Metaphors by Sylvia Plath Essay Example

the melon seems too big to walk on tendrils, the mother's stomach may seem too big to be carried by her small legs. The line "O red fruit, ivory, fine timbers!" is a biblical reference to the fruit of thy womb.

The baby in a woman's womb can be compared to the fruit of her body, with the womb being symbolized by ivory and fine timbers. While the earlier lines focused on the woman's physical form, this line introduces the concept of the actual baby inside her. During pregnancy, a woman's stomach expands and elevates as the baby grows within her. The phrase "This loaf's big with its yeasty rising" (5) metaphorically captures the growth of a mother's stomach.

The baby's growth inside a mother can be likened to bread cooking in an oven. This analogy also reveals the connection between the mother and child, as bread needs an oven to grow just as the child needs its mother for growth. The line "Money's new- minted in this fat purse" (6) emphasizes the significance and impact of the baby on the mother. By minting something, a process of improvement occurs, which can be seen in the baby's growth as well. The use of words like money and purse further allude to pregnancy.

The author suggests that money has significance and worth, while the purse is just a vessel. The author emphasizes that the true importance lies with the baby, viewing herself as merely a carrier lacking true value. This shift towards fear occurs when she realizes that the baby will surpass her in worth and attention. Plath expresses sadness through the line

"I'm a means, a stage, a cow in a calf" (7), fearing that her own value will diminish once the baby is born.

The mother is essentially a tool or vehicle for bringing the baby into the world, comparable to a character in a theatrical production who receives less recognition than the production itself. Like a cow giving birth to a calf, she is praised and noticed less than her baby. The mother's increasing depression stems from the realization that the main focus will be on her baby rather than herself. Unusual cravings are common during pregnancy. The line "I've eaten a bag of green apples" can signify either an odd craving or have biblical connotations, representing sin and premature experiences in life. It could parallel Eve biting into the apple in the Garden of Eden, symbolizing how the mother is condemned to undergo childbirth pain as punishment. The mention of green apples implies that she may not be prepared for this pain, as they are unripe.

The woman's commitment to her pregnancy is emphasized by the final line, "Boarded the train there’s no getting off." (9). This signifies that she has accepted her new life and must embrace it. She understands that abandoning her baby is not an option and strives to be a good mother regardless of the circumstances. These metaphors collectively tell a story, possibly about pregnancy, illustrating the challenges and observations all mothers experience while conceiving a child. While some metaphors may have different meanings, they generally revolve around pregnancy and lead to the same conclusion.