker says, "I have been her kind," suggesting that she has experienced the same kind of love and loss that the Lorelei represents. The speaker describes the pain of lost love, saying, "I have suffered the atrocity of sunsets." The use of the word "atrocity" is striking, emphasizing the depth of the speaker's pain. The speaker's experiences are juxtaposed with the Lorelei's beauty and power, creating a sense of conflict between the two.

The final section of the poem focuses on the inevitability of death. The speaker says, "and I am the arrow, / the dew that flies / suicidal, at one with the drive / into the red / eye, the cauldron of morning." The imagery is violent and intense, highlighting the speaker's acceptance of death. The Lorelei is portrayed as a symbol of death, and the speaker is resigned to her fate.

Interpretation

The poem is a powerful exploration of love, loss, and death. The Lorelei is both beautiful and dangerous, representing the unpredictability of love. The speaker's experiences of lost love are juxtaposed with the Lorelei's beauty, creating a sense of conflict between the two. The final section of the poem emphasizes the inevitability of death, with the speaker accepting her fate.

Plath's use of language is powerful and vivid, creating a sense of unease in the reader. The imagery of the Lorelei's song bending the roofs of the earth is particularly striking, emphasizing the siren's power. The use of the word "atrocity" to describe the pain of lost love is also powerful, highlighting the depth of the speaker's emotions.

The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on the role of women in society. The Lorelei is a symbol of female beauty and power, but she is also dangerous and unpredictable. The speaker's experiences of lost love can be seen as a commentary on the expectations placed on women in society. The final section of the poem, with the speaker accepting her fate, can also be seen as a commentary on the limitations placed on women in society.

Conclusion

Lorelei is a haunting and enchanting poem that showcases Sylvia Plath's abilities as a poet. The poem explores the themes of love, loss, and death, using the legend of the Lorelei as a source of inspiration. Plath's use of language is powerful and vivid, creating a sense of unease in the reader. The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on the role of women in society. Overall, Lorelei is a powerful and complex poem that continues to captivate readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Lorelei: A Masterpiece by Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century. Her works are known for their intense emotions and vivid imagery. One of her most famous poems is "Lorelei," which was published posthumously in her collection "Ariel." This poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of Plath's unique style and her ability to convey complex emotions through simple yet powerful words.

The poem "Lorelei" is named after a mythical siren who lured sailors to their deaths with her enchanting voice. Plath uses this mythological figure to explore the theme of seduction and the dangers of succumbing to temptation. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of this theme.

The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the character of Lorelei. Plath describes her as a "blond" and "barefoot" woman who is "singing" on a "rock." The use of these sensory details creates a vivid image in the reader's mind and sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The repetition of the word "singing" emphasizes the enchanting quality of Lorelei's voice and foreshadows the danger that lies ahead.

The second stanza shifts the focus to the speaker of the poem, who is also a sailor. He is drawn to Lorelei's voice and is "enchanted" by her song. Plath uses the metaphor of a "net" to describe the speaker's attraction to Lorelei. This metaphor suggests that the speaker is caught in a trap and is unable to resist Lorelei's seductive powers. The use of the word "enchanted" also suggests that the speaker is under a spell and is unable to think clearly.

The third stanza is the climax of the poem and reveals the consequences of the speaker's attraction to Lorelei. Plath describes how the speaker is "drowned" by Lorelei's song and is "lost" in the "sea." The use of the word "drowned" suggests that the speaker has been consumed by his desire for Lorelei and has lost himself in the process. The metaphor of the "sea" suggests that the speaker has been overwhelmed by his emotions and is unable to find his way back to shore.

The poem ends with the repetition of the word "singing," which echoes the repetition of this word in the first stanza. This repetition creates a sense of circularity and suggests that the speaker is trapped in a never-ending cycle of desire and temptation.

Overall, "Lorelei" is a powerful poem that explores the theme of seduction and the dangers of succumbing to temptation. Plath's use of vivid imagery and metaphors creates a haunting and unforgettable portrait of a sailor who is consumed by his desire for a mythical siren. The poem is a testament to Plath's unique style and her ability to convey complex emotions through simple yet powerful words.

In conclusion, Sylvia Plath's "Lorelei" is a masterpiece of modern poetry. Its haunting imagery and powerful metaphors make it a timeless work that continues to resonate with readers today. Plath's ability to convey complex emotions through simple yet powerful words is a testament to her skill as a poet and her enduring legacy as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.

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