Cinderella Poem by Sylvia Plath

Cinderella

Rating: 4.1



The text of this poem could not be published because of Copyright laws.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Mersedeh Cohen 13 September 2008

This poem displays a conflict between despair and hope. Despair is shown whens he clings to the Prince at the tick of the clock and her hope is when the prince leans into her. Reel is a verb that means wing on thread, yard etc. so the tilted violin is spanning the whole party and the glass palace with its music. Its capturing them with its yarns and threads, spinning around them hence the word spun. And theres this whole issue with wine and flagon. The people are glide into the light like wine. They contamine the pureness with their own stinge. I wonder why the candles had to be of roses, why her shoes had to be red, and why wine? All of these images are suggestive of the color red which in some cultures represents life but in some respects its also death as in blood. So her only hope is also sprung from her only despair. Also everyone else is occupied with their flagons of wine, while the couples are being reflected upon these bottles. It’s a cocktail party. This poem is a modern version of Cinderella.

15 4 Reply
Linda Jacobs 27 January 2008

I have an image of this couple, the man is very dear and special to the girl, as he is a prince to her. Like Cinderella’s prince, he is becoming more intimate as he dances with his young companion I.e. girl in scarlet heels. Here scarlet heels to me means sexy and clandestine. An affair going on perhaps? She responds I.e. green eyes slant, hair flaring in a fan of silver*. As one musical piece ends, which is a rondo (recurring theme, contrasting episodes) and a different tempo begins I.e. now reels begin on tilted violins - this also shifts to a panoramic view of this dance and where it is and who is there. But then, this girl is not part of this crowd, . And she knows before anyone else, especially her prince, that this euphoric moment with him will end. And she doesn’t want that, as she clings to him. Like Cinderella knew she had to get out of there before midnight or else. She hears the clock ticking, the caustic ticking of the clock. Extreme imagery from intimate, magical to the end, emptiness. Caustic is a harsh word. And the feeling is felt. And like Cinderella who loses all her charms at midnight, the same will happen to this girl in the scarlet heels. *hair flairing in a fan of silver. I was wondering if this 'girl' is not a girl at all, but an older woman, lost in a dreamy moment with her lover, but knowing that it will soon be over and reality will surface and her agedness will be felt.

8 2 Reply
Brian Edwards 07 May 2008

When reading Plath's work, it's important to remember that not only was she an incredibly gifted writer with a natural feel for the language, she was also fiercely intelligent and calculated. Layers of meaning are rarely unintentional in her poems. It's about Cinderella and it's about the poet. It's about the loss of the moment and it's about the loss of youth (a recurring theme in her work, dealt with more saliently in 'Mirror') . Knowing as much as we do about her tragic life and death, there is an unfortunate tendency to seek autobiography in all of Plath's work. Viewing her oeuvre through such a narrow lens only serves to diminish her not inconsiderable poetic powers.

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Shane Clawson 03 December 2007

I don't know what became of Plath but her skill in the writing has evolved even after her suicide in '63. I am reading The Bell Jar and frankly I don't think she felt like she ever belonged. I could be wrong but this girl has the same thoughts and symptoms I felt when i was depressed. This poem is explaining how her love life was flowing and the down fall of sitting in her dorm or in her room questioning her purpose in life. If only she had that physcological push into the right direction then she would maybe be with us or have past awya from natural causes rather than a tragec susicide. Even though she was messed up in the head, I still find myself loving her story and life, similar to the celebs of our time. :)

5 1 Reply
Els Verheirstraeten 08 May 2006

The thing she s losing is her youth I think. Because the ticking of the clock implies that time is ticking away, just like her youth is. Anne Sexton also wrote a poems about fairy-tale characters in which she implies that the ticking of the clock is fairy tales indicates that the characters are afraid to grow old and ugly. Anne has for example great sympathy for the bad witch in snow white who wants to be beautiful forever but sees that snow white is catching up with her. She also implies in that poem that one day Snow white also will lose her beauty and youth. Hence the hasutic ticking of the clock.

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BTS Chocolate 02 February 2024

This poem is a beauty. I felt so happy reading this poem. For some reason my heart sways when I read poems.

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Sylvia Frances Chan 15 July 2020

Absorbing poem as usual by Sylvia Plath, my most favourite poetess. She is a very gifted girl who graduated Laude. A true poetess. In all her poems are oft a bit or more a part of her own bio, but weaved throughout her poem. A very impressive poem. Your beloved Mom is fantastic, dear Frieda!

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Getachew Mijana 27 January 2019

I am excited to this great man'work!

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Aleeza 16 March 2018

I like the Ning Nang Nong.

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Chinedu Dike 14 January 2017

Absolute delight.

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Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath

Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
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