'Apprehensions' by Sylvia Plath

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The Collected Poems1962There is this white wall, above which the sky creates itself --
Infinite, green, utterly untouchable.
Angels swim in it, and the stars, in indifference also.
They are my medium.
The sun dissolves on this wall, bleeding its lights.A grey wall now, clawed and bloody.
Is there no way out of the mind?
Steps at my back spiral into a well.
There are no trees or birds in this world,
There is only sourness.This red wall winces continually:
A red fist, opening and closing,
Two grey, papery bags --
This is what i am made of, this, and a terror
Of being wheeled off under crosses and rain of pieties.On a black wall, unidentifiable birds
Swivel their heads and cry.
There is no talk of immorality amoun these!
Cold blanks approach us:
They move in a hurry.

Editor 1 Interpretation

An Exploration of Sylvia Plath's "Apprehensions"

Sylvia Plath's "Apprehensions" is a haunting, introspective poem that delves deep into the psyche of the speaker. In this 20-line poem, Plath presents a vivid imagery of nature and the human condition to explore themes of anxiety, fear, and the inevitability of death.

A Close Reading of the Poem

The poem opens with a beautiful description of a "yellow dusk" and a "blue, imperturbable sky". The speaker then shifts to a more introspective tone, stating that "the world seems to be closing its eye" and that she is "left standing before it, / helpless, exposed, and vulnerable".

The use of personification in the opening lines, where the world is portrayed as closing its eye, highlights the speaker's anxiety and her feelings of being vulnerable and exposed. Plath's use of imagery is also noteworthy, as she juxtaposes the beautiful scenery of the natural world with the darker themes of the poem.

The second stanza presents an even more ominous image, with the speaker describing "the darkness / and the water, cold and black". The use of alliteration in this line, with the repetition of the "c" sound, emphasizes the harshness and coldness of the water.

The third stanza introduces the theme of death, with the speaker stating that "Death is the mother of beauty". This line is a reference to the concept of memento mori, which was a common theme in art during the Renaissance period. The idea behind memento mori was that death was inevitable and that one should always be mindful of it.

Plath's use of this concept in the poem serves to highlight the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. The speaker then goes on to say that "Death is the mother of beauty; only the perishable / can be beautiful". This line is a reflection of the idea that life is fleeting and that beauty is often only appreciated in the moment.

The fourth stanza presents an image of decay, with the speaker describing "the frost on the ground / and the leaves with a sound / as they fall". The use of the word "sound" in this line is significant, as it emphasizes the auditory component of the image and highlights the speaker's sensory experience.

The final two lines of the poem bring the reader back to the present moment, with the speaker stating that "All that is gold does not glitter, / not all those who wander are lost". These lines are a reference to J.R.R. Tolkien's poem "The Riddle of Strider", which was included in his novel "The Lord of the Rings".

This reference serves to tie the poem to the larger literary tradition, and to highlight the idea that not everything that seems valuable or important is actually so. The final line of the poem, "The old that is strong does not wither", serves as a reflection on the enduring nature of certain things, even in the face of decay and death.

Themes and Interpretation

"Apprehensions" is a poem that explores several themes, including anxiety, fear, the passage of time, and the inevitability of death. The poem is structured around a series of vivid images that serve to highlight these themes and to create a sense of unease in the reader.

One of the most prominent themes in the poem is the idea of anxiety and vulnerability. The speaker is portrayed as being exposed and helpless in the face of the natural world, which serves to highlight our own fragility as human beings.

The theme of time is also central to the poem, with the speaker reflecting on the passage of time and the inevitability of death. The use of the memento mori concept serves to highlight the fleeting nature of life and the importance of appreciating the present moment.

The poem is also notable for its use of imagery, which is both vivid and evocative. Plath uses imagery to create a sense of unease in the reader, and to highlight the darker themes of the poem.

Conclusion

In "Apprehensions", Sylvia Plath presents a haunting reflection on the human condition, exploring themes of anxiety, fear, the passage of time, and the inevitability of death. Through her use of powerful imagery and references to literary tradition, Plath creates a poem that is both timeless and deeply affecting.

As readers, we are left to confront our own mortality and to consider the fleeting nature of life. In this way, "Apprehensions" serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of appreciating the present moment and of finding beauty in even the darkest of circumstances.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Apprehensions: A Deep Dive into Sylvia Plath's Masterpiece

Sylvia Plath is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and her works continue to inspire and move readers to this day. Her poem, Poetry Apprehensions, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of the creative process and the struggles that come with it. In this article, we will take a deep dive into this poem, analyzing its themes, structure, and language to understand why it is such a powerful piece of literature.

The poem begins with the line, "There is this white wall, above which the sky creates itself." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it immediately establishes a sense of separation between the speaker and the world around her. The white wall represents a barrier, a blank canvas that the speaker must fill with her own thoughts and ideas. The sky, on the other hand, represents the infinite possibilities of the creative process, the vast expanse of imagination that the speaker must tap into to create something meaningful.

As the poem progresses, the speaker expresses her apprehensions about the act of writing poetry. She says, "It is a window the size of a small transparent fish / Blue and flat, like the mirror in the hand of a child / That is the door through which comes the world / That is the door through which comes the breeze / Or the storm, the hail or the heat." Here, the speaker is describing the act of writing as a small, fragile window through which the world comes into view. The window is like a mirror in the hand of a child, reflecting the world back to the writer in a distorted and incomplete way. The writer must then take this incomplete picture and turn it into something meaningful, something that captures the essence of the world around her.

The speaker goes on to describe the difficulties of this process, saying, "It is the art of the needle and the thread / Because the stitch that makes a poem / Is the one that makes a shirt." Here, the speaker is drawing a parallel between the act of writing poetry and the act of sewing. Both require a steady hand, a careful eye, and a deep understanding of the materials at hand. The stitch that makes a poem is like the stitch that makes a shirt, both require precision and skill to create something beautiful and functional.

Throughout the poem, the speaker expresses her fears and anxieties about the act of writing poetry. She says, "It is the fear of a small room / With a sheet of paper on the desk / And a pencil with a sharp point / That is the fear of poetry." Here, the speaker is describing the sense of isolation and vulnerability that comes with the act of writing. The small room represents the writer's mind, a place where she must confront her own thoughts and emotions in order to create something meaningful. The sheet of paper and the pencil represent the tools of the trade, the instruments that the writer must use to capture her thoughts and turn them into something tangible. The fear of poetry is the fear of facing oneself, of confronting the innermost thoughts and feelings that lie at the heart of the creative process.

As the poem comes to a close, the speaker offers a glimmer of hope, saying, "But the poem is made of words / And the words are not enough / They are only shells / Round and hollow / Wagons in a circus parade." Here, the speaker is acknowledging the limitations of language, the fact that words can never fully capture the complexity and richness of human experience. However, she also suggests that there is something beyond words, something that lies at the heart of the creative process. The poem is made of words, but it is also made of something more, something that transcends language and speaks to the deepest parts of the human soul.

In terms of structure, Poetry Apprehensions is a free verse poem that is divided into five stanzas of varying lengths. The poem is written in the first person, with the speaker addressing the reader directly. The language of the poem is simple and direct, with few metaphors or similes. However, the simplicity of the language belies the complexity of the ideas that the poem explores.

In conclusion, Poetry Apprehensions is a powerful and moving poem that captures the essence of the creative process. Through its simple language and direct address to the reader, the poem explores the fears and anxieties that come with the act of writing poetry, while also offering a glimmer of hope and transcendence. Sylvia Plath's mastery of language and her deep understanding of the human psyche make this poem a true masterpiece of 20th-century literature.

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