Poem Analysis - Kitty Sixteen 5 11 White Prostitute

A Portrait of Lost Innocence

E.E. Cummings' "kitty." paints a stark and unflinching portrait of a young prostitute. The poem opens with a blunt cataloguing of her physical attributes and profession, immediately stripping away any romantic notions. The tone is a complex blend of pity, judgment, and perhaps even a detached fascination. While the poem doesn't explicitly condemn Kitty, it lays bare the harsh realities of her existence, leaving the reader to grapple with the implications of her situation.

The Shadow of Exploitation

While the exact historical context for this poem remains undefined, it resonates with broader themes of societal exploitation and the vulnerability of youth, particularly young women. The poem's focus on Kitty's age ("sixteen") and physical description (including "babybreasted") underscores the predatory nature of her circumstances. This imagery suggests that she is being victimized and emphasizes the loss of innocence inherent in her profession, reflecting persistent social issues where vulnerable individuals are commodified and exploited.

Mortality and the Dance with Death

One central theme of the poem is the connection between Kitty's profession and mortality. The lines "whose slippery body is Death's littlest pal" suggest that her life is intimately intertwined with danger and the potential for an early demise. The phrase "Death's littlest pal" is striking in its juxtaposition of the playful word "pal" with the gravity of death, suggesting a casual yet unsettling familiarity. This reflects the potential consequences of her lifestyle and the dangers to which she is exposed, thus, reinforcing the theme of her proximity to death.

The Facade of Pleasure and the Hollow Gaze

The poem explores the theme of authenticity versus performance. Phrases like "skilled in quick softness. Unspontaneous. cute" highlight the artificiality of Kitty's interactions. Her charm is presented as a learned behavior, a performance designed to please her clientele. The line "bottomless eyes importantly banal" is particularly poignant. It suggests a hollowness beneath the surface, a lack of genuine emotion masked by a practiced expression. This image powerfully conveys the idea that she has had to suppress her true self to survive, showcasing a lack of genuine pleasure. The "signal perfume of whose unrepute" is more than just her scent. It becomes a symbol of her social standing, the readily-identifiable scent of lost innocence and moral compromise.

The Common Denominator of Unequal Souls

The poem subtly explores the theme of human connection, or rather, the lack thereof. The line "whose least amazing smile is the most great common divisor of unequal souls" is complex. It suggests that Kitty, despite her profession, offers a point of connection for people from different walks of life. Her "least amazing smile" is something they can all relate to, perhaps a fleeting moment of shared humanity in an otherwise divided world. This could also be interpreted cynically, implying that exploitation is the one thing that unites people from various backgrounds, further illustrating a bleak outlook on society.

Final Reflections: A Sympathetic, Yet Unflinching View

In conclusion, E.E. Cummings' "kitty." is a disquieting poem that explores the grim realities of prostitution and the loss of innocence. Through vivid imagery and a complex tone, Cummings paints a portrait of a young woman caught in a cycle of exploitation. The poem doesn't offer easy answers or moral pronouncements, but rather compels us to confront the uncomfortable truths about societal inequalities and the human cost of such realities. The final lines leave the reader with a lingering sense of unease, questioning the true extent of Kitty’s agency and the role of society in her fate.