Edward Lee

The Birds and the Bees: Imagery’s Role in Sylvia Plath’s Poetry

In determining a poem’s meaning, what stylistic element carries the most weight? Concerning Sylvia Plath’s works, imagery produces the most profound effect on the reader. Plath uses numerous types of imagery and symbolism to paint a picture of fear and oppression. In addition, Plath uses herself as a generalization for all women. Specifically, in her poems “Black Rook in Rainy Weather” and “The Bee Meeting,” images of animals and their surrounding environment reveal the relationship between women and men by juxtaposing their roles in their respective lives.

“Black Rook” and “Meeting” are primarily concerned with the effects of a man’s role in a woman’s life. The rook is constantly “arranging and rearranging its feathers” (“Rook” 3), suggesting a narcissistic figure solely concerned with physical stature. Plath intentionally cites a particularly fastidious task of birds to draw parallels to men. The black rook is successful, causing the woman to “haul my eyelids up and grant a brief respite from fear” (“Rook” 29-31). This fleeting rescue symbolizes the scourge of promiscuity; men tend to have varying desires as time passes. Finally, this particular work ends in frustration, as “the wait’s begun again” (“Rook” 39) for the “angel” (“Rook” 40), or loyal man, to reappear. “Black Rook” sympathizes with women who struggle with finding the ideal partner.

Furthermore, Plath makes several references to this same idea in “The Bee Meeting.” The focal point of this poem is the image of the bee. Being yellow and black, the insects are themselves a representation of the quintessence of Plath’s view on men: they are all flip-floppers and two-colored in personality. Bees are also easily distracted by simple objects, such as colors. Parallels drawn, Plath makes indirect comparisons between bees and men. The bees represent the swarming masses of the world. Male figures are seen alongside these crowds, specifically the rector, the sexton, and the “man in black” (“Meeting” 2, 11), implying an association between men and a suffocating population. The hunted woman narrating the poem is Plath herself, intelligent and set apart from the usual status quo. As such, she is forced to put on a charming façade, despite her mixed emotions inside: “They will not smell my fear, my fear, my fear” (“Meeting” 10). If she were to make herself obvious, the men, as bees, would swarm upon her and prevent her from ever escaping the stereotype of a woman. This is further implied later in the poem, as Plath says, “If I stand very still, they will think I am cow-parsley” (“Meeting” 39). Cow-parsley, a plant of no interest to bees, would provide a sanctuary from the stings and sharp tongues of men.

Although “Black Rook” and “Meeting” discuss men’s societal implications on women, the two poems also describe men’s actions against women. Generally, the subject of women’s importance in a man’s life is met with disdain in Plath’s works. In addition to the direct rook imagery, the animal’s surroundings contribute to Plath’s argument. “Miracles occur/If you care to call those spasmodic tricks of radiance miracles” (“Rook” 36-39). Women, on the whole, do not have significance in a man’s life; consequently, men are willing to abandon these unimportant “objects” for others. The continuously rainy, “desultory weather” (“Rook” 8) implies Plath’s disappointment with men’s treatment of women and her hope of a miraculous new day that will have this custom done with.

“The Bee Meeting” portrays a modern-day equivalent of a witch hunt; men are chasing Sylvia Plath for her apparent failure to stick to the status quo. “I have no protection, and they are all gloved and covered” (“Meeting” 3-4). With nothing to fear, the men are free to do their bidding unto women who they deem as out of place. As a result, women are forced to become “milkweed silk” so that “the bees will not notice” (“Meeting” 9). Plath utilizes the image of the queen bee to represent herself; she is in hiding and must avoid the villagers. The symbolism and imagery in “The Bee Meeting” ultimately imply a relentless and desperate hunt that will eventually end in death.

It is clear that imagery has much to contribute to poetry. As a whole, Plath’s works contain much more than simply one type of symbolic idea. Thematically, oppression and fear are found throughout her collection of poems, aided by numerous images from different disciplines. Although Sylvia Plath wrote to further human understanding, she and her poetry are inextricably linked, making parallels the entire way.

Word Count: 742