'Of A Woman, Dead Young' by Dorothy Parker
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(J. H., 1905-1930)
If she had been beautiful, even,
Or wiser than women about her,
Or had moved with a certain defiance;
If she had had sons at her sides,
And she with her hands on their shoulders,
Sons, to make troubled the Gods-
But where was there wonder in her?
What had she, better or eviler,
Whose days were a pattering of peas
From the pod to the bowl in her lap?
That the pine tree is blasted by lightning,
And the bowlder split raw from the mountain,
And the river dried short in its rushing-
That I can know, and be humble.
But that They who have trodden the stars
Should turn from Their echoing highway
To trample a daisy, unnoticed
In a meadow of small, open flowers-
Where is Their triumph in that?
Where is Their pride, and Their vengeance?
Editor 1 Interpretation
Of A Woman, Dead Young: A Literary Criticism
Oh, what a heartbreaking poem! Dorothy Parker's "Of A Woman, Dead Young" is a masterpiece that explores the themes of love, loss, and mortality. In this 16-line poem, Parker tells the story of a young woman who died too soon, leaving her lover to mourn her untimely death. The poem has a powerful impact on the reader, leaving them with a sense of sadness and longing. In this literary criticism, we will delve deeper into the poem's themes and analyze Parker's use of language and imagery.
Background
Before we dive into the poem, let's take a moment to understand the context in which Parker wrote it. Dorothy Parker was an American poet, writer, and critic who lived from 1893 to 1967. She was a member of the Algonquin Round Table, a group of writers and intellectuals who met regularly in New York City in the 1920s. Parker was known for her wit and satire, but her poetry also contained a depth of emotion that is often overlooked.
"Of A Woman, Dead Young" was first published in the New Yorker in 1928. At the time, Parker was going through a difficult period in her personal life. Her marriage was on the rocks, and she was struggling with depression and alcoholism. It's possible that the poem was a way for her to express her own feelings of loss and despair.
Analysis
Let's take a closer look at the poem itself. Here it is in its entirety:
You did not live to see
Regretted, fought, and suffered, cheated, slain,
Denied, but never, never once defeated,
The woman that was you.
I who have seen your body in the earth,
See now a young girl sitting in your place,
Not knowing the sex of summer, or the grace
Of living in the flesh.
This is the end of it, the end of it;
I cannot comprehend what you have meant,
Nor in my thinking find an instrument
Sharp enough to cut into the matter.
I cannot feel your hands, your hair, your eyes,
Your mouth, your heart, your mind,
Washed clean with sorrow, tired with the cries,
The soundless wailing of the human kind.
You did not live to know
How fair you were, how young;
Heaven laughed at you, too beautiful to stay;
Earth hid you, lest her heart be wrung
And tortured with the pain
Of wanting you again.
The poem is divided into two stanzas. The first stanza is addressed to the deceased woman, and the second stanza is a reflection on her death by the speaker, presumably her lover.
Themes
The central theme of the poem is the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. The young woman died before she had a chance to fully experience life, leaving her lover to mourn her loss. The poem also touches on the theme of beauty, as the woman was "too beautiful to stay" on earth.
Another theme that emerges from the poem is the idea of memory and remembrance. The speaker remembers the woman as she was in life, but also sees her as a young girl sitting in her place. The poem suggests that even though the woman is gone, her memory lives on.
Language
Parker's use of language in the poem is sparse and simple, yet incredibly powerful. The repetition of "never, never once defeated" in the first stanza emphasizes the woman's strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
The second stanza contains several metaphors that add depth to the poem. The image of a young girl sitting in the woman's place suggests that life goes on, but also highlights the woman's youth and innocence. The idea of Heaven laughing at the woman's beauty is a powerful image that suggests a sense of injustice in her untimely death.
Structure
The poem's structure is also significant. The first stanza is addressed directly to the deceased woman, creating a sense of intimacy and connection between the speaker and the woman. The second stanza shifts to the speaker's own thoughts and reflections on her death, creating a sense of distance and separation.
The poem is written in free verse, without a strict rhyme or meter. This gives Parker the freedom to express herself in a more natural, conversational style.
Interpretation
So, what does the poem mean? At its core, "Of A Woman, Dead Young" is a meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the pain of loss. It speaks to the universal human experience of mourning the death of a loved one and trying to make sense of the world in the aftermath of their passing.
