Poem Analysis - I Am Vertical

Introduction: Yearning for Connection

Sylvia Plath's "I Am Vertical" is a poignant exploration of the speaker's alienation from the natural world and her longing for a more harmonious existence. The poem begins with a rejection of uprightness and a desire for the horizontal, setting a tone of discontent and self-awareness. As the poem progresses, a sense of isolation deepens, contrasted with a wistful admiration for the permanence of trees and the vibrant beauty of flowers. Ultimately, the speaker finds solace in the idea of death as a form of belonging and connection.

Rejection of Conventional Being: Mortality's Shadow

One of the central themes in "I Am Vertical" is mortality. The speaker contrasts her own fleeting existence with the seemingly eternal life of a tree ("Compared with me, a tree is immortal"). The tree's ability to regenerate each spring and the flower's temporary but captivating beauty highlight the speaker's own sense of ephemerality. She acknowledges that the flower, though destined to "unpetal," possesses a "daring" that she admires. The poem implies the speaker's struggle with accepting her own impermanence and the fear of being insignificant.

Nature as an Unattainable Ideal: A Longing for Belonging

The poem also explores the theme of isolation and the speaker's disconnection from the natural world. She feels excluded from the intimate relationships trees and flowers have with the earth and the elements. The line "I walk among them, but none of them are noticing" encapsulates her sense of alienation. The natural world, in its vibrant and seemingly self-sufficient existence, becomes a symbol of what the speaker desires but cannot attain: a sense of belonging and acceptance. The "cool odors" of the trees and flowers, which should be inviting, only serve to emphasize her exclusion.

Imagery of Uprightness Versus Recumbence: Finding Peace in Stillness

Recurring imagery centers around the contrast between the vertical and the horizontal. The speaker's assertion, "But I would rather be horizontal," is a powerful rejection of the demands and expectations associated with an upright, active life. The vertical position is associated with striving, growth, and outward display, as seen in the tree "Sucking up minerals" and the flower "Attracting my share of Ahs." In contrast, the horizontal position represents passivity, rest, and a deeper connection with the earth and the sky. "Then the sky and I are in open conversation" when lying down suggests a form of communication and understanding unavailable in her vertical state. This could be interpreted as a desire to shed the burden of self-consciousness and societal expectations.

Death as a Resolution: Embracing the Inevitable

The poem finds a kind of resolution in the speaker's acceptance of death. The final lines suggest that only in death, when she is "lying down finally," will she achieve the connection she craves. "The the trees may touch me for once, and the flowers have time for me" indicates a longing for integration with nature that is only possible in a state of stillness and surrender. This isn't necessarily a morbid desire for death, but rather an acknowledgement that death offers a release from the pressures of life and a potential for communion with the natural world. This could be viewed as the speaker finding a perverse sort of solace, or perhaps, a deeper understanding of existence, by facing and embracing mortality.

Concluding Thoughts: A Poignant Reflection on Existence

"I Am Vertical" is a deeply personal and introspective poem that resonates with its exploration of mortality, isolation, and the desire for connection. Through vivid imagery and a shift from discontent to acceptance, Plath crafts a powerful statement about the human condition. The poem invites readers to reflect on their own relationship with nature, their fear of death, and the search for meaning in a world that often feels indifferent. Ultimately, "I Am Vertical" is a poignant reminder of our shared vulnerability and our yearning for a place within the grand tapestry of existence.