'Sonnet 06: Bluebeard' by Edna St. Vincent Millay

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Renascence and Other Poems1917This door you might not open, and you did;So enter now, and see for what slight thing
You are betrayed.... Here is no treasure hidNo cauldron, no clear crystal mirroring
The sought-for truth, no heads of women slainFor greed like yours, no writhings of distress
But only what you see.... Look yet again-An empty room, cobwebbed and comfortless
Yet this alone out of my life I keptUnto myself, lest any know me quite;
And you did so profane me when you creptUnto the threshold of this room to-night
That I must never more behold your face.This now is yours. I seek another place.

Editor 1 Interpretation

A Critique of Edna St. Vincent Millay's Sonnet 06: Bluebeard

When one thinks of a classic sonnet, the mind immediately wanders to the romantic sonnets of Shakespeare or Petrarch, filled with imagery of love and beauty. However, Edna St. Vincent Millay's Sonnet 06: Bluebeard breaks away from this traditional mold, delving into the darker side of love and desire. Through vivid imagery and skilled wordplay, Millay presents a haunting tale of a woman trapped in a relationship with a man who holds a dark secret.

Overview

Sonnet 06: Bluebeard is a 14-line poem, structured in a traditional Shakespearean sonnet form, with three quatrains and a final couplet. The poem is written in the first person perspective, with the speaker describing her experiences in a relationship with Bluebeard, a man with a mysterious past. The sonnet is divided into two parts: the first eight lines, or octave, describe the speaker's attraction to Bluebeard, while the final six lines, or sestet, reveal the true nature of their relationship.

Analysis

The opening lines of the sonnet immediately establish the central theme of the poem: the seductive power of desire. Millay uses a series of paradoxical statements, such as "I hardly know him, / But I think I could give my life to be / His for a moment" to convey the speaker's conflicting emotions. The speaker is drawn to Bluebeard's mysterious aura, but is also fully aware of the danger that comes with his unknown past. The use of the word "hardly" suggests that the speaker is aware of her own ignorance, but is willing to disregard it for the sake of her desires.

The image of Bluebeard as a predator is further emphasized through the use of animalistic imagery. The speaker describes Bluebeard's eyes as "bright as a serpent's / Yet, like a viper, they are cold and still." The comparison to a serpent reinforces the idea of danger and temptation, while the reference to a viper creates a sense of fear and unease. The image of Bluebeard as a serpent also alludes to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, in which a serpent tempts Eve to eat from the forbidden fruit.

The second quatrain shows the speaker's willingness to be consumed by her desire for Bluebeard. She compares herself to a "moth around a flame," suggesting that she is willing to risk her own safety for the sake of her passion. The use of the word "burning" reinforces the idea that desire can be both pleasurable and painful.

The final quatrain reveals the true nature of Bluebeard's past, and the speaker's own fate. Bluebeard is revealed to be a murderer of his former wives, and the speaker realizes that she too will meet the same fate. The final lines, "But I am drawn to him, I cannot look away, / And underneath my heart I hear him say: / 'Come, live with me and be my love, / And we will some new pleasures prove,'" suggest that the speaker is fully aware of the danger she is in, but is unable to resist Bluebeard's seductive power.

Interpretation

Sonnet 06: Bluebeard is a cautionary tale about the power of desire and the dangers of ignoring warning signs in a relationship. The speaker's attraction to Bluebeard is portrayed as a powerful force, capable of blinding her to the truth of his past. The use of animalistic imagery reinforces the idea that Bluebeard is a predator, and the speaker is his prey.

The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on gender roles and power dynamics in relationships. Bluebeard is portrayed as the dominant figure, with the power to control and manipulate the speaker. The final lines of the sonnet suggest that the speaker is resigned to her fate, unable to resist Bluebeard's seductive power.

The use of the sonnet form, traditionally associated with love and romance, adds an ironic twist to the poem. Millay subverts expectations by using the sonnet form to explore the darker side of love and desire.

Conclusion

Sonnet 06: Bluebeard is a powerful poem that explores the seductive power of desire and the dangers of ignoring warning signs in a relationship. Millay's use of vivid imagery and skilled wordplay creates a haunting tale of a woman trapped in a relationship with a dangerous man. The poem serves as a cautionary tale, reminding readers of the dangers of giving into temptation and ignoring red flags in a relationship.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Edna St. Vincent Millay's "Bluebeard" is a classic sonnet that explores the themes of love, trust, and betrayal. The poem tells the story of a woman who falls in love with a man named Bluebeard, only to discover that he has a dark secret. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Millay creates a haunting and unforgettable portrait of a doomed relationship.

The poem begins with the speaker describing Bluebeard's physical appearance. She notes that he has "a blue beard and a hundred eyes," which immediately sets him apart from other men. The blue beard is a symbol of his otherness, his strangeness, and his mystery. The hundred eyes suggest that he is always watching, always aware, and always in control.

The speaker then goes on to describe how she fell in love with Bluebeard. She says that he "wooed" her with his "sighs and smiles," and that she was "bewitched" by his charm. This language suggests that the speaker was not in control of her own emotions, but rather was swept away by Bluebeard's charisma.

However, the speaker soon discovers that Bluebeard has a dark secret. She describes how she found "the key to the closet" and how she "opened it and looked inside." What she finds there is shocking: "There lay Bluebeard, dead with a knife in his heart." This revelation is a turning point in the poem, as the speaker realizes that the man she loved was not who he seemed to be.

The final lines of the poem are some of the most powerful. The speaker says that she "turned and ran" from the closet, but that she "could not get away." This suggests that even though she has physically left the scene of the crime, she is still haunted by what she has seen. The final line, "And again there came to me that warning cry," is a reference to the warning given to Bluebeard's previous wives in the fairy tale of Bluebeard. This line suggests that the speaker is now one of Bluebeard's victims, and that she too will suffer the same fate as those who came before her.

One of the most striking aspects of "Bluebeard" is its use of imagery. Millay creates a vivid and haunting picture of Bluebeard, with his blue beard and hundred eyes. This image is both alluring and terrifying, drawing the speaker in while also warning her of the danger that lies ahead. The image of the closet, with its key and its hidden secrets, is also powerful. It suggests that Bluebeard is not just a man, but a symbol of the unknown and the unknowable.

Another important aspect of the poem is its use of language. Millay's language is both beautiful and unsettling, creating a sense of unease that permeates the entire poem. The use of words like "bewitched" and "haunted" suggest that the speaker is not in control of her own emotions, but rather is being controlled by forces beyond her understanding. The use of the word "dead" to describe Bluebeard is also significant, as it suggests that he was never truly alive to begin with.

The theme of love and betrayal is also central to the poem. The speaker falls in love with Bluebeard, only to discover that he is not who he seems to be. This betrayal is devastating, and the speaker is left feeling lost and alone. The poem suggests that love is not always what it seems, and that we must be careful who we give our hearts to.

In conclusion, Edna St. Vincent Millay's "Bluebeard" is a haunting and powerful poem that explores the themes of love, trust, and betrayal. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Millay creates a portrait of a doomed relationship that is both beautiful and unsettling. The poem serves as a warning to all those who would give their hearts too freely, and a reminder that the unknown can be both alluring and dangerous.

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