Aunt Jennifer ’s fingers fluttering through her wool Find even the iv...
She finds it hard to pull the ivory needle because she was very weak and worried.
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Aunt Jennifer ’s fingers fluttering through her wool Find even the iv...
Aunt Jennifer's Difficulty in Pulling the Ivory Needle
Aunt Jennifer, a central character in Adrienne Rich's poem "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers," is portrayed as a woman who is oppressed and trapped in a patriarchal society. The poem uses powerful imagery to convey Aunt Jennifer's struggle and the weight she carries. One such image is her difficulty in pulling her ivory needle, which is symbolic of her overall sense of terror and oppression.
A. She is terrorized
One possible reason why Aunt Jennifer finds it difficult to pull her ivory needle is because she is terrorized. The poem suggests that Aunt Jennifer is living in fear due to her oppressive marriage. The use of words like "fluttering" and "hard" to describe her fingers trying to maneuver the needle indicates her trembling and anxious state. Her fear may stem from the dominance of her husband, as indicated by the "massive weight of Uncle's wedding band" that sits heavily on her hand.
1. Oppression and Fear
Aunt Jennifer's difficulty in pulling the ivory needle reflects her overall struggle against oppression and fear. The poem portrays her as a woman who feels trapped in her marriage and unable to freely express herself. The weight of the wedding band symbolizes the burden she carries, both literally and metaphorically. It represents the expectations and constraints imposed upon her by society and her husband.
2. Symbolism of the Ivory Needle
The ivory needle itself holds symbolic significance. It represents Aunt Jennifer's desire to create something beautiful and meaningful despite her oppressive circumstances. However, the difficulty she encounters in pulling the needle suggests that her efforts to break free from her fear and express herself are hindered. The needle becomes a metaphor for her suppressed creativity and voice.
3. Impact of Patriarchal Society
The poem also highlights the impact of a patriarchal society on Aunt Jennifer's life. The fact that she finds even the ivory needle hard to pull emphasizes the extent of her oppression. It suggests that she is constantly faced with obstacles and struggles to assert herself in a society that devalues and suppresses women.
In conclusion, Aunt Jennifer's difficulty in pulling her ivory needle represents her sense of terror and oppression. It reflects her struggle against an oppressive marriage and a patriarchal society. The imagery used in the poem effectively conveys the weight she carries and the limitations she faces in expressing herself.