The Possessive BY SHARON OLDS and Metaphors by Sylvia Plath

‘’Metaphors’’ is a 20th-century poem authored by Plath Sylvia. The poem is a description of the poet pregnancy in metaphors that seems to be disconnected.  She utilizes nine different lives which are a representation of her nine-month pregnancy. On the other hand ‘’The Possessive’’, is a poem authored by Olds Sharon which is also from the 20th century. The poem is a representation of the observation made by a mother on her adolescent daughter thus sensing the changes that may appear in their relationship (Olds 1).  The daughter arrived from a haircut and the way that her hair was made challenges her mother who is not ready to accept or understand her daughter.  From observations, the mother is able to gain senses of arguments and challenges that will arise amid them due to the resulting differences (Olds 1). Both poems are similar in the way that they are objected at addressing individuality but from different life stages and perspectives by the mothers.

‘’The possessive’’ illustrates the perception of an adolescent daughter who just got home after getting a haircut. The mother is analyzing the hair cut and terming it as a rebellion that will challenge her. She makes a reflection of her life and that of her daughter based on her she had raised her which signals an upcoming war (Olds 1).  From the perspective, the mother can be described as controlling and conservative since she feels that her daughter had betrayed her by being rebellious.  This is similar to ‘’Metaphors’’ which is a very deep reflection of having mixed ideas in regard to motherhood.  The basic conflict that is presented by both poems lies amid individuality as well as duty.  Metaphor’s poet explains that her submission to motherhood will result in the stifling of her individuality.  On the other hand from the possessive, it is clear that the daughter made a fresh cut as a symbol of the new individuality that she has acquired.

Parents normally feel obligated to ensure that the wellness of their children is sustained at all times.  However, children on the other side have to grow up and obtain a different individuality that may differ with the expectations of their parents.  In ‘’The Possessive’’ the mother sees that due to the haircut made by her daughter which is against her norms they are bound to live in constant fights. On the other hand ‘’Metaphors’’ expresses the fear of the mother of losing her individuality after committing to motherhood (Plath 1).  This, therefore, demonstrates the strong relations amid children and their parents which changes both parties in a way or another.

Parenthood results to the loss of one’s individuality since there is a commitment to ensure that the children grow to be better individuals.  However, children have to grow up and challenge the norms that have been set by their parents in search of themselves.  Both poems are based on a reflection of the real world in which the relationships amid parents and children exists. Appearances are an additional idea in which the poems are developed.  The pregnant woman and the girl with the fresh haircut are a reflection of transformations which are the actual occurrences in reality. This, therefore, generates a visual imagery that children create the world that is different with changes occurring in every phase (Plath 1). 

The poems differ in that ‘’The Possessive’’ reflects the perspective of a mother who feels betrayed by the personality acquired by her daughter while ‘’Metaphors’’ reflects the perception of a mother towards her upcoming motherhood. Due to the pregnancy, the mother is bound to experience so many changes which may alter who she is while on the other hand, the daughter’s mother sees the changes that will arise due to their rising differences. Motherhood is presented from different perspectives in both poems since one is raising and the other one is carrying a child. This, therefore, creates images of the feelings that are held by mothers in regard to the development of their children who are responsible for their loss of control (Olds 1).  While one mother feels possessive the other one feels a loss of control and the lack of individuality.

Both poems address changes as well as the concept of feminism and women.  In their descriptions, the poems make an imagery of the actual meaning of motherhood at different stages.  The pregnant woman is afraid of raising the kid as she knows that changes must occur while the mother to the daughter is foreseeing conflicts due to the occurrence of changes (Olds 1). Both women are well informed of their loss of control and all that is happening to them is because of their children and not for themselves. They both lack choices in the subject since they must raise the children and only care about their wellness. Their worries have shifted from selves toward the children. This, therefore, depicts the close relation and deeper attachment that exists amid parents and children in the attempt of offering care to them.

In summary, both poems are more similar than different. They address the feeling of parenthood and the challenges that accompany this occurrence in life.  They are both objected at addressing the issue of individuality loss, possession as well as control from the female perspective.

 

 

 

 

 

            Work Cited

Sharon, Olds. The possessive. 1942. Retrieved from http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/pwozney/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/The-Possessive.pdf

Sylvia, Plath. Metaphors. 1982. Retrieved from http://shenandoahliterary.org/blog/2012/01/metaphors-by-sylvia-plath/