Women’s Trapping in Feelings in Poems Essay Example

the young girl she once was. This story parallels the tale of Narcissus, a Greek God fixated on his own reflection, ultimately condemned to remain by the river until he withers away. Now as a woman, every time she looks at her reflection, she ages one day more.

'A terrible fish' is used by Sylvia Plath to describe how an old woman perceives herself as she ages. Despite not being as beautiful or young as she once was, the woman continues to hope for her youthful face to appear in the mirror. However, the mirror remains unbiased and can only show what it sees without any preconceptions. Although the woman may be aware of the truth reflected in the mirror, she remains trapped by her optimism. Not only is the woman trapped, but the mirror too is caught in a repetitive cycle of reflecting honestly upon the images it observes.

The woman and the mirror are intertwined and dependent on each other in a intricate manner. The woman relies on the mirror due to her entrapment in hope and vanity, while the mirror experiences loneliness. However, they both inflict equal amounts of suffering upon one another. The woman is dissatisfied with her own reflection, while the mirror despises being neglected repeatedly.

Afternoons

Transitioning to 'Afternoons', a poem composed by Philip Larkin during the mid-twentieth century.

The poem portrays a somber tone to depict the mothers' unhappiness. It highlights the miserable and unfulfilled lives of these trapped mothers. The poet carefully delves into the role of a housewife, emphasizing the multitude of jobs and the importance of setting high standards. Mothers with children find themselves caught in their demanding responsibilities until

their children grow up and can be freed. Motherhood becomes a confinement. In the poem 'Afternoons', the mother's love for her husband seems to wane as their usual romantic places are ruined, and she believes that all lovers are now in school. The husbands, who once held their wives' undivided attention, have now been replaced by thoughts of their children.

Some women lack the support of a husband and are left to provide for their children alone. These abandoned women, especially, are trapped in the monotonous routine of caring for their children. The title of the poem, 'Afternoons,' symbolizes a stage in their lives - not the beginning (morning) or the end (evening). While analyzing the poem, one can observe various images of closure and decay: falling leaves, destroyed courting spots, the end of summer and the day. The metaphor of a wedding album lying near the television symbolizes how their lives have changed - their wedding day, once significant, is now forgotten and overshadowed by tedious hours spent in their living rooms, watching TV. The poem depicts change happening gradually, evident through the use of verbs ending in 'ing.'

It gives the effect of change creeping over them.

My Grandmother

Elizabeth Jennings authored the poem 'My Grandmother', which reflects the challenging experiences of her life. The poem is inspired by her own mental breakdown and sensitively explores the theme of loneliness.

The text discusses the granddaughter's persistent guilt regarding her refusal to accompany her Grandmother. This guilt is described as a perpetual trap, with no possibility of redemption. The poem utilizes lengthy lines and intricate vocabulary to effectively depict its imagery, including objects such as Apostle spoons, Bristol glass,

faded silks, and heavy furniture. The combination of detailed and simple language effectively convey the meaningful message of the poem. Additionally, the repeated mention of the Grandmother's cherished possessions highlights their significant role in her life.

This poem depicts the deep appreciation the Grandmother had for her belongings. Divided into four stanzas, each stanza offers a glimpse into different aspects of her life. The opening line, 'She kept an antique shop- or it kept her,' serves as a foundation for the entire poem, revealing her strong attachment to her antiques. This line implies that her collection was not just a hobby but rather the essence of her existence.

The Grandmother appears to live with her own reflections as real people instead of actual individuals. She diligently suppressed the fact that there was no love in her life, as acknowledging this truth caused her profound pain. The second stanza reveals the Grandmother's relationship with her granddaughter, highlighting the guilt that the granddaughter still harbors for refusing to spend time with her. The third stanza depicts the Grandmother's gradual decline due to aging, rendering her too weak to manage a shop and leading her to reside in a single, elongated room so she can be in constant proximity to her reflections.

The death of the Grandmother in the fourth stanza is conveyed as follows: 'And when she died I felt no grief at all,' depicting the granddaughter's emotions towards the loss. She also experiences guilt, possibly due to her lack of grief, since the poem is structured as a narrative of the Grandmother's life. This narrative effectively engages the reader, making them feel part of the events. The poem evokes

a bleak atmosphere through its loose rhyming scheme. Metaphors are skillfully employed by Jennings to create vivid mental images, such as 'All her best things in one long, narrow room.' This metaphor vividly evokes the shape of a coffin in the reader's mind.

Some individuals prefer to have their cherished possessions placed inside their coffins, ensuring that their priceless items are buried alongside them. While these objects may appear aged and worn to the reader, they hold immense significance to the Grandmother - "necessary" yet never "utilized". It seems that the Grandmother values these antiques more than human companionship or affection, thus becoming trapped within the room of precious objects.