Essay for an Un-Inked Daughter Since the beginning of time, the mother-daughter relationship has been one of society's most prominent love-hate relationships. While many do not experience difficulty in the younger years of the relationship, in the teenage years of the daughter’s life, as she is becoming her own woman, this evolves. While some during this time find themselves growing closer to their mother, most start to stray away from their mom’s nurturing tendencies and find themselves in a series of rebellious activities, ranging from getting tattoos to eloping at a young age. Through the mom’s defiant actions in Jean Wyrick’s “Poem for an Inked Daughter,” Wyrick connects with the hearts and minds of mothers and daughters everywhere as …show more content…
she explores the complexity of the mother-daughter relationship, showing that mothers and daughters have more similarities than differences. In the poem, the mother’s past is examined by Wyrick, revealing that while they have their differences, the two women are not as different as it may seem.
In the first lines of the poem, as the mother is writing to her daughter, she starts off by comparing and contrasting her daughter’s actions to her own by saying, “I did it too you know, just differently. / Way back then / when I was angry young” (Wyrick II. 1-3). Through this, she is letting her daughter know that she is not alone, as both women know what it is like to have negative feelings toward her mother and make decisions based on those feelings. Next, the mother reveals that she “pierced [her] ears with a rusty ice pick” (Wyrick I. 4). In this statement, the phrase “rusty ice pick” insinuates that the mother is doing the piercing herself, or it is not being done professionally. This is most likely because parental permission is required in order to get a piercing as a minor; yet, the mother is getting it done, despite the circumstances, which exemplifies her determination to get the piercing. As later revealed in the poem, this determination is fueled by the feelings that she has towards her mother. Although, the daughter does not do this, she comes “from a different kind of parlor / with [a] defiant dragon / curling over [her] shoulder” (Wyrick II. 14-16). Now, using this description, it can be concluded that the daughter has a tattoo. Furthermore, by the use of the word “defiant,” it can also be concluded that …show more content…
the daughter, like her mom, is doing this in order to make her mother angry, as she expressing her negative feelings through her body. *insert transition* While the mother and daughter mar their bodies in different ways, both women are proud to display their decision, as they find pleasure and freedom in the disapproval of their mothers. In the poem, the mother explains that she “willfully wore dangly earrings / (and a smirk) to Christmas dinner” (Wyrick II. 5-6). Here, the mother clearly expresses her pride and satisfaction in her decisions as she flaunts off the earrings to her mother. Furthermore, the mother’s decision to wear dangly earrings, instead of a less noticeable style, clearly confirms that she wants to be noticed and purposely wears these in order to get a reaction from her mother. Equally important, the mother’s smirk supports her inflated feelings of independence and superiority that she has gained through her decision. Likewise, the daughter’s satisfaction in her decision is displayed as her mother says, “No, of course you know I don’t like it” (Wyrick II. 17). Though this statement, the mother explains that she realizes the intent behind her daughter’s actions: to make her mad. To end the second stanza, the mother says that the tattoo is “another gauntlet thrown down / in the ongoing Mother-Daughter Wars” (Wyrick II. 18-19). In this bold statement, the words “another” and “ongoing” are crucial indicators of the relationship between the two women, which is referred to as a war. Additionally, these two words suggest that the relationship is currently troublesome as the women find themselves in numerous battles against each other. Yet, despite the status of their relationship, the mother tries to make amends with her daughter through her wise word in the last stanza. While the mother faces harsh disapproval and judgment from the grandmother, the poem is a message of understanding and love to daughter which is prompted by the outcome of the mother’s actions.
In the poem, the mother tells her daughter that her “scandalized mother / referred to [her] for days as / ‘my daughter, the dirty gypsy’” (Wyrick 7-9). Yet, despite this harsh label, the mother does not let it affect her. As the mother returns home, she explains that she “let [her] ears jingle silver music, ultimately / dancing right over her [mother’s] Victorian disapproval / out of that house forever” (Wyrick II. 10-12). Through this, the reader is introduced to the grandmother’s disapproval of her daughter. Yet, the mom states that she let the noise of her dangling, silver earrings tune out the negative comments that her mother made towards her. But, more importantly, the mother’s use of the word “forever” implies that there is a separation between herself and her mother. Because of her enhanced feelings of independence and the feelings of disapproval from her mother, it is indicated that she is leaving the house and her mother behind. This one word is essential to understanding why the mother is writing this to her daughter in the first place. In the poem to her daughter, the mother starts the last stanza by calling the child her “own gypsy girl” and while this statement carries sensations of criticism, the words following this statement are being used to erase that sensation and
replace it with acceptance (Wyrick I. 20). As the mother says, “under the skin where the purple ink turns to blood, / your blood is my blood, / rushing red to red, flowing in a long bond / linking my heart to you no matter what,” she pours out her empathy and love to her daughter (Wyrick I. 24-27). Through these words, the mother is letting her daughter know that no matter what she does or who she may become, she will always have her mother’s love.
