Marge Piercy's A Work Of Artifice

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Recommended: Appreciation of the poem to be of use by Marge Piercy

“A Work of Artifice” by Marge Piercy ingeniously uses a bonsai tree as an extended metaphor to abstractly promote feminism and individuality. The title of the poem “A Work of Artifice” is a direct indication of the derisive tone of the poem. If indeed it was titled “A work of Art” the tone of the poem would be much more positive. Yet, Piercy purposefully titles the poem “A Work of Artifice”, which indicates that something or someone is deceptive, calculating or artificial. Piercy begins the poem describing a bonsai tree that has the potential to naturally grow to an enormous height till split by lighting. The short phrase “till split by lightning” is critical to the poem’s overall message. Piercy acknowledges that a Bonsai tree that’s carefully

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