Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In Sylvia Plath's "On Deck," the atmosphere is one of suspended animation and introspection, a microcosm of people trapped within their thoughts, expectations, and worries as they traverse the mid-Atlantic at midnight. The poem opens with passengers who are "Wrapped up in themselves as in thick veiling / And mute as mannequins in a dress shop," creating an image of isolation, despite the proximity of the individuals. This introversion is enhanced by the subsequent line where a few keep track of the "old star-map on the ceiling," an indication that even in the journey's monotonous and uncertain middle, some seek guidance or at least a form of structured understanding through stars.

The imagery of a ship as a "two-tiered wedding cake" and its candles moving "slowly off" introduces a contrast between celebrations and the loneliness of the voyage. Once that ship disappears, "there is nothing much to look at," underscoring the sense of emptiness and isolation. Despite this, no one "will move or speak," indicating a collective resignation or acceptance of their self-contained universes.

The bingo players and the lovers, whom the poem describes as "hustled over the crests and troughs," present a compelling metaphor for the ups and downs of life. They are "stalled in his particular minute / And castled in it like a king," a vivid picture of how people are prisoners of their own situations, expectations, and perhaps delusions.

This poem's power lies in its rich character sketches. We have the untidy lady revivalist, relying on divine intervention, praying for "the art students in West Berlin." An astrologer "picked his trip-date by the stars," assured of his fate and future prosperity. And then we have a "white-haired jeweler from Denmark" who is carving "A perfectly faceted wife," each wanting to assert some form of control or mastery over their circumstances or future, even if these actions might be based on illogical or superstitious beliefs.

The concluding lines evoke a glimmer of hope or expectation, with "Moony balloons" tied to the passengers' wrists, like dreams waiting to be realized. These "light dreams float / To be let loose at news of land," a poetic way to encapsulate the anticipation, the myriad of dreams and hopes that are rekindled at the possibility of a new beginning or a destination reached.

In "On Deck," Plath captures the psychological complexities of a disparate group of individuals, each absorbed in their world of thoughts and worries. It's a journey not just across the Atlantic but through the intricacies of human behavior and emotion. The poem is an evocative narrative that uses the ship as a metaphor for the human condition-each person sailing through life, guided or misguided by their own stars, trapped within their thoughts, yet ever hopeful for what the new land might bring

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