'Letter In November' by Sylvia Plath
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Love, the world
Suddenly turns, turns color. The streetlight
Splits through the rat's tail
Pods of the laburnum at nine in the morning.
It is the Arctic,
This little black
Circle, with its tawn silk grasses - babies hair.
There is a green in the air,
Soft, delectable.
It cushions me lovingly.
I am flushed and warm.
I think I may be enormous,
I am so stupidly happy,
My Wellingtons
Squelching and squelching through the beautiful red.
This is my property.
Two times a day
I pace it, sniffing
The barbarous holly with its viridian
Scallops, pure iron,
And the wall of the odd corpses.
I love them.
I love them like history.
The apples are golden,
Imagine it ----
My seventy trees
Holding their gold-ruddy balls
In a thick gray death-soup,
Their million
Gold leaves metal and breathless.
O love, O celibate.
Nobody but me
Walks the waist high wet.
The irreplaceable
Golds bleed and deepen, the mouths of Thermopylae.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Letter In November" by Sylvia Plath: A Poem of Hopelessness and Despair
Sylvia Plath's "Letter In November" is a haunting poem that speaks to the depths of despair that can consume a person. Written during a time when Plath was struggling with mental illness and the breakdown of her marriage, the poem is a reflection of the author's own inner turmoil.
At its core, "Letter In November" is a poem of hopelessness. Plath's use of vivid, bleak imagery and the repetition of words and phrases such as "grey," "dead leaves," and "nothing" create a sense of a world that is cold and lifeless. The speaker of the poem seems to be consumed by a sense of loneliness and isolation, with lines like "I am alone / A surface, like a lake, / Quiet, reflecting my own face" emphasizing the speaker's sense of being disconnected from the world around her.
The poem's imagery is both vivid and haunting. Plath's description of the "grey sky" and "dead leaves" creates a sense of barrenness and desolation, while her use of "the creak of boots" and "the click of a turning lock" conjures up a sense of foreboding and danger. The poem is filled with the sense that something terrible is about to happen, but the speaker is powerless to stop it.
As the poem progresses, the speaker's sense of despair deepens. Lines like "I do not stir" and "I have been drugged and raped" speak to a sense of powerlessness and victimization, while the repetition of the word "nothing" emphasizes the speaker's sense of hopelessness. Even the title of the poem, "Letter In November," seems to suggest a sense of finality and closure, as if the speaker is writing a letter to the world before disappearing forever.
Despite its bleakness, "Letter In November" also contains a glimmer of hope. In the final lines of the poem, the speaker acknowledges the possibility of change, saying "I shall never get out of this! There are two of me now: / This new absolutely white person and the old yellow one, / And the white person is certainly the superior one. / She doesn't need food, she is one of the real saints." Here, the speaker recognizes that there is a possibility for transformation, that the "old yellow one" can be replaced by a new, better version of herself.
Overall, "Letter In November" is a powerful poem that speaks to the depths of human despair. Plath's use of vivid imagery and repetition create a sense of a world that is cold and lifeless, while the speaker's sense of isolation and powerlessness are palpable throughout. Despite its bleakness, however, the poem also contains a glimmer of hope, suggesting that even in the darkest of moments, there is always the possibility of transformation and renewal.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Letter In November: A Poetic Masterpiece by Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, known for her confessional style of writing that delves deep into the human psyche. Her poem "Letter In November" is a prime example of her exceptional talent, as it captures the essence of human emotions in a way that is both raw and beautiful.
The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter, which gives it a natural flow and rhythm. It is divided into three stanzas, each with its own distinct theme and tone. The first stanza sets the scene, describing the bleakness of November and the speaker's sense of isolation. The second stanza is more introspective, as the speaker reflects on her own emotions and the pain of loss. The final stanza brings a sense of hope, as the speaker looks forward to the future and the possibility of new beginnings.
The opening lines of the poem immediately set the tone for what is to come:
"Love, the world Suddenly turns, turns color. The streetlight Splits through the rat's tail Pods of the laburnum at nine in the morning."
The use of the word "love" in the first line is significant, as it suggests that the speaker is experiencing a shift in her emotions. The sudden change in the world around her, as described in the second line, reflects this shift. The image of the streetlight splitting through the rat's tail pods of the laburnum is both vivid and surreal, adding to the dreamlike quality of the poem.
The second stanza is where the poem really begins to shine, as the speaker delves into her own emotions:
"I thought of you and how you love this beauty, And walking up the long beach all alone I heard the waves breaking in measured thunder As you and I once heard their monotone."
The use of the second person "you" is significant, as it suggests that the speaker is addressing someone specific. This could be a lover, a friend, or even a deceased loved one. The image of the waves breaking in measured thunder is both powerful and haunting, evoking a sense of loss and longing.
The final stanza brings a sense of hope and renewal:
"The sky is torn across This ragged anniversary of two Who moved for three years in tune Down the long walks of their vows."
The use of the word "anniversary" suggests that the speaker is reflecting on a past event, perhaps a wedding or a significant moment in a relationship. The image of the torn sky is both beautiful and ominous, suggesting that there is both pain and beauty in the past. The final lines of the poem bring a sense of closure and hope:
"Now their love lies A loss and a silence between us. Think on me, cried out To that sky that broke its pact."
The use of the word "now" suggests that the speaker is moving on from the past and looking towards the future. The image of the sky breaking its pact is both powerful and symbolic, suggesting that there is a sense of freedom and possibility in the future.
Overall, "Letter In November" is a beautiful and haunting poem that captures the essence of human emotions in a way that is both raw and beautiful. Sylvia Plath's use of vivid imagery and free verse creates a sense of dreamlike beauty that is both powerful and haunting. The poem is a testament to Plath's exceptional talent as a poet, and it continues to resonate with readers today.
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