Poem Analysis - The Ghosts Leavetaking

Introduction: A Liminal Farewell

Sylvia Plath's "The Ghost's Leavetaking" is a poignant meditation on the transition between sleep and wakefulness, a moment when the ephemeral world of dreams dissolves into the stark reality of the everyday. The poem possesses a melancholic yet whimsical tone, charting the fading of dreams and memories as consciousness reasserts itself. This "ghost," representing the essence of our inner world, embarks on a journey, leaving behind the tangible world. The poem shifts from describing the fading of the dream to celebrating its departure and highlighting the wonder of the subconscious.

Theme of Transience: The Fleeting Nature of Dreams

One of the central themes of the poem is the transience of dreams and memory. Plath vividly captures the ephemeral quality of the dream world in the opening stanzas, describing the "sulfurous dreamscapes and obscure lunar conundrums" that dissipate in the "no-color void" of early morning. The ghost, initially described as an "oracular" presence, is reduced to a "knot of laundry," symbolizing the way grand dreams and profound insights often shrink into mundane remnants upon waking. The sheets, initially "emblematic of farewell," "thin to nothing," reinforcing the idea that the dream world is a fleeting, insubstantial realm.

Symbolism of the Sheets: Origin and End

The "sheets" serve as a powerful symbol throughout the poem. They represent both origin and end, as stated directly in the poem: "Which signify our origin and end." Initially, they are associated with the bed, the place of sleep and dreams. However, as the ghost departs, they transform into a "hand, emblematic of farewell," signifying a farewell to this origin and a venture towards an unknown future. This transformation reflects the cyclical nature of sleep and waking, death and rebirth. The sheets also signify domesticity, but the poem elevates them to represent something more profound about the human experience.

Imagery of Departure: A Whimsical Ascent

The imagery of the ghost's departure is particularly striking. Plath doesn't depict a descent into darkness, but rather an ascent "toward a region where our thick atmosphere / Diminishes." This ascent is imbued with a sense of wonder and whimsy, as the ghost journeys toward a realm populated by "color wheels / And pristine alphabets and cows that moo / And moo as they jump over moons." This "cloud-cuckoo land" represents the boundless possibilities of the imagination and the subconscious, a place beyond the constraints of logic and reason. The final image of the "stellar carrot" and the displaced "point of Eden" adds a surreal touch, suggesting a world where familiar symbols are reconfigured in unexpected ways.

Keeper of the Profane Grail: An Ambiguous Ending

The poem concludes with a final farewell and a complex image: "O keeper / Of the profane grail, the dreaming skull." The "dreaming skull" is perhaps a reference to the human mind, the vessel that holds our dreams and memories. But the "profane grail" is a more ambiguous symbol. Is it something holy that has been corrupted, or something inherently secular that has been elevated to a sacred status? Perhaps it represents the creative imagination itself, a powerful force that can be both inspiring and destructive. This ambiguity invites the reader to consider the complex relationship between the conscious and subconscious, the real and the imagined.

Conclusion: The Enduring Power of Dreams

"The Ghost's Leavetaking" is more than just a description of waking from sleep. It's an exploration of the boundary between reality and imagination, a celebration of the enduring power of dreams and memories. Even as the ghost fades and the dream world dissolves, the poem reminds us that these ephemeral experiences leave a lasting imprint on our consciousness, shaping our thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. The poem recognizes that dreams provide a constant renewal as we traverse the ordinary world, enriching us with the ability to see what is both possible and impossible. The farewell is bittersweet, acknowledging the loss of the dream but also embracing the potential of the waking world.