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Many of Adrienne Rich's poems deal with unequal power relations in society, looking at the marginalisation of various groups, which Rich herself, can identify with. "I Dream I'm the Death of Orpheus", from Rich's anthology The Will to Change (171; page 11) was written at a time when Rich began writing more like a feminist, rather than a general humanist. She began writing with a sense of formality and ceased to avoid woman's political issues. "I Dream I'm the Death of Orpheus" presents a strong persona with a capable mind, but who is still restricted by society's traditional stereotypes for women. Similarly, the subject of another of Rich's poems, "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers", page 4 from Rich's anthology A Change of World (151), is also shown as a restricted, confined woman in such a society, although, in contrast, the subject does not seem to have the same confidence. The subject, Aunt Jennifer, succumbs to society and the stereotypes it controls, by allowing herself to be powered and accept her role within her environment. "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" was written much before "I Dream I'm the Death of Orpheus" and holds more universal meaning than the feminist outlook that is in her later works. Rich's earlier poems were very traditional, lyrical poems that did avoid woman's issues, and a large development can be seen in comparing these classical poems to her more truthful and sometimes confrontational works. Rich examines unequal power relations, through these two poems, first from a universal, humanist approach, accepting that woman are expected to behave according to certain stereotypes, and then secondly from a strong feminist approach, with a similar issue, but a different sentiment.
"I Dream I'm the Death of Orpheus" refers to an ancient Greek myth involving the son of the god Apollo and muse Calliope, Orpheus. Orpheus was killed by the followers of Dionysus (the god of wine and vegetation) when they discovered him mourning his wife's death. The followers became angry at his refusal to join in with their high spirits and so they threw stones at him. Orpheus charmed the stones with his music so they would not hurt him and when the followers of Dionysus saw this, they slew him and threw him into the stream. The "Death of Orpheus" that Rich is referring to is Orpheus' nymph wife, Eurydice, as the followers of Dionysus only slew Orpheus because he was so mournful of his wife's death. The sadness and loneliness killed him because nobody could accept his pain. The persona of the poem continually speaks of being free, strong and proud. "I am a woman in the prime of life" is repeated in the poem and suggests that the persona is very happy with her place in herself, and while she recognises that she does have strength and power, she realises that her "powers [are] severely limited/by authorities" within her society. She enhances the image of being a powerful woman by describing herself as "a woman with a certain mission" and "a woman with the nerves of a panther". Anyone with a mission sounds important and she goes on to say that she will gain power if she is "obeyed", and the use of such a wild and noble creature, such as the panther, enhances the image of power being displayed. The persona realises that whatever power she possesses is useless in the society that she belongs to, as all women are "sworn to lucidity". The persona continually dreams of holding power in society where it is openly recognised, but knows she is not free to. This links to the title and myth behind the poem, as the persona may wish to be as free as a nymph, as nymphs are known to be spirits of nature, and are young and beautiful. The word to focus on in the title is "Dream", as the persona, who throughout is represented as being strong minded and proud of herself and her powers, is still left to dream about her freedom, rather than live it. She is aware that society's traditions and stereotypes do not allow her the freedom she desires and dreams of having, as Greek nymphs had. Rich examines the unequal power relations from the perspective of a woman who longs for freedom from the constraints of society, voicing what many women were dreaming.
Rich's poem "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" was written roughly twenty years before "I Dream I'm the Death of Orpheus", but deals closely with the same issues of the marginalisation of women. The issue is enhanced in importance, however, because the problem is observed from an onlooker who plays the role of persona in this poem, therefore suggesting that the issue is an obvious one in society that is avoided. The persona watches the subject of the poem, Aunt Jennifer, discussing the restrictions that Aunt Jennifer faces in society, and the impact that a traditional marriage has had on their Aunt. The poem begins with Aunt Jennifer creating a decorative screen, covered in wild, fearless tigers, prancing through the trees, above men. This image, alone, expresses Aunt Jennifer's desire for escape and freedom, as she exhibits these desires through her art, with the tigers as a representation of herself, with the power to be above men in society. The poem then turns to the burden that marriage is to her, with the persona describing the duty as "The massive weight of Uncle's wedding band/Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand". Working with the rhyming couplets, the use of "band" and "hand" adds a harsh and abrupt feeling to the sentence, intensifying the image of the wedding band and it's restrictions. The last stanza of "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" speaks of when Aunt Jennifer is dead, suggesting that the pressures and constraints of society will stay with her in the after-life. The persona presumes that "When Aunt Jennifer is dead, her terrified hands will lie/ Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by." This suggests that Aunt Jennifer was very much controlled by her husband and was terrified so greatly that an onlooker was able to notice her fear. The persona however, while realising that the subject was riddled by ordeals, brings the focus of the poem back to the screen created by Aunt Jennifer, as the wild tigers that Aunt Jennifer desires to be like, "Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid." This suggestion of Rich's acknowledges that there is definite inequality in the power relations within society, but women deeply desire their freedom and express it through other means, so as not to be criticised by the dominant element in society.
Though written at completely different stages of Adrienne Rich's writing development, both "I Dream I'm the Death of Orpheus" and "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" focus on the marginalisation of women in society and the way in which they are forced to obey and not dispute their position. The poems accent the power and freedom of the female mind, while also emphasise the lack of ability or more closely, permission to voice their opinions or do anything about it. Rich examines the dominant role that men have in society and the ways in which they oppress women into thinking that they are lesser-humans and insignificant. Though looking at the slight change in direction between the two poems, it is obvious that Rich was developing a voice and encouraging other women too as well. Rich can identify to the marginalisation of woman and makes it evident that many women long/ed for freedom.
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