Poem Analysis - The Goring

Introduction: A Spectacle of Violence and Redemption

Sylvia Plath's "The Goring" plunges the reader into the brutal world of a bullfight, a spectacle rife with blood, death, and a strange kind of ritualistic beauty. The poem opens with a scene of degradation and failure, then finds a disturbing sense of artistry within the violent act itself. The tone shifts from disillusionment with the flawed "ritual death" to a detached observation of the power dynamics. It ends with a sense of redemption, albeit one born from bloodshed.

The Failed Ritual and the Will to Ceremony

One central theme is the failure of ritual and humanity's persistent need for order and meaning, even in the face of violence. The opening lines depict a bullfight gone wrong: "The ritual death each time botched among dropped capes, ill-judged stabs." The inherent violence of the bullfight is made worse by its incompetence. Yet, despite the failures, there's a "will towards ceremony," a desire to impose structure and significance onto a chaotic and bloody act. This highlights humanity’s urge to find purpose, even in the most barbaric arenas.

The Grotesque Beauty of Violence

The poem also explores the troubling relationship between violence and art. Initially, the "cumbrous routine" of the picador is dismissed as "not artwork." However, the moment the bull's horn lifts the man-shape, "Instinct for art began." The goring, a deeply violent act, paradoxically awakens an artistic sensibility. This suggests that beauty, or at least aesthetic impact, can emerge from even the most gruesome circumstances, raising uncomfortable questions about the nature of art and its connection to human suffering. The image of the man lifted by the horn, frozen in a grotesque dance, is a particularly powerful and unsettling symbol.

Blood and Redemption: Cleansing the Sullied Air

A key theme is redemption through blood. The description of the arena as "rusted by four bulls' blood" suggests a place tainted and corrupted. The "sullied air, the earth's grossness" further emphasize the filth. However, the act of the fifth bull being successfully pierced brings about a transformation: "Blood faultlessly broached redeemed the sullied air." The blood, normally associated with death and degradation, here acts as a cleansing force. It suggests that in this violent world, only through the shedding of blood can a kind of perverse purity be achieved. Is this a true redemption, or merely a disturbing rationalization of brutality?

The Lasting Impression: A Complex Morality

In conclusion, "The Goring" is a poem that grapples with complex themes of ritual, violence, art, and redemption. It presents a stark and disturbing picture of a bullfight, forcing us to confront the unsettling possibility that beauty and meaning can be found even in the midst of bloodshed and suffering. The poem's power lies in its ability to evoke a sense of both revulsion and fascination, leaving the reader to ponder the disturbing relationship between humanity, violence, and the search for meaning.