'The Disquieting Muses' by Sylvia Plath
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Mother, mother, what ill-bred aunt
Or what disfigured and unsightly
Cousin did you so unwisely keep
Unasked to my christening, that she
Sent these ladies in her stead
With heads like darning-eggs to nod
And nod and nod at foot and head
And at the left side of my crib?
Mother, who made to order stories
Of Mixie Blackshort the heroic bear,
Mother, whose witches always, always
Got baked into gingerbread, I wonder
Whether you saw them, whether you said
Words to rid me of those three ladies
Nodding by night around my bed,
Mouthless, eyeless, with stitched bald head.
In the hurricane, when father's twelve
Study windows bellied in
Like bubbles about to break, you fed
My brother and me cookies and Ovaltine
And helped the two of us to choir:
'Thor is angry; boom boom boom!
Thor is angry: we don't care!'
But those ladies broke the panes.
When on tiptoe the schoolgirls danced,
Blinking flashlights like fireflies
And singing the glowworm song, I could
Not lift a foot in the twinkle-dress
But, heavy-footed, stood aside
In the shadow cast by my dismal-headed
Godmothers, and you cried and cried:
And the shadow stretched, the lights went out.
Mother, you sent me to piano lessons
And praised my arabesques and trills
Although each teacher found my touch
Oddly wooden in spite of scales
And the hours of practicing, my ear
Tone-deaf and yes, unteachable.
I learned, I learned, I learned elsewhere,
From muses unhired by you, dear mother.
I woke one day to see you, mother,
Floating above me in bluest air
On a green balloon bright with a million
Flowers and bluebirds that never were
Never, never, found anywhere.
But the little planet bobbed away
Like a soap-bubble as you called: Come here!
And I faced my traveling companions.
Day now, night now, at head, side, feet,
They stand their vigil in gowns of stone,
Faces blank as the day I was born.
Their shadows long in the setting sun
That never brightens or goes down.
And this is the kingdom you bore me to,
Mother, mother. But no frown of mine
Will betray the company I keep.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Disquieting Muses by Sylvia Plath: A Masterpiece of Poetic Imagination
If there is one thing that Sylvia Plath is known for as a poet, it is her ability to weave together powerful images, complex emotions, and intricate meanings in her verses. And if there is one poem that encapsulates this skill of hers, it is The Disquieting Muses. Written during her time in England in the 1950s, the poem stands as a haunting meditation on the themes of creativity, identity, and mental illness, and as a testament to Plath's genius as a literary artist.
The Poem: Structure and Style
Before delving into the content of the poem, it is essential to examine its form and language. The Disquieting Muses consists of eleven stanzas, each comprising of four lines, and written in free verse. The lines are not bound by any formal meter or rhyme scheme, but they are marked by a subtle, yet distinct, rhythm and cadence. The language is also notable for its vividness, its precision, and its ability to capture the nuances of human experience. Plath employs a range of literary devices such as metaphor, simile, allusion, and personification, to create a rich tapestry of meaning that invites multiple interpretations.
The Interpretation: A Journey into the Psyche
At its core, The Disquieting Muses is a poem about the internal struggles of a creative mind. The speaker, who is presumably Plath herself, is haunted by a group of figures that she calls the "disquieting muses." These muses are not the conventional inspirations that one might associate with poets or artists; instead, they are portrayed as sinister, threatening, and alien. They come to the speaker unbidden, and they disrupt her sense of self and her ability to create.
The opening stanzas of the poem set the tone for this disorienting experience:
Mother, mother, what illbred aunt Of what aunts did you drag home, Unwashed, unwell, shrill as a chalk Settin gteeth on edge?
Here, the speaker addresses her mother, but it is unclear whether she is speaking literally or figuratively. The reference to the "illbred aunt" suggests a family member who is unwelcome, but the tone is also one of accusation and blame. The simile "shrill as a chalk / Setting teeth on edge" intensifies the sense of discomfort and unease.
As the poem progresses, the disquieting muses become more pronounced in their presence. They are described as "ugly and venomous," "hateful and twisted," and "formless and vague." They appear to the speaker in various guises, such as "black dolls" and "dried-up mermaids," and they seem to embody her fears, doubts, and anxieties. They are the voices that tell her she is not good enough, that she will fail, that she is alone.
Yet, there is also a sense of fascination and even attraction to these muses. The speaker acknowledges that they have a power over her, that they "dominate" her, that they are "the only ones she wants." This ambivalence is captured in the following stanza:
How they scuttle in the dirt Under the hurdy-gurdy Outside the window!... Will they live another day?
