Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Strumpet Song" by Sylvia Plath provides a nuanced take on society's moral and sexual dynamics. The poem presents a strumpet, a woman perceived as sexually promiscuous, who attracts every man in her vicinity. While she is portrayed as undesirable and perhaps even loathsome in her appearance, the poem's speaker is unable to look away, thus highlighting the complexities of human attraction and revulsion.

The poem begins with the bleak reality of lost "green dreams" and the "lean day's work," setting the scene for the entrance of the "foul slut." The harsh language used to describe her marks her as a transgressive figure within the poem's social landscape. Yet, the "bruit of her" dominates the street, suggesting a potency and power that belies her supposedly diminished status. She commands the attention of "every man," regardless of their skin color ("Red, pale or dark"), indicating the universal allure she holds, or perhaps the universal human impulse to gawk and judge.

The phrase "Mark, I cry, that mouth / Made to do violence on," conveys the objectification the strumpet faces. She is not seen as a whole person but as a composite of body parts and perceived immoral behaviors. Her "seamed face" and "rank grimace" are perceived as the result of a life filled with hardships ("each dour year"). Yet, these physical flaws captivate the speaker. The term "violence" here could be interpreted as a metaphor for the powerful, almost violent pull of societal norms and prejudices, which force the speaker to engage with the strumpet in a particular way, despite inner misgivings.

Interestingly, the speaker wonders if there exists a man who can "spare breath / To patch with brand of love this rank grimace." This line reveals a glimmer of compassion, questioning whether love could, in some way, redeem the strumpet's fallen state. The speaker is not entirely dismissive but engaged in a complex internal dialogue over the nature of love, attraction, and worthiness.

One of the most potent lines, "Which out from black tarn, ditch and cup / Into my most chaste own eyes / Looks up," illustrates the strumpet's gaze as emanating from places considered lowly or discarded. The phrase "black tarn, ditch and cup" could metaphorically represent the overlooked and forgotten corners of society. Yet, this gaze meets the speaker's "most chaste own eyes," creating a moment of connection or realization. It introduces the idea that the speaker, like the strumpet, exists within the same moral and social fabric that judges both.

Plath uses sharp imagery and uncompromising language to tackle a theme laden with moral and social judgments. "Strumpet Song" doesn't just paint a portrait of a woman marginalized by her society; it also delves into the psychology of the observer, complicating the reader's understanding of both judgment and desire. It acts as a lens through which we can examine our own perceptions and prejudices, challenging us to see humanity where society often fails to recognize it.

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