Poem Analysis - Lament

A Lament for a Lost Father

Sylvia Plath's "Lament" is a powerful expression of grief and admiration for a father figure. The poem resonates with a tone of defiant sorrow, a struggle to reconcile loss with the larger-than-life image the speaker holds of their father. It uses repetition and striking imagery to create a sense of both intense personal loss and a challenge to the forces that caused it. While steeped in sadness, the poem also carries a thread of admiration for the father's resilience, making for a complex and emotionally charged experience.

Defiance in the Face of Mortality

One of the central themes of "Lament" is the defiance of mortality. The poem establishes the father as someone who actively "scorned the tick of the falling weather," suggesting a disregard for the natural progression of life and decay. This defiance extends beyond the everyday, as he "counted the guns of god a bother" and "laughed at the ambush of angels' tongues." These lines paint a picture of a man who refused to be cowed by either earthly or divine powers, highlighting a spirit that resisted the inevitability of death.

The Sting of Loss and Unconventional Imagery

The poem hinges on the image of the father's death being caused by "the sting of bees," which acts as both a recurring symbol and a central point of focus. While it is possible to interpret this literally (an allergic reaction), the phrase can also be viewed metaphorically, representing the unexpected and seemingly insignificant force that can bring down even the most formidable individuals. The striking imagery continues throughout, from "lightning licked in a yellow lather" to the father "trouncing the sea like a raging bather," underscoring the father's power, virility and the unnatural way in which that power was extinguished.

Grief and the Search for Equivalence

The theme of grief is interwoven with the speaker's intense admiration for their father. The lines "O ransack the four winds and find another / man who can mangle the grin of kings" showcase the speaker's belief that their father was unique and irreplaceable. This reinforces the depth of their loss and the seemingly impossible task of finding anyone to fill the void he left behind. The phrase "mangle the grin of kings" is particularly powerful, hinting that the father had the power to subvert authority and challenge established norms, making his absence all the more keenly felt.

A Final Remembrance

"Lament" is a powerful elegy that explores the complexities of grief and the enduring impact of a strong parental figure. The poem creates a lasting impression through its vivid imagery and defiant tone, and the somewhat surreal way in which the father died is portrayed. It serves as a testament to a life lived with a certain audacity and the profound sense of loss experienced when such a force is extinguished. The poem ultimately lingers on the idea that some individuals leave an unfillable void, challenging the natural order and leaving behind a legacy of both admiration and sorrow.