Poem Analysis - The Applicant

Introduction: A Stark and Sardonic Offer

Sylvia Plath's "The Applicant" is a chillingly satirical poem that presents marriage as a grotesque transaction. The poem adopts a detached, almost clinical tone, as a salesman-like figure assesses a potential applicant and offers them a "solution" to their perceived inadequacies through marriage. This offer is not one of love or companionship, but rather of conformity and societal acceptance, achieved through the acquisition of a pre-packaged, dehumanized spouse. The poem's mood shifts between a detached assessment to a frantic sales pitch, underscoring the desperation behind the societal pressure to conform.

Historical and Social Context: Conformity in the Post-War Era

While no specific footnote is provided, understanding the context of post-World War II America is crucial. The 1950s and early 1960s were marked by a strong emphasis on conformity and traditional gender roles. Women were often pressured to marry young and dedicate their lives to domesticity, while men were expected to be the breadwinners. Plath, who struggled against these constraints in her own life, often explored themes of female subjugation and societal expectations in her work. "The Applicant" can be seen as a direct critique of this era's obsession with marriage as the ultimate goal and measure of success.

Theme 1: The Dehumanization of Marriage

One of the central themes is the dehumanization of marriage. The poem never mentions love, affection, or genuine connection. Instead, marriage is presented as a business arrangement where individuals are assessed for their suitability and offered a "product" to fill their perceived deficiencies. The speaker's cold, clinical language, referring to the potential spouse as "it" and describing its functions ("It can sew, it can cook, / It can talk, talk, talk."), strips away any notion of humanity and reduces the relationship to a series of tasks and obligations. The "suit" offered is "waterproof, shatterproof, proof / Against fire and bombs through the roof", highlighting the desire for a sterile and emotionless, therefore "safe", relationship.

Theme 2: Societal Pressure to Conform

The poem vividly portrays the immense pressure to conform to societal expectations. The opening questions, "First, are you our sort of a person? / Do you wear / A glass eye, false teeth or a crutch," immediately establish a standard of normalcy that the applicant is expected to meet. The poem suggests that those who deviate from this standard are incomplete and require a "thing" to make them whole. The constant repetition of "Will you marry it?" reinforces the idea that marriage is not a choice but an obligation, a necessary step to achieve social acceptance. The speaker's insistence implies that marriage is the only way to fill the emptiness they perceive in the applicant.

Theme 3: Identity and Loss of Self

The theme of identity and the loss of self is woven throughout the poem. The applicant is initially "stark naked," implying a vulnerability and lack of pretense. However, the speaker immediately seeks to clothe and define them, offering the "suit" and the "living doll" to replace their own identity. The poem suggests that in conforming to societal expectations, individuals risk losing their true selves and becoming mere puppets, fulfilling prescribed roles. The phrase "Naked as paper to start / But in twenty-five years she'll be silver, / In fifty, gold," implies that the woman becomes more valuable in the eyes of society the longer she plays her prescribed role. The ultimate promise is not fulfillment, but a gilded cage.

Symbolism and Imagery: Filling the Void

The poem is rich with symbolism and vivid imagery. The "glass eye, false teeth or a crutch" symbolize physical and emotional imperfections, which the speaker views as deficiencies to be corrected through marriage. The recurring image of "emptiness" ("Empty? Empty. Here is a hand") represents the perceived lack of identity and purpose in the applicant, which the "thing" is meant to fill. The "suit" is a symbol of societal expectations and the constraints of marriage, offering protection but also stifling individuality. The "living doll" represents the ultimate objectification of women, reduced to a set of functions and devoid of independent thought or feeling. Is the "hole" mentioned a true void in the applicant, or is it a space that society perceives needs to be filled according to a predetermined mold?

Conclusion: A Dystopian Union

"The Applicant" serves as a powerful indictment of societal pressures and the dehumanizing potential of marriage when it is viewed as a transaction rather than a genuine connection. Through its detached tone, grotesque imagery, and recurring symbols, the poem paints a disturbing picture of a dystopian world where individuals are reduced to their functionality and forced to conform to prescribed roles. The poem's enduring significance lies in its ability to provoke reflection on the true meaning of relationships and the importance of maintaining individual identity in the face of societal expectations. Plath leaves the reader questioning the value of a union built on conformity rather than authentic love and acceptance.