Poem Analysis - The Babysitters

Introduction: Nostalgia and Disillusionment

Sylvia Plath's "The Babysitters" is a poignant reflection on a shared past, tinged with both nostalgia and a profound sense of disillusionment. The poem recounts a summer spent as babysitters in wealthy homes, contrasting the surface "richness" with the underlying anxieties and frustrations experienced by the young women. The tone is initially descriptive, almost observational, before shifting to a more introspective and regretful mood as the speaker contemplates the distance that has grown between herself and her "sister." The poem ends on a note of resignation, acknowledging the irreversible nature of time and experience.

The Paradox of Privilege: Wealth and Isolation

One of the central themes of "The Babysitters" is the paradox of privilege. The poem depicts a world of opulent houses, yachts, and hired help, seemingly offering a life of ease and comfort. However, this veneer of wealth masks a deeper sense of isolation and dissatisfaction. The speaker describes herself and her friend as "little put-upon sisters," suggesting a feeling of being exploited and overlooked despite their privileged surroundings. The descriptions of the nervous cook, the smoking maid, and the superficial "sporty wife" further emphasize the emptiness and dysfunction that can exist behind a facade of affluence. The lavish setting, therefore, becomes a symbol of emotional detachment rather than genuine happiness.

Sisterhood and Separation: The Erosion of Connection

The theme of sisterhood, or the bond between the two young women, is prominent throughout the poem, but it is ultimately presented as a bond that has been fractured by time and circumstance. The shared experience of being babysitters initially forged a connection between them, a connection reinforced by their act of rebellion in stealing food and rowing to the deserted island. The image of them floating "inseparable--two cork dolls" encapsulates the closeness they once shared. However, the later lines, "What keyhole have we slipped through, what door has shut? And from our opposite continents we wave and call," indicate a significant separation and loss of intimacy. The poem suggests that the passage of time and their diverging paths have created an unbridgeable distance between them.

Rebellion and Escape: The Power of Transgression

The poem utilizes symbolism to enhance its thematic depth. The act of stealing the ham and pineapple from the "grownups' icebox" represents a minor act of rebellion against the stifling constraints of their roles and surroundings. The rented green boat and the deserted island serve as symbols of escape from the artificiality and unhappiness of their lives. The island, with its "creaking porches and still interiors," could be interpreted as a representation of their own inner stagnation or the decaying state of their shared past. The choice to read from the *Generation of Vipers*, a book known for its social criticism, highlights their intellectual rejection of the values and norms of the world they inhabit. The gulls that "dove as if they owned it all," can be viewed as a metaphor for the overwhelming force of societal expectations and the struggle to maintain their individuality.

Conclusion: An Elegy for Lost Youth

In conclusion, "The Babysitters" is a deeply personal and reflective poem that explores the complexities of memory, sisterhood, and the loss of innocence. It is a poignant elegy for a shared past and a lament for the inevitable erosion of connection that occurs with time. The poem masterfully uses imagery and symbolism to convey a sense of disillusionment with the superficiality of wealth and the difficulty of maintaining meaningful relationships in a world of shifting values. Ultimately, "The Babysitters" serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of shared experiences and the bittersweet recognition that "everything has happened," and nothing can ever truly be the same.