Three Poems about Women

In all three poems there are images of duality; generally the image of duality is used in order to understand the "self", namely it is used for self-definition. The "other" functions as a tool to reflect the "self." So, the double images can be considered as a kind of mirror to see the reflection of the "self." Therefore, the double images will be scrutinized in this essay in order to argue that the woman in these poems reflect their doubles as an alienated characters from the society. These women poets try to put forward the alienation of women in their works with images of dualities or personifications.

Basically, "Self in 1958" describes the commercialization, and insignificance of the individual in modern America. Thoughts, feelings, and emotions of the individuals are ignored, and people are like toys with who become strangers to themselves. Their personal opinions are insignificant. As the time passes they become the victims of consumption and commercialization and the individuals in that consumerist society become alien to themselves.

Anne Sexton's "Self in 1958" describes the "fake" lives of these alienated people who has "fake" smiles on their faces. The poem begins with the line; "What is reality." This line shows that the poet is in search of reality, the reality of life; for that reason she tries to define herself. She is searching for her true self, namely for her self-identity. She uses personification as a poetic device; she gives human qualities to a non-living object. For this purpose, she compares herself to a "plastic doll" which has "nylon legs", "advertised clothes" and "luminous arms." This baby doll is seen as her double in the poem and she materializes herself.

As a "synthetic doll" she has no senses. she even lives in a doll's house which is composed of counterfeit objects. Moreover, for her the reproduction of human beings is just an action of enlargement and by this way "life takes aim." Therefore "Iron bed" symbolizes the place where sexual intercourse takes place. The bed is made of iron because according to her the actions which take place on this bed do not contain any emotional feelings. That is why the bed is as cold and as hard as iron.

Furthermore, her house is in a city but she considers that she does not live in this city, it is "someone's city." She sees a plastic doll as her double, and a doll can not live in a city of living beings.