Every father wishes to cherish the time he has with his daughter before it is too late and she springs her wings and flies away on her own path, all grown up. In the short story “Nature Lessons”, by Nancy Lord, the author displays a relationship between a father and daughter: Marco and Mary Alicia (Mary). Both are polar opposites and as a result of geographical distances, Marco loses much precious time with Mary; hence, they are not able to connect well with each other. Marco being from the grand playground of Alaska, enjoys nature and “encounters with God’s other creatures,” (1), whereas Mary, who lives in the beehive of Los Angeles, is a superficial city girl who enjoys modern pop culture and is enticed by designer objects. Unlike her father,
If Selected Poems 1965-1990 can be taken as an evenly representative sample of Marilyn Hacker's work, motherhood does not seem to be the single central focus of her life or her work. Hacker has quite a few poems about or for her daughter Iva, and Iva is mentioned in many other poems, yet much of Hacker's work focuses on other aspects of her life and interests. The fact that Hacker does not focus exclusively on her motherhood seems important in and of itself. Though I don't think that we get the opportunity, through these poems, to judge whether or not Hacker is a "good mother," I would say that her apparent ability to be simultaneously a mother and an artist and a lover and a daughter makes her a healthy, balanced individual and thus a good role model for her daughter.
Stanza three again shows doubtfulness about the mother’s love. We see how the mother locks her child in because she fears the modern world. She sees the world as dangers and especially fears men. Her fear of men is emphasized by the italics used. In the final line of the stanza, the mother puts her son on a plastic pot. This is somewhat symbolic of the consumeristic society i.e. manufactured and cheap.
The girl's mother is associated with comfort and nurturing, embodied in a "honeyed edge of light." As she puts her daughter to bed, she doesn't shut the door, she "close[s] the door to." There are no harsh sounds, compared to the "buzz-saw whine" of the father, as the mother is portrayed in a gentle, positive figure in whom the girl finds solace. However, this "honeyed edge of li...
Teenage rebellion is typically portrayed in stories, films, and other genres as a testosterone-based phenomenon. There is an overplayed need for one to acknowledge a boy’s rebellion against his father, his life direction, the “system,” in an effort to become a man, or rather an adult. However, rarely is the female addressed in such a scenario. What happens when little girls grow up? Do they rebel? Do they, in a sudden overpowering rush of estrogen, deny what has been taught to them from birth and shed their former youthful façades? Do they turn on their mothers? In Sharon Olds’ poem, “The Possessive,” the reader is finally introduced to the female version of the popular coming-of-age theme as a simple haircut becomes a symbol for the growing breach between mother and daughter through the use of striking images and specific word choice.
No two mother and daughter relationships are alike. After reading “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker and “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan I realized that the two stories had the same subject matter: mother and daughter relationships. These two stories show different cultures, generations and parenting methods. Although the two mothers act differently, they are both ultimately motivated by the same desire: to be a good parent. In addition, while researching related articles, I realized that there were two recurring themes of mothers and daughters: respect and diverse ways of parenting.
