Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Stepping Backward" by Adrienne Cecile Rich delves into the intricacies of human relationships and the often-illusory nature of closeness. It opens with a paradoxical "good-by" to someone the speaker expects to see frequently, highlighting the idea that even in sustained relationships, there are dimensions of self and other that remain hidden or unexplored. The notion of leaving, Rich suggests, brings about a wholeness of perspective, much like death or a long-distance move might render someone complete in our memories.

The speaker reveals the daily performances and facades we adopt, questioning, "How far dare we throw off the daily ruse, / Official treacheries of face and name, / Have out our true identity?" Here, Rich is critiquing how society pushes individuals into roles and labels that often lead to fragmented human interactions. However, the poet insists on a degree of optimism, suggesting that acknowledging our "blunders and blind mischances" can lead to a "brusque abrupt compassion."

This theme is expanded upon as the speaker discusses the individual perspectives we each have, even when looking at the same scenes. Rich paints a poignant image of two people looking "from separate windows every morning / Upon the same white daylight in the square." The physical proximity does not guarantee an emotional or intellectual closeness.

The poem's attention to awkwardness in human interaction is both raw and revealing. Rich suggests that only rare relationships, often romantic in nature, transcend the awkward thresholds that most human interactions stumble over. The "dried geranium" and "penny horoscope" become metaphors for the secrets or personal quirks that people often hide away, only revealing their true selves in special moments or to special people.

In the latter part of the poem, the speaker implores us to "return to imperfection's school," rejecting Platonic ideals of flawlessness in favor of embracing the "tang" of imperfection. Rich contends that our defeats, our shortcomings, are what make us human and are what can defeat "the defeat of isolation." In a world that constantly strives for the illusory perfection, acknowledging our imperfections becomes a form of resistance and a pathway to authentic connection.

Finally, the poem circles back to its beginning, but with a newfound understanding and acceptance of human frailty. The speaker confesses the desire to memorize the "stature" of the other, implying a depth of affection and understanding often missing from daily interactions. This ties beautifully into the poem's central argument-that despite life's inconsistencies and each individual's fragmented understanding of the other, there's a potential for authentic, compassionate interaction when we embrace rather than deny our complexities.

"Stepping Backward" serves as a nuanced meditation on the limitations and possibilities of human relationships. Rich brilliantly weaves together themes of intimacy, identity, and imperfection, capturing the essence of human interaction in its messiest, most genuine form. She leaves us with the realization that, though flawed, we have the ability to understand each other better-perhaps not wholly, but more completely than before.

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