Poem Analysis - Totem

Sylvia Plath's "Totem" is a disturbing and visceral poem, saturated with images of death, consumption, and a fractured sense of self. The poem's tone is overwhelmingly pessimistic and unsettling, shifting from a bleak observation of industrial progress to a descent into personal madness and existential dread. The poem explores themes of mortality, the dehumanizing effects of industrialization, and the fragmented nature of identity in a world seemingly devoid of meaning. There's a tangible sense of disgust and alienation that permeates the verses, leaving the reader with a feeling of profound unease. Plath constructs a grim picture of reality, questioning both societal structures and the individual's place within them.

Industrialization's Dehumanizing Grip

One of the central themes of "Totem" is the dehumanizing impact of industrialization. The opening lines, "The engine is killing the track, the track is silver, / It stretches into the distance. It will be eaten nevertheless," immediately establish a sense of inevitable destruction. The "engine," a symbol of progress and industry, is actively "killing" the "track," suggesting that industrial advancement inherently leads to decay and consumption. The imagery of "drowned fields" at nightfall and farmers gilded "like pigs" at dawn highlights the transformation of nature into a commodity, reducing human beings to mere cogs in a vast, impersonal machine. The "white towers of Smithfield" (a famous meat market in London) further emphasize this theme, with their association of "fat haunches and blood on their minds." This relentless focus on animal slaughter and the dehumanization of labor paints a bleak picture of industrial society, where both nature and humanity are sacrificed for the sake of production and profit.

The Macabre Feast: Mortality and Consumption

The poem delves into the theme of mortality through grotesque imagery of death and consumption. The lines describing the "hare" being "aborted...embalmed in spice, / Flayed of fur and humanity" are particularly disturbing. The hare, once a symbol of life and fertility, is now a dissected, lifeless object, highlighting the inevitability of death and the brutal reality of survival. The lines "Let us eat it like Plato's afterbirth, / Let us eat it like Christ" are intensely provocative. By comparing the consumption of the hare to these loaded symbols, Plath suggests a kind of spiritual emptiness or a desperate attempt to find meaning in a world devoid of inherent value. The act of eating becomes a metaphor for the relentless cycle of consumption and decay that defines human existence. This consumption is not life-affirming; it's a grim ritual in a world where death pervades everything.

Fractured Identity and the Descent into Madness

The theme of fragmented identity is explored through recurring images of masks, reflections, and the speaker's own descent into madness. The "totem" itself, described as "Their round eyes, their teeth, their grimaces / On a stick that rattles and clicks, a counterfeit snake," represents a superficial representation of identity, a hollow facade masking a deeper emptiness. The "suitcases / Out of which the same self unfolds like a suit / Bald and shiny, with pockets of wishes, / Notions and tickets, short circuits and folding mirrors" symbolize the superficial layers that make up the self, revealing that underneath the external facade, there may be nothing substantial. The poem culminates with the speaker declaring, "I am mad, calls the spider, waving its many arms," emphasizing the loss of self and the disintegration of mental stability. The "spider," a symbol of entrapment and darkness, further reinforces the feeling of being caught in a web of madness and despair.

Symbols of Oppression and the Abyss of the Self

The cobra emerges as a potent symbol of fear and the unknown: "Shall the hood of the cobra appall me ---- / The loneliness of its eye, the eye of the mountains / Through which the sky eternally threads itself?" This cobra is more than just a snake; it embodies the speaker’s fear of confronting the vastness and indifference of the universe. Its lonely eye mirrors the speaker's own sense of isolation. The final image of "Death with its many sticks" suggests a fragmented, oppressive force that controls and ultimately defines human existence. The flies, "Multiplied in the eyes of the flies," represent the speaker's distorted perception of reality, magnified and amplified by their own madness. They also emphasize the speaker's feelings of insignificance and being consumed by the surrounding environment. Are the "sticks" literal weapons, or do they symbolize the various constraints and oppressions of societal norms and expectations that ultimately lead to death? The ambiguity invites further contemplation.

Final Thoughts: A Requiem for Humanity

In conclusion, "Totem" is a bleak and unsettling exploration of mortality, industrialization, and the fractured nature of identity. Through vivid and disturbing imagery, Plath crafts a world devoid of mercy, where both nature and humanity are consumed by the relentless forces of progress and decay. The poem's descent into madness and the use of potent symbols create a sense of profound unease, leaving the reader questioning the meaning of existence and the individual's place in a world seemingly devoid of inherent value. "Totem" functions as a stark warning about the dangers of unchecked industrial progress and a chilling reminder of the fragility of human existence. The poem leaves one to consider if there is a way to reconcile our existence with the world around us, or if we are doomed to an endless cycle of consumption and destruction.