Poem Analysis - Lesbos

A Descent into Domestic Turmoil

Sylvia Plath's "Lesbos" plunges the reader into a claustrophobic and intensely negative domestic scene. The poem seethes with anger, resentment, and a sense of being trapped. The tone is acidic and accusatory, shifting between moments of outright viciousness and a weary, almost resigned despair. The poem explores themes of motherhood, female relationships, and the suffocating constraints placed on women.

The Prison of Domesticity

One of the central themes of "Lesbos" is the stifling nature of domesticity, particularly for women. The poem opens with "Viciousness in the kitchen!" immediately establishing a sense of conflict and discontent. The kitchen, traditionally a symbol of nurturing and domestic comfort, is here a site of hostility. The description of the kitchen as "all Hollywood, windowless" and lit by a "fluorescent light wincing" reinforces the artificiality and oppressive quality of this environment. This imagery conveys a feeling of being trapped in a sterile, manufactured reality. The lines "Meanwhile there’s a stink of fat and baby crap. / I’m doped and thick from my last sleeping pill. / The smog of cooking, the smog of hell" further illustrate the degradation and despair associated with the endless cycle of domestic labor. This environment leads to feelings of suffocation and a sense of being poisoned by one's own existence.

The Poisoned Well of Female Relationships

Another prominent theme in "Lesbos" is the destructive potential of female relationships, particularly when fueled by resentment and societal pressures. The poem presents a deeply dysfunctional connection between the speaker and another woman, referred to as "Orphan." Their interaction is characterized by viciousness, accusations, and a palpable sense of mutual loathing. The speaker's description of the other woman as having "blown your tubes like a bad radio / Clear of voices and history" suggests a rejection of traditional feminine roles and a desperate attempt to escape the constraints of motherhood. Yet, this attempt has left her barren and filled with a "staticky / Noise of the new," a kind of empty freedom. The phrase "You are so exhausted. / Your voice my ear-ring, / Flapping and sucking, blood-loving bat" reveals the parasitic nature of their relationship, highlighting how they drain each other emotionally.

Symbols of Decay and Entrapment

Several recurring symbols contribute to the poem's overall message of decay and entrapment. The image of the kittens, "stuck...outside your window / In a sort of cement well," serves as a potent symbol of neglected and unwanted life, mirroring the speaker's own feelings of being trapped and suffocated by her responsibilities. The "vase of acid" is a striking image, representing the destructive power of unexpressed anger and resentment. The final image of the "cute décor / Close on you like the fist of a baby / Or an anemone, that sea / Sweetheart, that kleptomaniac" suggests that the trappings of domesticity, meant to provide comfort and security, are actually closing in on the other woman, suffocating her and stealing her individuality. The anemone, beautiful yet predatory, embodies the deceptively sweet but ultimately destructive nature of this domestic prison. Could the "sea sweetheart" that is a kleptomaniac represent the woman's home stealing her identity?

A Final Descent into Silence

"Lesbos" is a raw and unflinching exploration of the dark side of domesticity and female relationships. The poem's themes of entrapment, resentment, and the destructive power of unexpressed emotions are conveyed through vivid imagery and a highly charged, accusatory tone. The final lines, "I am still raw. / I say I may be back. / You know what lies are for. / Even in your Zen heaven we shan’t meet," suggest a continued cycle of conflict and separation, highlighting the enduring pain and disconnection that can result from societal pressures and unfulfilled expectations. The speaker's departure is not a liberation, but a retreat, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of unease and the knowledge that such profound dysfunction can exist beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary lives.