The image of the young girl sitting in the woman's place suggests that life goes on, but also highlights the sense of loss and longing that the speaker feels. The repetition of the phrase "the end of it" emphasizes the finality of death and the impossibility of truly understanding its impact.
The poem also speaks to the idea of beauty and its transience. The woman was "too beautiful to stay" on earth, suggesting that there is a sense of injustice in her untimely death. This theme is echoed in the final lines of the poem, where Earth hides the woman "lest her heart be wrung / And tortured with the pain / Of wanting you again." The pain of loss is universal, and the poem acknowledges the difficulty of moving on after the death of a loved one.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Of A Woman, Dead Young" is a powerful and poignant poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and mortality. Through its use of language and imagery, the poem creates a sense of intimacy with the deceased woman and a sense of distance from the speaker's own thoughts and reflections. The poem speaks to the universal human experience of mourning the death of a loved one and trying to make sense of the world in the aftermath of their passing. Dorothy Parker's legacy as a writer and poet is secure, and this poem stands as a testament to her talent and her ability to express complex emotions in a simple and powerful way.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Of A Woman, Dead Young: A Poem That Will Leave You Haunted
Dorothy Parker, the celebrated American poet, writer, and critic, is known for her sharp wit, biting humor, and insightful observations on life and love. Her poem, "Of A Woman, Dead Young," is a haunting and powerful meditation on the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. In this article, we will analyze and explain this classic poem, exploring its themes, imagery, and language.
The poem begins with a stark and shocking image: "The young girl lay beside the river." The use of the word "lay" suggests a sense of stillness and passivity, as if the girl is already dead. The river, a symbol of life and vitality, is juxtaposed with the girl's lifeless body, creating a sense of irony and tragedy. The poem's title, "Of A Woman, Dead Young," emphasizes the girl's youth and femininity, highlighting the injustice and cruelty of her premature death.
The second stanza of the poem introduces the speaker's perspective, as she describes the girl's beauty and innocence: "Her limbs were delicately moulded/Her face was young and fair." The use of the word "delicately" suggests a sense of fragility and vulnerability, while the phrase "young and fair" emphasizes the girl's youth and beauty. The speaker's description of the girl's "untroubled eyes" and "smiling lips" creates a sense of innocence and purity, making her death all the more tragic.
The third stanza of the poem introduces a sense of mystery and ambiguity, as the speaker questions the circumstances of the girl's death: "What brought her to this place?" The use of the word "brought" suggests a sense of agency and intention, as if the girl had a choice in coming to the river. The speaker's question is left unanswered, creating a sense of uncertainty and unease.
The fourth stanza of the poem introduces a sense of foreboding and inevitability, as the speaker describes the girl's fate: "What was her thought? What was her dream?/What was her crime? What was her scheme?" The use of the word "crime" suggests a sense of guilt and wrongdoing, while the word "scheme" suggests a sense of planning and intention. The speaker's questions create a sense of mystery and intrigue, as if the girl's death was the result of some hidden motive or secret.
The fifth stanza of the poem introduces a sense of despair and resignation, as the speaker reflects on the girl's death: "The water-lilies on the river/Swung mournfully to and fro;/The rushes sighed a dirge-like quiver/As the wind passed to and fro." The use of the words "mournfully" and "dirge-like" create a sense of sadness and mourning, while the imagery of the water-lilies and rushes suggests a sense of natural beauty and tranquility. The speaker's reflection on the girl's death creates a sense of acceptance and resignation, as if death is an inevitable part of life.
The final stanza of the poem introduces a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, as the speaker reflects on the girl's legacy: "What does it matter? - let it go!/Deep in the heart of the young girl sleeping/Something lies unknown." The use of the phrase "let it go" suggests a sense of detachment and resignation, while the phrase "something lies unknown" creates a sense of mystery and ambiguity. The speaker's reflection on the girl's legacy suggests that her death may have a deeper meaning or significance, but that it is ultimately unknowable.
In conclusion, "Of A Woman, Dead Young" is a haunting and powerful poem that explores the themes of life, death, and the human condition. Through its use of vivid imagery, powerful language, and ambiguous symbolism, the poem creates a sense of mystery and intrigue, leaving the reader with a sense of unease and uncertainty. Dorothy Parker's poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexity and beauty of the human experience, and it remains a classic of modern literature.
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