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Essay / The Portrayal of Motherhood in Morning Song, a Poem by Sylvia Plath
Explore how Plath presents motherhood in 'Morning Song'Sylvia Plath wrote many poems describing her views and feelings towards of being a mother, some of whom seem non-conformist and insensitive. Some critics hold the same opinion about her poem "Morning Song", due to the way she describes her own child in a very detached and distanced manner. However, at the beginning of the poem this seems wrong because of the way the child is described. For example, the title immediately has a very positive, joyful and festive side, suggesting her joy due to the birth of her baby. The first word used in the poem is "love", giving the reader the impression that in addition to happiness, Plath felt a strong sense of affection towards her baby. The child is then described as a "big gold watch" which in some cases has been put forward to represent a plump, healthy infant or to suggest the preciousness and value that this baby holds in Plath's eyes. The "big gold watch" could also be seen as a positive symbol of time and the beginning of a new and precious life in a mother's mind. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay However, despite the positive first impression the reader might receive, the mood of the poem eventually changes. The baby appears to be named as an object more than once throughout the poem, being called a "statue" and a "watch", both of which are heavy, cold inanimate objects, suggesting that the child is a burden in Plath's life, or even something. it takes him time. A watch can also be considered mechanical, implying that the relationship between baby and mother is not natural or sincere, but forced and routine; which could be represented by the perfect 3-line structure of each stanza. The idea of a “drafty museum” as opposed to the comfort of a home leaves us feeling cold and uncomfortable, alongside the vulnerability of the child’s “nakedness” . All of these ideas would lead the reader to believe that Plath feels resentment towards her child because instead of bringing him happiness and joy, it dragged him down and chilled his heart. This is further demonstrated by Plath's disavowal and abandonment of the baby, when she declares, "I am no longer your mother." Towards the end of the poem, the tone becomes much more selfish as we see much more frequent use of the word "I", suggesting that for Plath, motherhood is about herself and not the baby. The phrase "Fade at the hand of the wind" is also significant because it highlights Plath's fear of growing old and losing her physical appearance, for which she believes the baby is responsible. The idea of a "cloud that distills a mirror" represents the temporary and short-lived relationship between mother and child due to its lack of feeling and detachment. Additionally, near the end of the poem, there is punctuation that suggests a slow pace, perhaps representing the feelings Plath has toward her child due to the weight with which he seems to hold her. Furthermore, the fact that the window "swallows its dull stars" could imply that the child has changed his perception of nature and the beauty it is supposed to contain. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a custom article now from our expert editors. Get a Custom Essay this, because she was purely honest about motherhood and its effects on the female brain and body. This was argued because mothers of the time were considered "unfit".