Metaphors

 "Metaphors" is a poem written by Sylvia Plath (1932-1963) which is about pregnancy. In this poem the speaker relays her deep anxiety about motherhood and her frustration from quickly changing her body through a series of metaphors.

 First of all this poem is written in 9 syllabus which illustrates 9 months long pregnancy. The pregnant speaker feels like a unsolved mystery because she is unaware about the gender of the baby. Her body is big and rounded like an elephant, a big ponderous house and a melon. She considers the baby inside her belly as precious as ivory and hopes for good of the baby. Then the state of the poem changes dark. She compares her baby inside her belly to a loaf which has risen due to yeast. Similarly, she feels like a fat purse and her baby as a new minted money which shines out. She feels helpless like a pregnant cow because she is just a medium of giving birth to a baby. She has eaten green apples to satisfy her desire to eat something sour. The baby is inside her but she doesn't know when it will come out of her. This poem has a negative meaning. It shows that a woman goes through a series of emotions when she is at a vulnerable state of pregnancy. When she is pregnant she compares herself with various identical objects. It is very difficult for a pregnant woman to sustain in pregnancy. In this poem the speaker herself feels helpless because she cannot do anything about the situation. She feels like a medium to satisfy everybody's desires. Pregnancy is the way of life and law of nature which is a only way through which this world could run. The speaker herself, has not given a positive response to the pregnancy period.  It is one of the most painful problem a lady suffers from. They might experience depression during or after pregnancy. Women loose interest in fun activities. Thoughts like life is worth not living as well as feeling of worthlessness, shame or guilt arises on the mind of people. But despite pregnancy being a difficult state, I feel that it is a most wonderful state a women will ever go in her life. A women's life without being a mother is incomplete. Pregnancy might be a difficult state but after pregnancy the mother enjoys the true motherhood and she understands unconditional love for her baby.

Therefore, pregnancy might be a  depressing state but it doesn't change that fact that it is the way of living. The pregnancy phase can be made comfortable by providing mental and emotional support to the pregnant lady. There are always alternatives to make a situation better .