Poem Analysis - The Couple

Introduction: A Stripping Away of Illusions

Maya Angelou's "The Couple" is a stark and unflinching examination of the human condition, stripped bare of its romantic and idealistic pretenses. The poem unfolds as a process of dismantling, urging the reader to discard negative emotions like fear, hate, and greed to reveal the raw and vulnerable essence of a man and a woman. The tone is initially critical, almost accusatory, but it subtly shifts towards a melancholic acknowledgement of loss and exile. Ultimately, the poem evokes a sense of profound sadness about the failures of humanity. The poem is a powerful meditation on the cost of these emotions on relationships.

The Weight of Emotion: Unveiling the Human Condition

The poem’s central theme revolves around the destructive power of negative emotions on human relationships and self-perception. Each stanza focuses on a different emotion – fear, hate, and greed – and the impact each has on the perception of the man and woman. The opening lines, "Discard the fear and what / was she?" and "Discharge the hate and when / was he?" immediately establish this process of reduction. By imploring us to "discard," "discharge," and "dissolve" these emotions, Angelou suggests that they are obscuring something fundamental about the couple. The result of being subjected to this gauntlet of emotions is a state of brokenness and disillusionment.

Imagery of Diminishment: From Fairy Tale to Exile

Angelou employs potent imagery to depict the couple's descent from idealized beings to diminished figures. The woman is described as a "mimicry of woman's / fairy-ness," suggesting a loss of innocence and authenticity. The man's state is even more pathetic, rendered as "Disheveled moans / a mimesis of man's / estate." The word "mimesis" implies a mere imitation, a hollow performance of what it means to be a man. The final image of "Enfeebled thrones" solidifies this sense of decline, painting a picture of royalty brought low. The poem’s imagery of decay and absence emphasizes the price paid for the destructive power of negative emotions, in effect exiling them from their potential.

Symbolism of Loss: Earthly Paradise Lost

The poem is imbued with symbolism that deepens its exploration of loss and alienation. The use of words like "Archaic" and "deceited" suggest a departure from an original, perhaps more innocent, state. The phrase "exiled from this earth" is particularly significant, evoking the biblical story of Adam and Eve's expulsion from the Garden of Eden. This reference positions the couple as representative of humanity, forever separated from a state of grace and kindness due to their flaws and failings. In a broader sense, the earth itself becomes a symbol of what is lost – the possibility of genuine connection and fulfillment untainted by negative emotions. Perhaps this earth is meant to symbolize a relationship itself.

A Final Reflection: The Cost of Emotional Baggage

In conclusion, "The Couple" is a powerful and poignant poem that reveals the devastating effects of fear, hate, and greed on human relationships and the self. Through stark imagery and a process of emotional stripping, Angelou presents a vision of humanity stripped bare of its illusions, exiled from a state of grace and kindness. The poem serves as a stark reminder of the cost of emotional baggage, and the importance of confronting and overcoming negative emotions in order to build authentic connections and fulfill our potential. The poem ultimately questions if the couple can come back together after such a display of negativity or are they to remain separated.