Poem Analysis - The Moon And The Yew Tree

Sylvia Plath’s "The Moon and the Yew Tree" is a haunting exploration of despair, spiritual emptiness, and the search for maternal comfort. The poem opens with a stark, almost clinical tone, quickly shifting to a landscape of emotional desolation. Plath contrasts the cold, detached observation of the moon with the yearning for a more nurturing, even divine, feminine presence. The overall mood is one of profound loneliness and a struggle against a pervasive sense of bleakness, concluding with a stark image of blackness and silence.

The Bleak Landscape of the Mind

The poem immediately establishes a sense of internal struggle and detachment. The opening lines, "This is the light of the mind, cold and planetary. / The trees of the mind are black. The light is blue," suggest a sterile, emotionally barren inner world. The color blue, typically associated with peace, here feels cold and alienating. The "grasses unload their griefs" at the speaker's feet, implying an overwhelming burden of sorrow and highlighting the speaker's perceived role, albeit unwanted, as a confessor or perhaps even a divine figure unable to offer solace. The phrase "separated from my house by a row of headstones" vividly portrays a feeling of disconnection from home, life, and emotional warmth, emphasizing the speaker’s isolation in a landscape bordering on death.

Maternal Absence and the Yearning for Tenderness

One of the central themes is the complex relationship with the maternal figure, symbolized by the moon. Unlike the traditional, nurturing image of a mother, Plath’s moon is "no door," implying no escape or comfort. It is "white as a knuckle and terribly upset," a stark and unsettling image of distress. This is further emphasized by the line "The moon is my mother. She is not sweet like Mary," directly contrasting the speaker's mother with the idealized, tender figure of the Virgin Mary. The yearning for tenderness is explicit in the lines, "How I would like to believe in tenderness - / The face of the effigy, gentled by candles, / Bending, on me in particular, its mild eyes." This highlights a desperate need for a gentle, maternal gaze, a comforting presence that is noticeably absent in the speaker's reality.

The Symbolism of the Moon, Yew Tree, and Color

The poem is rich in symbolism. The moon, as discussed, represents a cold, unfulfilling maternal figure. The yew tree, with its "Gothic shape," acts as a conduit, directing the "eyes" towards the moon, suggesting an inescapable connection to this source of maternal anxiety. The recurring use of colors is also significant. Blackness dominates, particularly in the "trees of the mind" and the "message of the yew tree," representing death, despair, and the absence of hope. Blue, while often associated with tranquility, is here linked to coldness, the "light of the mind," and the "blue garments" of the moon releasing "small bats and owls," imagery that suggests a sinister or unsettling aspect to this maternal figure. It might be asked: does the persistent blackness point to a profound spiritual crisis, or is it a commentary on the inescapable darkness inherent in human experience?

Spiritual Emptiness and the Absence of Divine Comfort

The poem grapples with themes of spiritual emptiness and a questioning of religious solace. The church bells, "affirming the Resurrection," initially offer a promise of hope, but ultimately "soberly bong out their names," suggesting a somber acknowledgment of mortality rather than a joyous affirmation of life. The image of the saints "Floating on their delicate feet over cold pews" further emphasizes the emotional distance and lack of warmth within the church. Their "hands and faces stiff with holiness" suggest a rigid, unyielding faith that offers no genuine comfort. The moon, in its detachment, "sees nothing of this," highlighting the disconnect between the speaker's inner turmoil and the perceived promise of religious solace. Ultimately, the poem suggests a profound crisis of faith and a questioning of traditional sources of comfort.

Concluding Thoughts: A Portrait of Profound Despair

In conclusion, "The Moon and the Yew Tree" is a powerful and deeply personal poem that explores themes of isolation, maternal absence, and spiritual desolation. Through vivid imagery and stark symbolism, Plath creates a haunting portrait of a mind wrestling with profound despair. The contrast between the idealized image of maternal tenderness and the cold reality of the moon, coupled with the pervasive sense of blackness and silence, leaves the reader with a lingering sense of unease and a poignant understanding of the speaker's profound loneliness. The poem's significance lies in its unflinching portrayal of psychological distress and its exploration of the darker aspects of human experience.