Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Female Seer Will Burn Upon This Pyre" by Elizabeth Alexander is a deeply evocative and symbolic poem that intertwines the imagery of self-immolation, creative passion, and the complexity of the female artist's life, as represented by Sylvia Plath.

Sylvia Plath’s Presence:

The poem begins with a surreal image of Sylvia Plath, a renowned poet known for her tragic life and death, setting the narrator’s hair with rollers made from orange-juice cans. This vivid and unconventional image sets the tone for the poem, blending the mundane with the profound.

Plath’s methodical and skilled approach to rolling hair symbolizes her meticulousness in her craft – poetry. The hairdo, shaped like a pyre, is significant. A pyre is a structure, typically made of wood, for burning a body as part of a funeral rite. This imagery is closely associated with Plath, who died by suicide. The pyre-like hairdo symbolizes both creation and destruction, a theme prevalent in Plath’s life and work. The narrator's "improbably long" locks may symbolize the weight of expectations and the burden of creativity that female artists like Plath carry.

Setting and Details:

The setting is a “rented kitchen,” a domestic space, hinting at the traditional roles of women and the constant balancing act between domestic responsibilities and artistic pursuits. The smell of “singed naps and bergamot” suggests a fusion of domesticity (singed hair) with creativity and refinement (bergamot). Details like the “pyramid of lemons,” the “stack of typed poems,” and “envelopes stamped to go by the door” further illustrate the intersection of domestic life and the world of literary creativity.

Plath's Role and the Act of Creation:

Plath’s “flat, American belly” and “breasts in a twin sweater set” point to her femininity and possibly to societal expectations of women. The “freshly baked poppyseed cake” juxtaposes the act of baking (a traditional female role) with the act of writing poetry, suggesting the multifaceted nature of a woman’s identity. The mention of “kitchen safety matches” and “black-eyed Susans in a cobalt jelly jar” adds to the domestic yet poetic ambiance.

Conclusion and Prophecy:

The poem concludes with Plath speaking the word “immolate” (to sacrifice oneself, especially by burning) and a sentence of prophecy. This foreshadows her own tragic end and reflects the fate of many female artists who sacrifice themselves for their art. The tidying up of the nursery and the sweeping of “burnt hair and bumblebee husks” symbolize the clearing away of the remnants of creation and destruction, a cycle that is often repeated in the lives of artists.

In summary, "The Female Seer Will Burn Upon This Pyre" is a richly layered poem that explores the themes of creativity, sacrifice, and the female artistic experience through the metaphorical and literal lens of Sylvia Plath’s life. Alexander’s use of vivid imagery and symbolic elements creates a poignant commentary on the often tumultuous journey of the female artist.

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