Ode for Ted Response and Analysis
Julia McGrath
EL 4800-WBL: Major Authors
Professor Williams
4 April 2019
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The first stanza uses the theme of nature and animal phrases to show off personality. Plath states "From under the crunch of my man's boot, / green oat-sprouts jut; / he names a lapwing, starts rabbits in a flee" (1-3). The imagery given easily creates tension as the reader imagines a large boot stomping on the grass while the animals flee. The three lines given show off how personality and instinct are part of nature, and the animals fleeing impress that something bad is going to happen. Alas, Plath signals the personality with animalistic phrases "nimble (moving quickly), / bramble (thorny shrubs/vines), / stalks red fox, shrewd stoat (brown summer coat with a black-tipped tail)" (4-6). The three terms that are written repeat a common theme: the narrator's man is like a fox with a brown summer coat, moving quickly through "bramble" as his prey runs off like a rabbit. The visual seems like the man is chasing somebody.
The theme of animals hunting pops up. Plath writes, "Loam-humps, he says, moles shunt, / up from delved worm-haunt, / hefting chalk-hulled flint" (7-9). These three lines initiate a form of abuse, as a shunt is a passage where bodily fluid (usually blood) flows from one part of the body to another. The narrator is using a mole to describe moving from one place to another while reaching for worms to hunt. The man is preying on someone he considers smaller than him, a prey that will be easily influenced. Plath writes "hefting chalk-hulled flint, / flayed colors ripen, / rich, brown, sudden in sunlight" (10-2). The mole is lifting hard stones to get to his prey, and after the mole is finished hunting for "food," the blood leftover takes on a rich, brown color in the sunlight. The colors flayed open are the skin and blood of the worms, which translate to torn clothing and blood on the man's victim.
Abusers readily observe their victims before choosing them. Plath describes the behavior of an abuser with the use of imagery. Plath iterates "For his least look, scant (less than) acres yield, / each finger-furrowed field, / heaves forth stalk, leaf, fruit-nubbed emerald" (13-5). The man scans the huge field as he is less than the size, meaning that no one will notice his behavior. Each finger is furrowed, wrinkled from concentrating on his victim, and approaches his victim, who later falls for superficial charm. Plath adds "he hauls to his will early, / at his hand's staunch hest; birds build" (16-8). After his victim buys the luring charm, he quickly begins his chain of abuse; his firm, strong hands command for obedience to the point where his prey followed orders like a bird. Her hands become nubbed (swollen) from his abuse; she harbors bruises and bumps from physical altercations.
The abuser's charm fools the outsiders; only the abused see the truth. Plath makes a note to this by describing the tone. She writes "Ringdoves roost well within his wood, / shirr songs to suit which mood he saunters in" (19-20). The only one who is cautious of tone and words around the abuser is the victim, as she only chirps like a bird when he appears to be in a joyful mood. The victim's change in behavior is a natural defense mechanism regarding abuse and is a tactic of protection. Plath writes, "how but most glad could be this adam's woman, / when all earth his words do summon, / leaps to laud (praise) such man's blood" (21-3). Plath references Adam to show off the nature of traditional gender roles; only the wife sees her husband's real character. Anyone who does not witness the abuse praises the man for being strong and charming as the facade takes place of real personality. Man's blood signifies brotherhood that everyone is on his side, and everyone is against the wife. The Brotherhood of his blood proves the control he has over the victim.