Poem Analysis - Full Fathom Five

Introduction: Confronting the Unfathomable

Sylvia Plath's "Full Fathom Five" is a haunting exploration of the complex and often terrifying relationship with a paternal figure, envisioned as an ancient, oceanic being. The poem unfolds with a tone of both awe and dread, as the speaker grapples with the immense power and inscrutability of this "old man." There's a shift from initial observation and description to a yearning for connection, culminating in a desperate plea for a different existence. The poem's power lies in its visceral imagery and the speaker's palpable sense of alienation.

Patriarchal Power and Unreachable Origins

One of the central themes of "Full Fathom Five" is the struggle to understand and reconcile with patriarchal power, represented by the father figure. He's described as surfacing "seldom," highlighting his elusiveness and the speaker's limited access to him. The imagery of "white hair, white beard, far-flung" immediately evokes a sense of age, wisdom, and a vastness that the speaker struggles to comprehend. This figure embodies a mythic origin, something "unimaginable," suggesting that the speaker is wrestling with the very source of their being and identity, yet that source remains tantalizingly out of reach.

Drowning in the Depths of Disconnection: The Allure and Terror of the Father Figure

The poem vividly portrays the speaker's ambivalence towards this paternal figure. There's an undeniable allure, a desire to "fathom" him, yet also a deep-seated fear. He's compared to "kneeled ice-mountains," an image that suggests both majesty and potential danger. The lines "All obscurity / Starts with a danger" underscore the idea that seeking to understand this figure inevitably leads to confronting uncomfortable truths and potential pain. The speaker observes that "your form suffers / Some strange injury / And seems to die," indicating a painful awareness of the father's own vulnerabilities and the potential for destruction that lies within the relationship.

Water as a Symbol of Both Life and Death

Water, the poem’s pervasive element, functions as a complex symbol. It represents both the life-giving source of the father figure, his natural habitat, and a potentially destructive force. The speaker's desire to "breathe water" suggests a longing for a deeper connection with this paternal figure, a desire to merge with his essence and escape the "murderous" air of the terrestrial world. However, the ocean's depths also contain dangers – "whirlpools / To make away with the ground- / Work of the earth and the sky’s ridgepole"– implying that such a merging could lead to a loss of self and a descent into chaos.

Exile and the Yearning for Belonging

The final stanza encapsulates the speaker's sense of exile and desperate yearning for belonging. "I walk dry on your kingdom's border / Exiled to no good" paints a picture of someone excluded from the father's world, existing on the margins without purpose or fulfillment. The poem concludes with the poignant plea, "Father, this thick air is murderous. / I would breathe water," highlighting the speaker's profound dissatisfaction with their current existence and a desperate desire to find solace and connection within the father's oceanic realm.

Conclusion: A Descent into the Personal Abyss

"Full Fathom Five" is a powerful exploration of the complex and often fraught relationship with a paternal figure. Through vivid imagery and a tone of both awe and fear, Plath delves into the depths of familial connection, revealing the speaker's struggle to understand and reconcile with the power and inscrutability of their father. The poem ultimately leaves the reader with a sense of profound alienation and a lingering question about the possibility of true connection across the chasm of inherited legacies. It is not merely about a father, but the inherent complexities and unavoidable shadows that constitute our roots.