Poem Analysis - Apprehensions

Introduction: A Descent into Darkness

Sylvia Plath's "Apprehensions" is a chilling exploration of mental deterioration and existential dread. The poem paints a stark picture of a mind trapped within itself, witnessing a world stripped of beauty and hope. From an initial, almost ethereal, observation of the sky, the poem descends into a nightmarish landscape of confinement and fear. The tone shifts from a detached observation to one of intense anguish and terror, reflecting a growing sense of powerlessness.

The Confines of the Mind: A Prison of Perception

One of the main themes in "Apprehensions" is the feeling of being trapped within one's own mind. The repeated image of the "wall" symbolizes the barriers and limitations of subjective experience. The question, "Is there no way out of the mind?" highlights the speaker's desperate desire to escape the confines of their own thoughts and perceptions. The spiral steps leading into a "well" further emphasize this feeling of descent and inescapable enclosure. This theme resonates with the broader exploration of mental illness and the struggle for liberation from its grasp, prevalent in much of Plath's work.

Color as Emotional Landscape: Bleeding Lights and Bloody Claws

The poem utilizes color imagery to represent the speaker's emotional state and the decay of their mental landscape. The initial "white wall" with a "green" sky suggests a fleeting moment of peace or possibility. However, this quickly deteriorates into "grey," "clawed and bloody," indicating pain and violence. The "red wall" that "winces continually" evokes intense suffering and a sense of being assaulted by one's own internal experience. Finally, the "black wall" represents a complete loss of hope and the encroaching darkness of despair. The progression of colors mirrors the speaker's descent into psychological turmoil, with each color symbolizing a different stage of their mental breakdown.

Symbolism of Impending Doom: Crosses and Pieties

Recurring symbols contribute significantly to the poem's overall message. The "crosses and rain of pieties" in the third stanza suggest a fear of societal judgment and the suffocating weight of religious expectations. They represent the speaker's anxieties about being perceived as "mad" or "immoral" and the potential for forced treatment or confinement. The "red fist, opening and closing," could symbolize the heart, or anger and violence contained within the speaker, while the "two grey, papery bags" are open to interpretation. Are they lungs, empty and deflated? Or perhaps tears, cried too many times and now dried out? The ambiguity creates unease. The unidentifiable birds crying on the black wall are likely a symbol of the speaker's inner turmoil and inability to express their feelings. They represent the primal, unarticulated pain that underlies their experience.

Existential Isolation: No Talk of Immorality

Another crucial theme is that of isolation. The absence of "trees or birds" in the "sour" world depicts a barren landscape devoid of life and connection. The line "There is no talk of immorality among these!" spoken in the context of the unidentifiable birds on the black wall, suggests a detachment from societal norms and a descent into a realm where conventional morality no longer applies. The "cold blanks" that "move in a hurry" represent the impersonal forces, perhaps of institutionalization or death, that are rapidly approaching, further isolating the speaker in their suffering.

Conclusion: A Haunting Portrait of Mental Anguish

"Apprehensions" is a powerful and disturbing poem that offers a glimpse into the fragmented mind of someone struggling with profound mental anguish. Through vivid imagery, symbolic language, and a relentless descent into darkness, Plath captures the feeling of being trapped within one's own subjective experience and the terror of impending psychological collapse. The poem's significance lies in its unflinching portrayal of mental illness and its ability to evoke empathy for those who suffer from its isolating and debilitating effects. The poem ultimately serves as a reminder of the fragility of the human psyche and the importance of compassion in the face of mental suffering.