Adrienne Rich Poetry Analysis

Adrienne Rich poetry portrays recurring themes of politics, feminism, and social justice as a whole. Rich frequently uses symbols of the natural world such as stones, space, tigers, water, elements, and trees to convey a deeper message about injustices such as sexism in society.

In “A Mark of Resistance,” Rich utilizes stones to display her unwavering defiance against societal oppression and injustices.  Rich constructing her pile “stone by stone” emphasizes that engaging in activism to combat oppressive systems takes arduous and meticulous resistance (1). She recognizes that these systems are complex, therefore dismantling them takes patience and determination. Stacking rocks is a monotonous activity, making it comparable to the tiresome and oftentime unrewarding reality of resistance. Rich elucidates that her stones will be left standing but the landscape will not after the “floods that are to come” (7). Activism has lasting impacts although they might not be recognized in the moment. 

Rich expresses sharp opposition to the strict roles women are forced into by society in, “Planetarium,” through a discussion regarding space. When Rich states, “A woman in the shape of a monster, a monster in the shape of a woman,” she recognizes that powerful women who assert themselves and make impressive accomplishments are demonized by the patriarchy (1-2). Women are forced into the suffocating bounds of conformity, expected to act mechanically, “among Clocks and instruments” (5). This assumption that women are built to take the submissive role in society suppresses and punishes female intellect. Rich reveals that she feels female empowerment and recognition is vital to bring “relief of the body and the reconstruction of the mind” (48-49). She wishes to rewrite the sexist narrative that women’s accomplishments are insignificant to encourage future female scientists to break conformity.

In “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers,” Rich utilizes Aunt Jennifer’s experience to delve into the constricting nature of marriage for women. Aunt Jennifer is a needlepoint artist, creating images of fearless tigers who “do not fear the men beneath the tree” (3). These tigers are vibrant, fearless, and free, everything that Aunt Jennifer will never be. She is held captive by “the massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band” on her finger, representative of male dominance that eternally holds her captive (8). When she passes away, Aunt Jennifer’s artistic creation will outlive her, forever representing the boundless liberty that her oppressive marriage robbed her of.  

In “Diving into the Wreck,” Rich expresses frustration of the erasure of female leaders and systematic sexism as a whole through a journey of diving. Men are given constant validation and support for their ambitions, whereas women are belittled. Rich accurately compares it to diving alone where no will “tell [her] where the ocean will begin” (31-32). Trailblazing feminists must take the path of more resistance although it is lonely. They must shape history with attempts to start reversing centuries of sexism in hopes that future generations will pick up where they left off. Among the shipwrecks, Rich describes a “book of myths in which our names do not appear” (74-75). Determined efforts to change the course of history feel futile when patriarchal influences erase female contributions from the narrative. Women must work a hundred times harder than men to receive one-fourth of the recognition.

In “Power,” Rich explores the strength and resilience of the female scientist Marie Curie that eventually led to her demise. Marie Curie discovered radioactivity, but at the cost of radiation poisoning, cataracts, and blistering skin that “bombarded [her] body for years” before she eventually died (7). The side effects of her discovery were far from mild, yet Curie’s mental strength allowed her to continue her work. “Her wounds came from the same source as her power,” meaning that if Curie did not sacrifice her health for the sake of science, she would not be regarded as the powerful woman she is known as today (18). Hence the name of this poem, Curie held great power not just because of her contributions to science, but also because she accomplished it as a woman.

In “What Kind of Times are These,” Rich concludes that political and environmental turmoil is a result of human influences. Rich feels the United States of America is inching closer “to its own truth and dread,” a completely exploited nation (7). Rich describes a sanctuary from the selfish motives of capitalists, who only see it as a means of profit. Rich “already knows who wants to buy it,” but stays silent for the sake of preserving this environment (12). It is imperative to discuss crisis’ to give power to those taken advantage of, in this case the earth.

Rich consistently references the struggle of the female experience throughout history, employing recurring themes of restriction and recognition. “A Mark of resistance” explains how activism is isolating, but necessary to dismantle systems of oppression.  “Planetarium” similarly emphasises this loneliness, but instead in the context of female leaders that deviate from what is expected for women. Marie Curie, mentioned in “Power,” represents female strength through sexism and physical turmoil which she endured with no complaint. “Diving into the Wreck” reveals that although Curie’s name is well-known, countless influential women will be forever forgotten, overshadowed by men. “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers'' exemplifies complete subservience to men because after she gets married, Jennifer’s life is in the hands of her husband, not herself. “What Kind of Times are These”  presents discussion as a means of activism, speaking out against the exploitative practices that occur under capitalism.