Poem Analysis - Wuthering Heights

A Descent into Desolation

Sylvia Plath's "Wuthering Heights" is a bleak and unsettling exploration of isolation and the allure of nothingness. The poem establishes a somber and oppressive tone from the outset, using vivid imagery to depict a landscape that mirrors the speaker's internal state. The mood shifts subtly throughout, moving from a sense of confinement to a yearning for oblivion, culminating in a feeling of burdened existence. Ultimately, it is a poem about the speaker's struggle to find meaning in a desolate world and the pull of something darker.

Landscape as a Prison: Confinement and Instability

One of the poem's central themes is isolation, vividly portrayed through the imagery of the oppressive landscape. The opening lines, "The horizons ring me like faggots, / Tilted and disparate, and always unstable," immediately establish a sense of confinement. The horizons, rather than offering freedom, feel like a restrictive barrier, unstable and threatening. This imagery suggests the speaker is trapped not only physically but also emotionally. The description of the horizons "dissolv[ing] and dissolve / Like a series of promises" reinforces the theme of isolation by highlighting the speaker's disappointment and disillusionment, as any hope for escape or connection proves illusory.

The Lure of Oblivion

The poem also explores the theme of mortality, specifically the speaker's contemplation of death and nothingness. The lines, "If I pay the roots of the heather / Too close attention, they will invite me / To whiten my bones among them," reveal a morbid fascination with decay and the potential for self-destruction. The heather represents a seductive force, promising oblivion and an end to suffering. This attraction to death suggests a deep sense of despair and a weariness with life. The wind that "Pours by like destiny, bending / Everything in one direction" symbolizes the relentless and inescapable nature of fate, pushing everything towards a predetermined end, including the speaker's own demise.

Burden of Existence: The Upright Among Horizontals

The final theme is the burden of existence and the speaker's alienation from the natural world. The lines "The sky leans on me, me, the one upright / Among all horizontals" emphasize the speaker's sense of isolation and the weight of the world upon them. Being "upright" suggests a struggle to maintain their individuality and sanity in a landscape that seems to conspire against them. The grass "beating its head distractedly" further underscores the idea that the natural world is suffering and overwhelmed, mirroring the speaker's own internal turmoil. The final image of "house lights / Gleam[ing] like small change" in the "valleys narrow / And black as purses" is particularly striking. The comparison of the lights to "small change" reduces the possibility of human connection to something trivial, emphasizing the worthlessness and emptiness of the speaker's existence in this desolate landscape.

Recurring Symbols and Ambiguity

Several recurring symbols contribute to the poem's overall message. The sheep, described as "gray as the weather" and "grandmotherly disguise," represent a kind of indifferent conformity and a passive acceptance of fate. The "black slots of their pupils" create a disturbing image, suggesting a void or a lack of understanding. The phrase, "It is like being mailed into space, / A thin, silly message," highlights the speaker's insignificance and alienation from the universe. The "black stone" repeated at the end of the fourth stanza is a potent symbol, perhaps representing the cold, unyielding reality of death or the speaker's own hardened heart. The ambiguity of this phrase invites further interpretation. Is it a lament, a curse, or a simple statement of fact?

A Final Contemplation of Significance

In conclusion, "Wuthering Heights" is a powerful and haunting exploration of isolation, mortality, and the burden of existence. Through vivid imagery and a somber tone, Plath creates a landscape that mirrors the speaker's internal state, reflecting their despair and yearning for oblivion. The poem's significance lies in its unflinching portrayal of the human condition, its willingness to confront the darker aspects of life, and its exploration of the complex relationship between the self and the world. It leaves the reader with a lingering sense of unease and a profound appreciation for the fragility of human existence.