Poppies in July

1
Poppies in July

• This poem deals with Plaths inner mental state
  during the breakup of her marriage to Ted Hughes,
  it expresses her longing to escape from the
  dreadful depression she was experiencing. The
  poem needs to be understood, however in the
  overall context of Plaths life-long struggle
  with mental illnes.
• She considers two avenues of escape.pain and
  drug-induced oblivion.
• The red poppies are associated with fire and
  blood.
• They also produce opium, a powerful drug known
  for its narcotic effects.
• The poem is full of disturbing images and
  references to pain, violence and blood.
• We could summarize Plaths longing in this poem
  as followsif only I could fade away, to just
  not be anymore or if I could just feel
  something, anything! To experience the
  intensity of life or to experience nothing at
  all.

2
The text 1 - 3

• She addresses the poppies, they are little. We
  dont expect them to suddenly be called hell
  flames. And the strange question associating
  them with harm or danger. So, an unusual,
  arresting opening introducing the mood of
  darkness to follow. So, an immediate contrast
  between the niceness of the title and the actual
  content.
• Fire imagery continues. The poppies are like
  flames. Note the absence of sensation when she
  puts her hand among the flames. The point is
  that she feels nothing a metaphor for interior
  numbness.
• 3rd couplet refers to her exhaustion with life.
  The poppies may be understood as a metaphor for
  life. She is drained by the whole process of
  coping, managing, existing. Note how she
  watches the poppies, as though shes
  disconnected from them (from life). Note also the
  simile where she compares the poppies to the
  skin of a mouth.

3
The text 4 - 6

• A shocking image of a bloodied mouth. This
  suggests violence. Another startling image
  followslittle bloody skirts!.
• Different commentators say different things here
• This may be a reference to her recent miscarriage
• It may have a connection with the sexual
  relationship between her husband and his
  mistress, Assia Weevil.
• Either way, its disturbing. Note the ! for
  emphasis.

• In the 5th couplet she refers to the opiates
  (fumes)produced by poppies. Interesting that
  she cannot reach them. The escape and comfort
  they might bring are out of her reach. The
  nauseous capsules may well be a reference to
  her attempted suicide by sleeping pills earlier
  in life (see the link at the end).

• The thought expressed in the 6th couplet
  continues into the 7th. Plath expresses her need
  in terms of opposites.to bleed or to
  sleep.Violent intensityor unconsciousness. She
  wants to escape the torment of her present
  condition, the terrible numbness expressed
  earlier, either by experiencing pain or nothing
  at all.

4
Conclusion

• The 7th couplet is a continuation of the thought
  begun in the 6th. The 6th refers to the desire to
  feel pain as a response to the terrible
  emptiness/numbness of her depression. At least
  this way she would be feeling something!
• The 7th considers a drug induced state of
  nothingness as a response, possibly even a wish
  for death.
• The liquors represents the anesthetising
  properties of drugs.
• She wants them to seep to her, so she can
  escape from life.
• But the structure of the thought in 6 and 7 makes
  it clear that even this option seems
  inaccessible.
• Note too the sense of claustrophobia suggested by
  the reference of Plath being inside a specemin
  jar. Its as though she wants the drugs to
  somehow seep into the liquid surrounding her in
  the bell jar. This would render her unconscious
• So, combined suggestions of death (the specemin
  jar) and annihilation or ceasing to be (the
  liquors).
• Dulling and stilling refers to the gradual
  ebbing away of life.

5
Conclusion

• The final line is in contrast to the bright red
  of the opening.
• Plath associated Red with dynamic life forces,
  creative forces, even violent, painful forces.
  She is numb, unable to feel.
• And so, colourless as a solution to this
  represents the absence of life in all its modes.
  Placing this line at the end and repeating the
  word emphasises how much she wishes for this
  release.

6
Points to note

• A very interesting, short, readable discussion on
  this poem is available here at http//www.sylviapl
  athforum.com/poppies.html

• Long vowel sounds in the opening line alert us to
  the fact of her question do you do no harm?.

• Assonance in bleed or sleep focuses our
  attention on the centrality of these two options
  for her in the poem.
• Note the alliteration in the next line, my
  mouthmarry
• More alliteration seep to me.

7
Final points

• Lots of complex and disturbing imagery
• The poppies red little hell flamesputting
  her hand among the flameslike the skin of a
  moutha bloodied mouthlittle bloodied skirtsthe
  glass capsulecolourless colourles.
• A deeply personal poem written during the breakup
  of her marriage with Ted Hughesthe voice is of a
  woman in deep distress.
• A dark, despairing mood.
• A series of 7 unrhymed couplets with a final
  single line arranged into brief statements and
  questions.