SLEEP IN THE MOJAVE DESERT B Y S

SLEEP IN THE MOJAVE DESERT B Y S Y L V I A P L A T H MAIRI MADILL

Out here there are no hearthstones, Hot grains, simply. It is dry, dry. And the air dangerous. Noonday acts queerly On the mind's eye erecting a line Of poplars in the middle distance, the only Object beside the mad, straight road One can remember men and houses by. A cool wind should inhabit these leaves And a dew collect on them, dearer than money, In the blue hour before sunup. Yet they recede, untouchable as tomorrow, Or those glittery fictions of spilt water That glide ahead of the very thirsty. I think of the lizards airing their tongues In the crevice of an extremely small shadow And the toad guarding his heart's droplet. The desert is white as a blind man's eye, Comfortless as salt. Snake and bird Doze behind the old maskss of fury. We swelter like firedogs in the wind. The sun puts its cinder out. Where we lie The heat-cracked crickets congregate In their black armorplate and cry. The day-moon lights up like a sorry mother, And the crickets come creeping into our hair To fiddle the short night away.

MAIN THEMES ☼ISOLATION ☼THE SUBLIME ☼NIHILISM ☼BELONGING ☼DISSOLUTION OF THE SELF ☼LONGING/DESIRE

ISOLATION ☼ “poplars” – Plath longs to be around other humans, so she clings to any “poplars” sign of mankind. These manmade trees bring her comfort, which shows how isolated she feels. ☼ “yet the recede, untouchable as tomorrow” – This sliver of hope and “yet the recede, untouchable as tomorrow” comfort will always leave her, leaving her isolated in this place she hates so much. ☼ “masks of fury” – The hostility that these animals direct towards her “masks of fury” makes her feel like she’s completely alone. ☼ “we” – Plath frequently refers to “we” yet still seems to portray herself “we” as being alone, reflecting her inner sense of loneliness/isolation ☼ “like a sorry mother” – A mother is usually a symbol of comfort and “like a sorry mother” love, yet this “mother” is sorry to not be that symbol, highlighting the speakers isolation and lack of comfort.

THE SUBLIME ☼“air dangerous” – Oxymoron. She is threatened by everything around “air dangerous” her, the nature is so powerful that it makes her feel that even the air she needs to breathe is harmful. ☼“masks of fury” – Once again, the animals around her make her feel “masks of fury” isolated, alone, inferior, like she doesn’t belong. ☼ “black armorplate” – These animals are protected from the harsh “black armorplate” conditions and she isn’t, causing her to suffer through the intense heat. Inferior and helpless against natures rage. ☼ “lizards airing their tongues” – She feels weak compared to the animals “lizards airing their tongues” that surround her. Jealous of their ability to survive these conditions. ☼ “in the crevice…” – She is smaller than nature, it controls her. “in the crevice…”

NIHILISM ☼ “simply” – This word choice emphasises the emptiness and “simply” the bareness of the area. ☼ “the only object” – Plath feels a need to interject the extent of “the only object” the emptiness. ☼ “no hearthstones” – There is no buildings, no civilisation, just “no hearthstones” desert. ☼ “yet they recede” “untouchable as tomorrow” – Implying “yet they recede” “untouchable as tomorrow” nature itself is receding rom her. She is clearly obsessed with the vast emptiness of the desert.

BELONGING ☼ Throughout poem there is a true lack of belonging in this “dangerous” and natural environment. ☼ “no hearthstones” – She longs for the warmth and comfort of “no hearthstones” humanity ☼ “poplars” – Once again, shows her yearning to be “poplars” surrounded by humanity. ☼ “masks of fury” – This hostility the animals show her makes “masks of fury” her feel like an outsider and that she doesn’t belong. ☼ “noonday acts queerly” – She is not accustomed to her “noonday acts queerly” surroundings and feels out of place here.

DISSOLUTION OF THE SELF ☼ “we swelter” “glittery fictions” – She is weak and suffering “we swelter” “glittery fictions” because of the conditions of the area she is in. This idea is seen throughout, as Plath is constantly uncomfortable in these surroundings. The power and anger of the animals (also the fact they are protected and she is not) are what make her feel so weak against the suns rays. ☼ “mad, straight” – Her surroundings are influencing her “mad, straight” behaviour and emotions. This use of antithesis emphasises her lack of control over her emotions as she is constantly affected by her surroundings.

LONGING/DESIRE ☼ “one can remember men” – She longs for the “one can remember men” comfort that comes with the familiarity of the world of humans. ☼ “poplars” – Same analysis as previously “poplars” mentioned. ☼ “very thirsty” – Creates an image of trying to “very thirsty” reach for something. The word “thirsty” suggests she longs to survive these conditions