Poem Analysis - Lyonnesse

Introduction: A Sunken World and Divine Indifference

Sylvia Plath's "Lyonnesse" is a haunting poem that evokes a sense of loss and the chilling indifference of a higher power. The poem plunges the reader into the submerged world of Lyonnesse, a mythical land swallowed by the sea, and explores the inhabitants' naive expectations of the afterlife and their shocking realization of divine neglect. The tone is initially mournful, progressing towards a cold and accusatory contemplation of the God figure responsible for the disaster. The poem ultimately questions the nature of faith and the perceived benevolence of a creator.

The Weight of History: Lyonnesse and the Loss of Innocence

While Lyonnesse is a mythical place, it serves as a potent symbol for any community or belief system lost to time or overcome by historical forces. The poem does not allude to specific historical context, but Plath's personal struggles and her well-documented battles with depression add a layer of understanding to the poem's themes of disillusionment and abandonment. The loss of Lyonnesse can be interpreted as the loss of faith, innocence, or a utopian ideal in the face of a harsh reality.

Disillusionment and Abandonment: Themes of Lyonnesse

One of the primary themes in "Lyonnesse" is disillusionment. The Lyonians expected heaven to be simply a continuation of their earthly existence, "with the same faces, / The same places..." Their naivety is shattered when they discover a cold and unfamiliar afterlife. Another prominent theme is abandonment. The citizens were not destroyed by a cataclysm but by negligence, "That the big God / Had lazily closed one eye and let them slip." This act of indifference is more devastating than any active destruction. Finally, the poem explores the theme of faith and its failure. The inhabitants' belief in a just and caring God is challenged by their fate, forcing the reader to contemplate the nature of divine responsibility and the potential for cosmic indifference.

Symbols of Submersion: Sea, Ice, and Divine Indifference

The poem is rich in symbolic imagery. The sea, with its "blue, green, / Gray, indeterminate gilt," represents the overwhelming force of history and the oblivion that consumes Lyonnesse. The "white, high berg on his forehead-" symbolizes the crushing weight of the past and the icy, unfeeling nature of the disaster. The "round bubble / Popping upward from the mouths of bells / People and cows" is a particularly striking image, representing the final, futile attempt of the Lyonians to communicate their distress. The "big God" himself is a significant symbol, not of benevolence but of detached power. His "cage of ether, his cage of stars" emphasizes his isolation and indifference to the suffering of his creation. His "white gape of his mind was the real Tabula Rasa", meaning he's wiped their existance from his memory completely.

Unanswered Questions and Enduring Significance

"Lyonnesse" is a poem that resonates with a profound sense of loss and a disturbing image of divine indifference. By exploring the submerged world and the shattered expectations of its inhabitants, Plath's poem challenges the reader to confront uncomfortable questions about faith, history, and the nature of a higher power. The poem serves as a powerful meditation on abandonment, and the potential for cosmic neglect. The poem’s lasting significance lies in its ability to evoke feelings of despair, and perhaps, a hint of rebellion against forces beyond our control.