Aristotle once claimed that, “The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” Artists, such as Louise-Elizabeth Vigée Le Brun and Mary Cassatt, captured not only the way things physically appeared on the outside, but also the emotions that were transpiring on the inside. A part no always visible to the viewer. While both artists, Le Brun and Cassatt, worked within the perimeters of their artistic cultures --the 18th century in which female artists were excluded and the 19th century, in which women were artistically limited-- they were able to capture the loving relationship between mother and child, but in works such as Marie Antoinette and Her Children and Mother Nursing her Child 1898,
She uses herself as the surrogate of the self-possessed, modern black women.” The intention of this photograph in the series is to show a delicate and relatable moment between mother and daughter. This piece reminds me of my childhood. I used to go into my mother’s room and dress up in her clothes, jewelry, and makeup. My mom used to play dress up with me too. The concept of your “mom is your biggest role model” was true for me. As a result, I believe that concept really shows in this photograph. The daughter wants to follow in her mother’s footsteps and be a strong, beautiful
When a person thinks of the idea of family, most of the time “love” would be one of the first words to come to mind, and it would be preceded by the word “unconditional.” Unfortunately, that is not the case for this protagonist. It seems her family is like any other when it comes to relationships. A mother, father, sister, and grandmother are all evident in the story. Even though the father and grandmother die half-way through the story, both are essential keys to the protagonist’s emotional state. Her father obviously cares for her enough to call a doctor from out of town to examine her, but the protagonist describes not being able to nuzzle in his arm anymore and that “his enforced distance pained [her]” (1). She obviously loves her father like any other little girl, but she is bewildered by the fact that her father does not return the feeling like he used to. The little girl’s mother encompasses the leading family role in the story, but the reader also feels mixed emotions for her. The reader senses compassion in this woman because she has stayed to take care of her daughter for many years, but the protagonist also mentions that her mother “resented [her] no matter how hard she tried to hide it” (3). All of this combined confuses the reader on what exactly the mother’s feelings towards her daughter are. Her mother is the only one who speaks to her after, her “death,” but makes no attempt
The mother-daughter relationship is a common topic throughout many of Jamaica Kincaid's novels. It is particularly prominent in Annie John, Lucy, and Autobiography of my Mother. This essay however will explore the mother-daughter relationship in Lucy. Lucy tells the story of a young woman who escapes a West Indian island to North America to work as an au pair for Mariah and Lewis, a young couple, and their four girls. As in her other books—especially Annie John—Kincaid uses the mother-daughter relationship as a means to expose some of her underlying themes.
In the opening verse of the song, the speaker discusses the need to see her childhood home at least once more before moving on with her life. She shares with the current homeowner some of her experiences while growing up in the house. For instance, she says, “I know they say you can’t go home again, but I just had to come back one last time.” This shows that the speaker realizes that returning “home” is going to be a different experience than it was when she lived there, but she cannot resist the temptation of a final visit to the “house”. The speaker says that “Up those stairs in that little back bedroom, is where I did my homework and learned to play guitar. And I bet you didn’t know, under that live oak, my favorite dog is buried in the yard.” This indicates some of the significant memories the speaker has of her time in the house, such as honing her...
these lines are again the author addressing himself. He is quantifying his writing. The lines function as a caveat to the entire poem. He abdicates responsibility and disassociates himself from the rest of the poem. IN these lines he is saying that he is no longer the same author of the poem or the book. He can not possibly held responsible for the book if he did not write it. The lines diction also causes the reader to get the feeling that the author has completely let go of his work. The author uses the word “whoever” and the phrase “made you up” to end the poem in an off the cuff manner. The author ends the poem by letting the child go, like a parent sending their child into the world alone.
The poem contains the central idea that many of these children never understood what home really means. In Native American culture the people venerate earth and it is referred to as mother nature which we see in the poem. The rails cut right through their home but they don’t view them like the average person. They view the tracks as if they are scars across mother earths face and her face is the Native American’s homeland. She is scarred for eternity but she is perfect in their dreams. This symbolism is ironic because the children try to reach home using the railroad that ruined natural life for them and many other Native Americans. In the second stanza the speaker says “The worn-down welts of ancient punishments lead back and fourth” (15-16). Which can be talking about the marks on the children’s bodies after getting caught while running away. But the “word-down welts” can also symbolize the welts that were put on mother nature throughout history. The last five lines of the poem sums up the symbol of hope through their memories and dreams. The last line of the poem says, “the spines of names and leaves.” (20-24). The “spines” symbolize the physical strength of the children and their ability to maintain hope individually “names”, and for their tribe
.... With the correct sum, the loud and rushing “giant waterfalls” that characterized the parent-child relationship in the first stanza are now quiet “streams” and “sweet pools”. In addition, the “old metal cup…that nobody could break” is representative of their unbreakable family bond of love. Through moments of chaos and divergence, this loving bond prevails. (Nye, Naomi Shihab)
The rifts between mothers and daughters continue to separate them, but as the daughters get older they become more tolerant of their mothers. They learn they do not know everything about their mothers, and the courage their mothers showed during their lives is astounding. As they get older they learn they do not know everything, and that their mothers can still teach them much about life. They grow closer to their mothers and learn to be proud of their heritage and their culture. They acquire the wisdom of understanding, and that is the finest feeling to have in the world.