The imagery here is striking. The disquieting muses are portrayed as insect-like creatures, scuttling in the dirt under the hurdy-gurdy, a type of street organ. The reference to the window suggests a sense of distance, of separation, of being unable to fully engage with these muses. And the question of whether they will live another day suggests a sense of mortality, of fleetingness, of the transience of inspiration.
As the poem reaches its conclusion, the speaker seems to come to a realization. She acknowledges that these disquieting muses are a part of her, that they are "the dark shadow" of her being, that they are "her own." She also acknowledges that they are necessary for her creativity, that they are the "necessary devil" that drives her to create. And finally, she accepts them, embraces them, and even celebrates them:
I have brought them back Alive, out of my head. They swim off from the boat. Towards a stone island Where they are calmed and bided.
The language here is powerful and full of meaning. The speaker claims agency over the muses, declaring that she has "brought them back / Alive, out of my head." The image of the muses swimming off from the boat suggests a sense of release, of letting go, of allowing these voices to find their own destiny. And the reference to the "stone island" suggests a sense of stability, of grounding, of finding a place of calm and rest.
The Significance: Plath's Vision of Creativity and Identity
What makes The Disquieting Muses such a remarkable poem is its ability to capture the complexity of the creative process and the human psyche. Plath portrays the creative act as a struggle between opposing forces: the need for inspiration and the fear of failure, the desire for self-expression and the anxiety of self-doubt, the search for identity and the threat of madness. And she does so with a language that is both visceral and lyrical, both precise and elusive.
At the same time, the poem can be read as a reflection of Plath's own struggles with mental illness and the pressures of being a female artist in a male-dominated society. The disquieting muses can be seen as a manifestation of her own fears and anxieties, as well as a commentary on the societal expectations and limitations that she faced. The poem can also be seen as a testament to Plath's resilience and her ability to transform her pain and suffering into art.
Ultimately, The Disquieting Muses stands as a masterful example of the power of poetry to explore the depths of human experience and to create new meanings and insights. It is a poem that rewards multiple readings and interpretations, and that continues to inspire and challenge readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Disquieting Muses: A Haunting Exploration of Sylvia Plath's Inner Turmoil
Sylvia Plath is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, known for her hauntingly beautiful and deeply personal works that explore themes of mental illness, death, and the complexities of the human psyche. One of her most enigmatic and haunting poems is The Disquieting Muses, a work that delves into the depths of her inner turmoil and the haunting presence of her own demons.
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a strict ABAB rhyme scheme. The language is rich and evocative, with vivid imagery and a sense of unease that permeates every line. The title itself is intriguing, suggesting a sense of unease and disquiet that will be explored throughout the poem.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with Plath introducing the titular muses as "black angels" who have come to "haunt" her. The use of the word "haunt" is significant, as it suggests a sense of lingering presence and a feeling of being pursued by something that cannot be escaped. The muses themselves are described as "disquieting," a word that suggests a sense of unease and restlessness that will be explored further throughout the poem.
The second stanza introduces the idea of the muses as "sisters," suggesting a familial connection that is both comforting and unsettling. The use of the word "sisters" also suggests a sense of shared experience and a bond that cannot be broken, even in the face of adversity. However, the muses are also described as "bony," suggesting a sense of fragility and vulnerability that is at odds with their haunting presence.
The third and final stanza is perhaps the most enigmatic, with Plath describing the muses as "tongues" that "click" and "tattle" in her ear. The use of the word "tongues" is significant, as it suggests a sense of communication and language that is both intimate and unsettling. The muses are also described as "clicking," suggesting a sense of urgency and a need to be heard. The word "tattle" is also significant, as it suggests a sense of gossip and betrayal that is at odds with the idea of the muses as comforting and supportive figures.
Throughout the poem, Plath explores the idea of the muses as both comforting and unsettling presences in her life. The use of vivid imagery and a strict rhyme scheme creates a sense of unease that permeates every line, suggesting a sense of inner turmoil and a struggle to come to terms with her own demons. The muses themselves are enigmatic figures, both comforting and unsettling, suggesting a complex relationship that is difficult to define.
Overall, The Disquieting Muses is a haunting exploration of Sylvia Plath's inner turmoil and the complex relationship she had with her own demons. The use of vivid imagery and a strict rhyme scheme creates a sense of unease that permeates every line, suggesting a sense of inner turmoil and a struggle to come to terms with her own demons. The muses themselves are enigmatic figures, both comforting and unsettling, suggesting a complex relationship that is difficult to define.
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