Poem Analysis - Flying Inside Your Own Body

Introduction: A Flight of Fancy Grounded in Reality

Margaret Atwood's "Flying Inside Your Own Body" presents a stark contrast between the boundless freedom of imagination and the constricting weight of reality. The poem begins with a whimsical and liberating tone, describing a dreamlike state of weightlessness and joy. However, this euphoria is abruptly shattered, giving way to a sense of oppression and struggle. The poem ultimately explores the tension between aspiration and limitation, and the disappointment of waking from a perfect dream into a flawed world.

Dreams of Liberation

The poem initially develops the theme of freedom and liberation through vivid imagery of physical transformation. The speaker's lungs become "wings of pink blood," and bones become hollow, suggesting a release from earthly constraints. The act of breathing is transformed into flight: "When you breathe in you'll lift like a balloon." This section emphasizes the boundless potential of the dream state, where the speaker is unburdened by the limitations of the physical body. The heart, "light too & huge, / beating with pure joy, pure helium," symbolizes the unadulterated happiness and energy that freedom can bring.

Crushing Weight of Reality

The theme of disillusionment emerges sharply as the poem transitions from dream to reality. The shift in tone is jarring, marked by harsh and oppressive imagery. The heart, once filled with "pure joy," is now a "shaken fist," symbolizing anger, frustration, and a sense of powerlessness. The freedom of flight is replaced by the suffocating sensation of "fine dust" clogging the air. The sun, once a source of life and warmth, becomes a "hot copper weight," crushing the speaker beneath its immense pressure. This emphasizes the crushing burden of reality and the loss of the dream's liberating potential.

The Unreachable Ideal

The poem also touches on the theme of unattainable ideals. The initial dream state presents an image of perfection: seeing "the earth now as an oval jewel, / radiant & seablue with love." This vision is idealistic and perhaps unattainable in reality. The final lines, "You try & try to rise but you cannot," underscore the frustration of striving for an ideal that remains perpetually out of reach. The image of being grounded, unable to escape the weight of reality, highlights the human condition of longing for something more, but being tethered to limitations.

Symbolism of Flight and Gravity

The poem employs powerful symbolism throughout, with flight representing freedom, joy, and escape. Conversely, gravity and weight symbolize the constraints of reality, responsibility, and disappointment. The "wings of pink blood" initially suggest a natural ability to soar, but this is contrasted with the feeling of being weighed down by the "hot copper weight" of the sun. The balloon imagery represents lightness and buoyancy, while the "shaken fist" symbolizes pent-up frustration and the inability to rise above limitations. Is the persistent attempt to rise a futile exercise, or does the very act of trying hold some inherent value, even in the face of inevitable failure?

Conclusion: The Bitter Aftertaste of Dreams

In conclusion, "Flying Inside Your Own Body" is a poignant exploration of the contrast between the boundless potential of the dream world and the harsh realities of waking life. The poem uses vivid imagery and shifting tones to convey the themes of freedom, disillusionment, and unattainable ideals. Ultimately, Atwood's poem serves as a reminder of the bittersweet nature of dreams: offering glimpses of a better reality, while simultaneously highlighting the limitations of our own.