The Dead
The Dead - meaning Summary
The Inertia of the Dead
Plath's "The Dead" presents death as a physical, indifferent state rather than a spiritual triumph. The poem portrays buried bodies as unconcerned with glory, judgment, or resurrection. Rather than awaiting a divine overturning, the dead are rocked in earth's womb, seeking oblivion and remaining in a vast, final sleep. It emphasizes material decay and the futility of apocalyptic deliverance for ordinary, forgotten bodies.
Read Complete AnalysesRevolving in oval loops of solar speed, Couched in cauls of clay as in holy robes, Dead men render love and war no heed, Lulled in the ample womb of the full-tilt globe. No spiritual Caesars are these dead; They want no proud paternal kingdom come; And when at last they blunder into bed World-wrecked, they seek only oblivion. Rolled round with goodly loam and cradled deep, These bone shanks will not wake immaculate To trumpet-toppling dawn of doomstruck day: They loll forever in colossal sleep; Nor can God's stern, shocked angels cry them up From their fond, final, infamous decay.
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