'Two Views Of A Cadaver Room' by Sylvia Plath
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(1)
The day she visited the dissecting room
They had four men laid out, black as burnt turkey,
Already half unstrung. A vinegary fume
Of the death vats clung to them;
The white-smocked boys started working.
The head of his cadaver had caved in,
And she could scarcely make out anything
In that rubble of skull plates and old leather.
A sallow piece of string held it together.
In their jars the snail-nosed babies moon and glow.
He hands her the cut-out heart like a cracked heirloom.
(2)
In Brueghel's panorama of smoke and slaughter
Two people only are blind to the carrion army:
He, afloat in the sea of her blue satin
Skirts, sings in the direction
Of her bare shoulder, while she bends,
Finger a leaflet of music, over him,
Both of them deaf to the fiddle in the hands
Of the death's-head shadowing their song.
These Flemish lovers flourish;not for long.
Yet desolation, stalled in paint, spares the little country
Foolish, delicate, in the lower right hand corner.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Two Views of A Cadaver Room by Sylvia Plath
Introduction
Sylvia Plath’s poem, “Two Views of A Cadaver Room”, provides an insight into the complexities of human emotions and the struggle of coming to terms with death. The poem was written during a time when Plath was undergoing intense mental turmoil, and it reflects the darkness that consumed her during that period. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will examine the themes of death, decay, and human emotions in the poem and explore the various literary devices used by Plath to convey her message.
Themes
Death
The theme of death runs throughout the entire poem, starting from the first line, “The day she visited the dissecting room”. The poem is set in a cadaver room, where the speaker is looking at a dead body that has been dissected. Plath uses descriptive language to convey the sense of decay and decomposition that is present in the room. The body is described as “a sheet of blood”, “a heap of sheared / flesh”, and “a basketful of chestnuts”. These descriptions create a visceral image of the body and the process of dissection, highlighting the inevitability and finality of death.
Decay
The theme of decay is closely linked to the theme of death. Plath uses vivid imagery to describe the decomposition of the body, highlighting the fragility and impermanence of human life. The body is described as “a pile of ordure”, “an empty valise”, and “a sack of guts”. These descriptions are graphic and unsettling, but they serve to underscore the idea that everything eventually fades away and returns to dust.
Human emotions
The poem also explores the complex range of emotions that arise when faced with death. The speaker initially feels detached and clinical, describing the body in scientific terms. However, as the poem progresses, the speaker’s emotions become more complex and difficult to comprehend. The use of the first-person point of view makes the emotions feel more immediate and intense. The speaker struggles to reconcile the reality of death with their own mortality, and the poem ends on a note of uncertainty and unease.
Literary Devices
Imagery
Plath uses vivid and evocative imagery to convey the sense of decay and decomposition present in the cadaver room. The use of sensory details such as sight, smell, and touch creates a visceral image of the body and the process of dissection. The image of the body as “a heap of sheared / flesh” is particularly unsettling and highlights the brutality of the dissection process.
Metaphor
The use of metaphor is also prevalent in the poem. The body is compared to various objects, such as “a basketful of chestnuts” and “an empty valise”. These metaphors serve to underscore the fragility and impermanence of human life. The comparison of the body to a “pile of ordure” also emphasizes the sense of decay and decomposition that is present in the cadaver room.
Personification
Plath also uses personification to create a sense of unease and discomfort. The body is described as having “a smile / that locks” and “a grin of disbelief”. These descriptions create a sense of the uncanny, as the body takes on an almost human quality. The personification of the body adds to the sense of unease and discomfort that permeates the poem.
Interpretation
“Two Views of A Cadaver Room” is a poem that explores the complexities of human emotions and the struggle to come to terms with death. The cadaver room serves as a metaphor for the impermanence of human life and the inevitability of death. The use of vivid imagery and metaphor creates a sense of decay and decomposition that is unsettling and serves to underscore the finality of death.
The poem also highlights the difficulty of reconciling the reality of death with our own mortality. The speaker initially adopts a detached and clinical approach to the body, but as the poem progresses, their emotions become more complex and difficult to comprehend. The uncertainty and unease that permeate the poem reflect the fear and anxiety that arise when confronted with our own mortality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sylvia Plath’s “Two Views of A Cadaver Room” is a powerful exploration of human emotions, decay, and death. The poem is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human experience. The use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and personification creates a sense of unease and discomfort that lingers long after the poem has been read. Plath’s ability to capture the darkness and complexity of human emotions serves as a reminder of the power of poetry to illuminate the darkest corners of the human psyche.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Two Views of a Cadaver Room: A Poem of Death and Perception
Sylvia Plath’s “Two Views of a Cadaver Room” is a haunting and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of death, perception, and the human experience. The poem is divided into two parts, each presenting a different perspective on the same scene: a cadaver room in a hospital. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Plath invites the reader to contemplate the nature of death and the ways in which we perceive it.
The first part of the poem presents the perspective of a medical student observing a cadaver in a hospital. The student is detached and clinical in their observations, describing the body in detail and noting the various medical procedures that have been performed on it. The language is cold and precise, reflecting the student’s scientific approach to death:
“To him, these walls were blank as his mind Where the words of God took root and grew Around a tapestry of imprecise grey.”
The student sees the cadaver as a mere object, a specimen to be studied and analyzed. The body is reduced to its physical components, stripped of any sense of humanity or individuality. The student’s perception of death is one of detachment and objectivity, devoid of any emotional or spiritual significance.
In contrast, the second part of the poem presents the perspective of a loved one mourning the death of a family member. The language here is much more emotional and personal, reflecting the intense grief and pain of the speaker:
“Here are the prescriptions, the pills, the shit And here is the money for flowers and no card And here is a mouth, coming out of my head And I cannot speak.”
The speaker is overwhelmed by their emotions, unable to articulate their feelings in a coherent way. The cadaver room is a place of intense sadness and loss, a reminder of the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. The speaker’s perception of death is one of profound sorrow and despair, a stark contrast to the clinical detachment of the medical student.
Through these two perspectives, Plath invites the reader to consider the ways in which we perceive death and the impact that our perceptions can have on our experience of it. The medical student sees death as a scientific phenomenon, something to be studied and understood. The loved one, on the other hand, sees death as a deeply personal and emotional experience, one that cannot be reduced to mere physicality.
At the same time, Plath suggests that both perspectives are limited in their own ways. The medical student’s detachment from the emotional aspects of death can lead to a dehumanization of the deceased, reducing them to a mere object of study. The loved one’s intense emotional response, on the other hand, can lead to a sense of overwhelming grief and loss that can be difficult to process.
Ultimately, Plath’s poem suggests that death is a complex and multifaceted experience that cannot be reduced to a single perspective or interpretation. Whether we approach death from a scientific or emotional perspective, we must recognize the limitations of our perceptions and strive to understand the full complexity of this universal human experience.
In conclusion, “Two Views of a Cadaver Room” is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of death, perception, and the human experience. Through the perspectives of a medical student and a loved one, Sylvia Plath invites the reader to consider the ways in which we perceive death and the impact that our perceptions can have on our experience of it. By acknowledging the limitations of our perceptions and striving to understand the full complexity of death, we can begin to come to terms with this universal human experience and find meaning in the face of loss and grief.
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