Poem Analysis - Ouija

Introduction: A Descent into Spiritual Decay

Sylvia Plath’s "Ouija" conjures a dark and unsettling atmosphere, exploring themes of spiritual decay and the allure of morbid beauty. The poem's tone is initially ominous and foreboding, gradually shifting into a decadent fascination with the "old god" invoked through the Ouija board. Plath paints a vivid picture of a corrupted spirituality, trading in divine transcendence for earthly decay. The overall impression is one of unease and a sense of being drawn into a disturbing, stagnant realm.

The Historical and Personal Context: Whispers of Plath's World

While "Ouija" doesn't directly reference specific historical events, understanding Plath's own life and struggles offers context. Plath grappled with mental illness and a profound sense of disillusionment, often exploring themes of death, decay, and the darker aspects of human experience. The poem's exploration of a corrupted spirituality and the invocation of a "chilly god" can be seen as a reflection of Plath's own search for meaning in a world that often felt bleak and despairing. The Ouija board itself, a tool for seeking contact with the unseen, may symbolize her own desperate attempts to find answers or solace in the face of existential angst.

Themes of Mortality and Decadence: The Allure of the Rotting Queen

The poem develops several key themes, notably mortality and decadence. The "old god" hymns a "rotten queen," a clear symbol of decaying beauty and the allure of death. This imagery is further reinforced by the "wormy couriers" gnawing at his bones. Plath juxtaposes images of decay with a perverse beauty, suggesting a fascination with the macabre. This contrasts sharply with conventional notions of beauty and purity, instead embracing a darker aesthetic.

The Illusion of Spirituality: Words Dribbled from a Glass Mouth

Another important theme is the illusion of genuine spirituality. The Ouija board promises contact with the divine, but what emerges is a debased, decrepit "old god" who "dribbles, in return, his words." This suggests a corruption of true spirituality, replaced by empty rhetoric and "aureate poetry / In tarnished modes." The god's words are likened to "locusts," leaving behind only "cobs to rattle, bitten clean," implying a destructive and ultimately unsatisfying experience. The act of spiritual seeking leads not to enlightenment, but to disillusionment.

The Seduction of the Mire: Descending Skies and Earthly Bonds

Finally, the poem explores the theme of a descent from the spiritual to the material realm. The "skies once wearing a blue, divine hauteur / Ravel above us, mistily descend, / Thickening with motes, to a marriage with the mire." This imagery suggests a loss of transcendence, a fall from grace. The divine is no longer elevated but instead becomes entangled with the earthly and the decaying. The "marriage with the mire" symbolizes a submission to the base and the corrupt.

Recurring Symbols: Moths, Fire, and the Rotten Queen

Several recurring symbols enrich the poem's meaning. The "moths" represent the unborn and the undone, drawn to the window like lost souls seeking warmth and completion. Their "envious phosphorescence" hints at a desire for the vibrant life they lack. The "coal fire" symbolizes a feeble attempt to console them with earthly pleasures, which ultimately fail to satisfy their "deep hunger." The "rotten queen" is the central symbol of decaying beauty and perverse allure, representing the seductive power of death and decay.

Conclusion: A Grim Invocation

In conclusion, "Ouija" is a powerful and unsettling exploration of spiritual decay, mortality, and the allure of the macabre. Through vivid imagery and a shift from ominous foreboding to decadent fascination, Plath creates a chilling portrait of a corrupted spirituality. The poem suggests a profound disillusionment with conventional notions of transcendence and beauty, instead embracing a darker aesthetic and a fascination with the decaying and the perverse. The poem leaves the reader with a sense of unease, questioning the true nature of spiritual seeking and the seductive power of the abyss.