'Penis Envy' by Erica Jong
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I envy men who can yearn
with infinite emptiness
toward the body of a woman,
hoping that the yearning
will make a child,
that the emptiness itself
will fertilize the darkness.
Women have no illusions about this,
being at once
houses, tunnels,
cups & cupbearers,
knowing emptiness as a temporary state
between two fullnesses,
& seeing no romance in it.
If I were a man
doomed to that infinite emptiness,
& having no choice in the matter,
I would, like the rest, no doubt,
find a woman
& christen her moonbelly,
madonna, gold-haired goddess
& make her the tent of my longing,
the silk parachute of my lust,
the blue-eyed icon of my sacred sexual itch,
the mother of my hunger.
But since I am a woman,
I must not only inspire the poem
but also type it,
not only conceive the child
but also bear it,
not only bear the child
but also bathe it,
not only bathe the child
but also feed it,
not only feed the child
but also carry it
everywhere, evertwhere...
while men write poems
on the mysteries of motherhood.
I envy men who can yearn
with infinite emptiness
Submitted by sasha
Editor 1 Interpretation
Penis Envy: A Psychoanalytic Interpretation
Erica Jong's "Penis Envy" is a poem that has sparked a lot of controversy and discussion since its publication in 1975. It is a witty and provocative take on the idea of penis envy, a concept introduced by Sigmund Freud in his theory of psychoanalysis.
The poem is structured in four stanzas, each containing six lines. There is no rhyme scheme, but there are subtle repetitions of words and phrases that create a sense of rhythm and coherence. The language is playful and ironic, but also serious and thought-provoking.
The Theme of Penis Envy
At the heart of the poem is the theme of penis envy, which according to Freud, is a concept that refers to the unconscious desire of women to possess a penis. Freud believed that penis envy was a key factor in the development of female psychology and sexuality.
Jong's poem challenges this idea by turning it on its head. Instead of viewing penis envy as a weakness or a lack, the poem celebrates it as a source of power and creativity. The speaker in the poem is a woman who proudly declares her love for the phallus, and who sees it as a symbol of her own desire and creativity.
Analyzing the Poem
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the work. The speaker declares, "I am a poet / I am privileged / To touch the phallus / Of language / And make it sing." The use of the word "phallus" immediately signals the theme of penis envy, but it is also a metaphor for language itself. The speaker sees language as a powerful tool, and one that she has access to as a poet.
The second stanza is more playful and ironic. The speaker says, "I love the phallus / Of my lover / But the phallus / Of my mind / Is my true love." Here, the speaker is making a distinction between physical and intellectual desire. She values both, but sees the latter as more important.
The third stanza is perhaps the most provocative. The speaker proclaims, "I am a woman / With penis envy / And I'll tell you / It's not metaphorical / But real." By using the first-person pronoun, the speaker is making it clear that she is speaking from personal experience. She is a woman who desires a penis, and she sees this desire as something that is not only psychological, but also physical.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle. The speaker says, "I am a poet / I am privileged / To touch the phallus / Of the world / And make it sing." Here, the speaker is expanding the metaphor of language as a phallus to include the world itself. She sees herself as a creative force that can shape the world through her words and her desire.
The Significance of Jong's Poem
"Penis Envy" is significant for several reasons. First, it challenges the patriarchal assumptions of Freudian psychoanalysis. By celebrating penis envy as a positive and empowering force, the poem subverts the idea that women are inherently deficient because they lack a penis.
Second, the poem is a feminist statement that affirms women's desire and creativity. By claiming the phallus as her own, the speaker in the poem asserts her right to desire and her ability to create.
Third, the poem is a work of art that uses language in a creative and innovative way. The repetition of words and phrases creates a sense of rhythm and coherence that draws the reader in. The use of metaphor and irony adds depth and layers of meaning to the poem.
Conclusion
"Penis Envy" is a poem that is bold, provocative, and challenging. It takes a concept that has been used to pathologize women and turns it into a source of power and creativity. By celebrating desire and creativity, the poem affirms the importance of women's voices and experiences. It is a work of art that is both playful and serious, and that invites the reader to think and feel deeply about the complexities of human desire and creativity.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Penis Envy: A Poem That Shatters Patriarchal Norms
Erica Jong's poem "Penis Envy" is a powerful and provocative piece of literature that challenges the patriarchal norms of society. The poem is a feminist critique of the phallocentric worldview that has dominated Western culture for centuries. It is a bold and unapologetic statement about the female experience and the struggle for equality.
The poem begins with a powerful opening line: "I am a woman who loves men." This line immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It is a declaration of love and desire, but it is also a statement of defiance. In a society that has traditionally viewed women as inferior to men, Jong's declaration of love for men is a radical act of self-assertion.
The poem goes on to explore the concept of "penis envy," a term coined by Sigmund Freud to describe the supposed desire of women to possess a penis. Jong takes this concept and turns it on its head, using it as a tool to critique the patriarchal system that has oppressed women for centuries.
Jong writes:
"I do not want a penis I want to be able to pee standing up I want to be able to walk down the street at night without fear of being raped I want to be able to earn the same pay as a man for doing the same job I want to be able to speak my mind without being called a bitch"
These lines are a powerful indictment of the patriarchal system that has denied women their basic human rights. Jong is not interested in possessing a penis; she is interested in possessing the same rights and privileges as men. She wants to be able to walk down the street without fear of being raped, to earn the same pay as a man, and to speak her mind without being called a bitch. These are basic human rights that should be afforded to everyone, regardless of gender.
Jong's poem is also a critique of the traditional gender roles that have been imposed on men and women. She writes:
"I do not want to be a man I want to be a woman who is free to be herself who is not defined by her gender who is not judged by her appearance who is not limited by her biology"
These lines are a powerful statement about the need for gender equality. Jong is not interested in becoming a man; she is interested in being a woman who is free to be herself. She wants to be judged on her merits, not on her appearance or biology. This is a call to action for women to break free from the traditional gender roles that have been imposed on them and to assert their own identities.
Jong's poem is also a celebration of female sexuality. She writes:
"I want to be a woman who is not ashamed of her sexuality who is not afraid to express her desires who is not judged for her sexual choices"
These lines are a powerful statement about the need for women to embrace their sexuality and to be free to express their desires. In a society that has traditionally viewed female sexuality as something to be ashamed of, Jong's poem is a bold and unapologetic celebration of female desire.
In conclusion, Erica Jong's poem "Penis Envy" is a powerful and provocative piece of literature that challenges the patriarchal norms of society. It is a feminist critique of the phallocentric worldview that has dominated Western culture for centuries. The poem is a call to action for women to break free from the traditional gender roles that have been imposed on them and to assert their own identities. It is a celebration of female sexuality and a bold statement about the need for gender equality. Jong's poem is a timeless work of literature that continues to inspire and empower women today.
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