'Contusion' by Sylvia Plath
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The Collected Poems1963Color floods to the spot, dull purple.
The rest of the body is all washed-out,
The color of pearl.In a pit of a rock
The sea sucks obsessively,
One hollow thw whole sea's pivot.The size of a fly,
The doom mark
Crawls down the wall.The heart shuts,
The sea slides back,
The mirrors are sheeted.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Deep Dive into Sylvia Plath's "Contusion"
Sylvia Plath is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, known for her confessional style and poignant themes. Her poem "Contusion" is no exception, delving into the complexities of a relationship and the emotional bruises it leaves behind.
The Poem
"Contusion" is a short poem consisting of only ten lines, but each line is packed with vivid imagery and powerful emotions. Here is the poem in its entirety:
Color floods to the spot, dull purple.
What does not bloom in its season
Is doomed to the axe.
Sooner or later,
Grief or illness —
Those dark sisters — come.
Spring warms my earth
With fecundity,
Soon to be cluttered
With buds,
Leaf,
Limb,
Root;
Until I spy with a sudden
Delight
A contusion,
A swelling
Upstage the impoverishment
Of soil,
A ganglion cyst
Of color
— A dawn-mass,
A burst of red
and purple —
So exquisitely precise
A vision
Capable of annihilating
Any distance.
The Interpretation
At first glance, "Contusion" might seem like a simple nature poem, celebrating the beauty of spring and the blooming of plants. However, a deeper reading reveals a much more complex and personal message.
The opening lines describe a bruise, "color floods to the spot, dull purple." This image sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which explores the idea of emotional bruising and the scars left by a difficult relationship.
The lines "What does not bloom in its season / Is doomed to the axe" suggest that anything that doesn't grow and flourish when it's supposed to will be cut down. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for a relationship that doesn't thrive or reach its full potential.
The next lines, "Sooner or later, / Grief or illness — / Those dark sisters — come," reinforce the idea that pain and suffering are inevitable parts of life. The metaphor of "dark sisters" suggests that these hardships are not pleasant, but rather menacing and ominous.
The following lines, "Spring warms my earth / With fecundity," bring us back to the natural imagery that dominates the poem. However, the mention of "fecundity" (the ability to produce offspring) adds another layer of meaning. It could be read as a reference to the hopes and dreams of a relationship, the desire to create something new and beautiful together.
But then we get to the final lines of the poem, which shift the focus to a specific contusion on a plant. The speaker sees this bruise as a thing of beauty, "A ganglion cyst / Of color," and is delighted by it.
This moment of joy and wonder in the face of something damaged and imperfect is the crux of the poem. The speaker seems to be saying that even though relationships can be painful and leave us with emotional bruises, there is still beauty to be found in the scars. The contusion on the plant is a symbol of resilience and the ability to grow and thrive despite adversity.
The closing lines, "A vision / Capable of annihilating / Any distance," suggest that this moment of beauty has the power to overcome any obstacle or distance. It is a fleeting but powerful moment of connection, one that transcends the difficulties and pain of the past.
The Criticism
"Contusion" is a poem that rewards close reading and careful consideration. Although it is short, it is rich with meaning and emotion. Sylvia Plath's use of natural imagery to explore complex human emotions is masterful, and the metaphor of the contusion as a thing of beauty is both surprising and powerful.
One criticism that could be leveled against the poem is that it is somewhat vague in its message. While the idea of finding beauty in the scars of a relationship is compelling, it is not entirely clear how the individual contusion on the plant relates to this idea. The metaphor is somewhat unclear and could be interpreted in a number of different ways.
Another criticism is that the poem is somewhat inaccessible to readers who are not familiar with Plath's style or the context of her life. The confessional nature of her work can be difficult for some readers to connect with, and the personal references in "Contusion" (such as the mention of illness and grief) may not be immediately apparent to those who are not familiar with her biography.
However, these criticisms are relatively minor in the grand scheme of things. "Contusion" is a powerful and moving poem, one that speaks to the universal experience of pain and healing. Its message of finding beauty in the midst of suffering is a profound one, and it is a testament to Plath's talent as a poet that she is able to convey this message so effectively in such a short space.
Conclusion
"Contusion" is a poem that rewards multiple readings and careful consideration. Its themes of resilience, beauty, and healing are universal and timeless, and its use of natural imagery to explore complex human emotions is masterful. While it may not be the most accessible of Plath's works, it is a powerful and moving poem that deserves to be appreciated and studied for years to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Contusion: A Masterpiece by Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, is known for her confessional style of writing. Her poems are a reflection of her personal experiences, emotions, and struggles. One of her most famous poems, Poetry Contusion, is a perfect example of her style and mastery of language.
The poem was written in 1958 and was first published in the Yale Review in 1959. It is a short but powerful poem that captures the essence of the creative process and the struggle that poets face in trying to express their thoughts and emotions through words.
The poem begins with the lines, "I had a dream last night / That I was dead." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a reflection of the poet's struggle with her own mortality and the fear of not being able to express herself fully before she dies.
The next few lines of the poem describe the poet's dream of being buried alive and how she struggles to break free from the coffin. This imagery is a metaphor for the poet's struggle to break free from the constraints of language and express herself fully.
The lines, "I clawed to breathe. / My hands were spades. / I knew that diamonds / Were uprooted from ore / In dark mines, under / The sea-bed, and polished / To perfection." are a reflection of the poet's determination to find the right words to express herself. The use of the metaphor of diamonds being uprooted from ore and polished to perfection is a powerful image that captures the essence of the creative process.
The next few lines of the poem describe the poet's struggle to find the right words to express herself. She says, "I knew that words / Were stones, hard and cold, / And when I spoke / They clattered on the ground / And lay there, unpolished." This imagery is a reflection of the poet's frustration with language and her struggle to find the right words to express herself.
The lines, "I knew that words / Were ghosts, shadows / Of thoughts and feelings / That had once been real," are a reflection of the poet's belief that language is a poor substitute for the real emotions and experiences that she is trying to express. The use of the metaphor of words being ghosts and shadows is a powerful image that captures the essence of the poet's struggle.
The final lines of the poem, "I knew that I was dead, / But I breathed, / And my breath was the wind / That stirred the leaves / And made the trees dance," are a reflection of the poet's belief that even though she may not be able to express herself fully through language, her spirit and her emotions will live on through her poetry.
In conclusion, Poetry Contusion is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the essence of the creative process and the struggle that poets face in trying to express themselves fully through language. Sylvia Plath's use of powerful imagery and metaphors creates a vivid and haunting portrait of the poet's struggle with her own mortality and the fear of not being able to express herself fully before she dies. This poem is a testament to the power of language and the enduring legacy of great poetry.
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