Poem Analysis - Miss Gee

A Portrait of Quiet Desperation

W.H. Auden's "Miss Gee" paints a stark and unsettling portrait of a lonely woman's life, culminating in a grotesque and dehumanizing end. The poem begins with a seemingly detached, almost comical tone, detailing the mundane aspects of Miss Gee's existence. However, this facade gradually crumbles, revealing a deep well of unfulfilled desires and a crushing sense of isolation. The poem shifts from observational to subtly judgmental, then finally to deeply disturbing, leaving the reader with a profound sense of unease and pity.

The Weight of Loneliness and Unfulfilled Desire

One of the central themes of "Miss Gee" is the crushing weight of loneliness and the pain of unfulfilled desire. Miss Gee's life is meticulously described as one of quiet desperation. Her routine – living alone, knitting for the church, and biking to evening services – underscores her isolation. The vivid imagery of her passing by "loving couples" while turning her head away highlights her longing for connection and the sting of rejection. Her dream, where she is the Queen of France and the Vicar asks her to dance, symbolizes her suppressed desires for romance and recognition, a world far removed from her reality. The poem shows how unacknowledged longing can fester, contributing to her eventual physical and emotional demise.

Society's Cold Gaze

Another significant theme explored in the poem is society's cold and indifferent gaze. Miss Gee's physical appearance is described in unflattering terms ("slight squint," "thin and small lips," "narrow sloping shoulders"), suggesting a societal judgment that likely contributes to her isolation. The poem subtly critiques the way society marginalizes those who don't conform to conventional standards of beauty or success. Doctor Thomas's detached and somewhat callous pronouncements about cancer ("Childless women get it...as if there had to be some outlet / For their foiled creative fire") further illustrate a societal tendency to pathologize and dismiss the experiences of those who deviate from the norm. The students' laughter as they prepare to operate, and the Oxford Groupers' cold dissection, represent the ultimate dehumanization of Miss Gee.

The Church and Repressed Sexuality

The church and religious devotion serve as recurring symbols in "Miss Gee," representing both solace and a source of repression. Miss Gee's dedication to the Church of Saint Aloysius, her knitting for the bazaar, and her repeated prayers suggest a search for meaning and belonging. However, the church also seems to contribute to her repressed sexuality. Her dream involving the Vicar takes a turn for the worse and turns into a nightmare where the Vicar chases her, suggesting that Miss Gee feels lust for the vicar, something that is inappropriate. The contrast between the "sweetly" singing choir and the "waves round a Cornish wreck" that represent her life highlights the unfulfilled desires she is trying to suppress. The plea "Lead me not into temptation / But make me a good girl, please" reveals the inner conflict between her natural desires and the constraints of her religious upbringing. Ultimately, the church fails to provide her with true fulfillment or a safe space to explore her identity, instead reinforcing a sense of guilt and self-denial.

A Disturbing Legacy

In conclusion, "Miss Gee" is a deeply unsettling poem that explores themes of loneliness, societal indifference, and repressed desire. The vivid imagery and shifts in tone create a powerful and disturbing portrait of a woman whose life is ultimately reduced to a spectacle. The poem serves as a critique of a society that devalues and dehumanizes those who don't fit in, and it raises questions about the consequences of unfulfilled potential and the limitations imposed by social norms. The final image of Miss Gee's dissected body hanging from the ceiling is a stark reminder of the human cost of isolation and the tragic consequences of a life lived in quiet desperation.