Poem Analysis - Incommunicado

Introduction: The Pain of Miscommunication

Sylvia Plath's "Incommunicado" is a poignant exploration of isolation and the frustrating inability to connect with others. The poem begins with a tense encounter between the speaker and a groundhog, then shifts into a lament about the breakdown of communication. The tone is initially confrontational, tinged with a sense of defensiveness, before evolving into a more melancholic and resigned state. The poem explores the pain of feeling misunderstood and the longing for genuine connection, presenting a world where clear communication has become impossible.

The Theme of Isolation: A Breakdown in Connection

The central theme of "Incommunicado" is profound isolation. This is developed through the speaker's inability to connect with both the animal world and, seemingly, other humans. The opening scene with the groundhog sets the stage. The animal's defensive posture and rejection of the speaker's "currency" (perhaps an offering of connection or understanding) symbolize the speaker's wider struggle to form meaningful bonds. The groundhog's "sallow rodent teeth like castanets" create a jarring image of hostile defensiveness rather than welcoming communication. This initial interaction establishes a pattern of failed exchange that permeates the poem. The phrase "my currency not hers" emphasizes the speaker’s feeling of being fundamentally different and incapable of reaching across the divide.

Longing for Understanding: The Lost Language of Love

The poem also delves into the theme of a lost language of love and understanding. The reference to "marchen," a German word for fairy tale, highlights the contrast between a world where communication is straightforward and reciprocal, and the speaker's reality. In this idealized world, "love-met groundhogs love one in return" and "straight talk is the rule." This is directly contrasted to the speaker’s current situation where everything is convoluted and open to misinterpretation. The line "From what grace am I fallen" indicates a belief that the speaker was once part of a world where clear understanding was possible. The final lines referencing Canacee, a figure from mythology who could understand the language of animals, further emphasize this sense of loss and the speaker's inability to decipher the world around them. "The falcon who spoke clear/To Canacee cries gibberish to coarsened ears" suggests that the capacity for understanding still exists, but the speaker is no longer able to access it.

Symbols of Frustration: Tongues and Signs

The poem uses symbols such as "tongues" and "signs" to represent the frustrating nature of communication. The line "Tongues are strange, / Signs say nothing" suggests that both verbal and nonverbal communication have become unreliable. "Tongues," representing spoken language, are described as "strange," highlighting the difficulty in expressing oneself and being understood. Similarly, "signs," which could refer to body language, symbols, or even events, are said to say "nothing," indicating a world where meaning is obscured or absent. These symbols amplify the sense of isolation and the breakdown of meaningful interaction. The image of the groundhog rattling its teeth "like castanets" also becomes a symbol. It is not a beautiful or musical sound, but rather a harsh and defensive clatter, representing the discordant and unharmonious nature of the speaker's attempts at connection.

Concluding Thoughts: The Agony of Being "Incommunicado"

"Incommunicado" is a powerful exploration of the pain and frustration of isolation. Through vivid imagery and a shift from confrontation to lament, Plath captures the agony of feeling misunderstood and the longing for genuine connection. The poem suggests that a clear and honest language of love once existed, but has been lost, leaving the speaker trapped in a world of misinterpretation and alienation. The final lines, with their reference to Canacee, leave us with a sense of profound sadness and the unsettling feeling that true communication may be forever out of reach, a poignant reflection on the human condition when faced with the barriers of disconnection and misunderstanding. The poem's title itself, "Incommunicado," serves as a stark and concise summary of the speaker's unfortunate state.