Poem Analysis - Sow

A Monumental Swine: Introduction to Plath's "Sow"

Sylvia Plath's "Sow" is a poem of awe and disillusionment. It begins with curiosity and a sense of rural mystery, then shifts to grand admiration, only to be deflated by the farmer's mundane action. The tone moves from inquisitive to reverent and finally to satirical. The poem explores themes of expectation versus reality, the power of legend, and the tension between the sublime and the ordinary, using vivid imagery to elevate a simple farm animal to mythic proportions before bringing it crashing back down to earth.

The Enigmatic Farmer and His Prize: Setting the Stage

While specific historical or social circumstances are not overtly stated, the poem taps into a general fascination with rural life and agricultural prowess. The initial secrecy surrounding the sow's breeding implies a competitive spirit common in farming communities. The "Prize ribbon and pig show" suggests a world of agricultural competitions and the pursuit of excellence in animal husbandry. The farmer's guarded secret adds an element of intrigue, setting the stage for the unveiling of something exceptional.

From the Mundane to the Mythic: Themes of Expectation and Reality

One of the poem's central themes is the contrast between expectation and reality. The initial descriptions of common sows – "Mire-smirched, blowzy, / Maunching thistle and knotweed" – establish a baseline of ordinariness. The speaker's build-up of anticipation primes the reader for something far beyond the usual farm animal. When the sow is finally revealed, Plath uses grandiose language to depict it as a "Brobdingnag bulk," a "vision of ancient hoghood," almost as if she is deliberately overstating the sow's qualities, thus highlighting the disparity between the speaker's imaginative projection and the animal's actual nature.

Legend and the Land: Imagery and Symbolism

The poem is rich in symbolic imagery. The sow is not merely a pig, but a "monument" and a figure of legend. The image of a "knight, / Helmed, in cuirass, / Unhorsed and shredded in the grove of combat / By a grisly-bristled / Boar" transforms the farm setting into a mythical battlefield. This imagery suggests that the sow embodies the primal, untamed force of nature. The sow's "Fat-rutted eyes / Dream-filmed" imply a connection to a deeper, more instinctual realm. However, this elevated image is quickly shattered by the farmer's casual "thwack" to the sow's "barrel nape," reminding the reader of the animal's physical, earthly existence. The "dried mud" dropping suggests a disillusionment, a loss of the legendary aura.

The Appetite of Ages: Gluttony and Unsatisfied Desire

The poem culminates in an image of insatiable appetite, linking the sow to a figure of monstrous gluttony who "Proceeded to swill / The seven troughed seas and every earthquaking / continent." This imagery speaks to the theme of desire and the impossibility of satisfaction. The sow's endless hunger can be interpreted as a symbol of human ambition and the relentless pursuit of more, even when such pursuit leads to destruction. The poem could be asking if such constant wanting makes for a monstrous existence. Is this sow in its grandness and hunger a mirror to a dark part of humanity?

Deflating the Divine: Conclusion

In conclusion, "Sow" is a complex poem that explores the tension between the ordinary and the extraordinary. Plath elevates a common farm animal to the level of myth, only to deflate this grand image with a simple, mundane act. The poem uses vivid imagery and symbolism to explore themes of expectation, reality, and the insatiable nature of desire. Ultimately, "Sow" questions the power of human imagination to transform the world around us, and the inevitable return to the concrete, physical reality that underlies all our fantasies, leaving the reader with a sense of both awe and a subtle, mocking irony.