Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov's poem "Partial Resemblance" juxtaposes the innocence and simplicity of a childhood doll with the complexity and corruption found in human behavior. Through contrasting imagery and the personification of the doll, Levertov explores themes of innocence, deception, and the unsettling nature of superficial appearances.

The poem opens with a stark and unsettling image: "A doll's hair concealing / an eggshell skull delicately / throbbing, within which / maggots in voluptuous unrest / jostle and shrug." This vivid description contrasts the external beauty of the doll with a grotesque inner reality, suggesting a hidden corruption beneath a seemingly innocent facade. The use of "voluptuous unrest" to describe the maggots implies a disturbing, almost sensual chaos beneath the surface.

Levertov then addresses the doll directly: "Oh, Eileen, my / big doll, your gold hair was / not more sunny than this / human fur, but / your head was / radiant in its emptiness, / a small clean room." By comparing the doll's hair to "human fur," the speaker highlights the artificial and idealized nature of the doll. The phrase "radiant in its emptiness" suggests that the doll's lack of inner complexity is a kind of purity, free from the corruption and deceit found in human behavior.

The poem shifts focus to a human subject: "Her warm and rosy mouth / is telling lies—she would / believe them if she could believe: / her pretty eyes / search out corruption." This human figure, in contrast to the doll, is characterized by deceit and a search for corruption. The "warm and rosy mouth" that tells lies points to a disconnect between appearance and reality, where outward charm conceals inner dishonesty.

Levertov then returns to the doll, drawing a poignant contrast: "Oh, Eileen / how kindly your silence was, and / what virtue / shone in the opening and shutting of your / ingenious blindness." The doll's silence and mechanical movements are imbued with a sense of virtue and simplicity. Unlike the deceptive human figure, the doll's "ingenious blindness" suggests an innocence and purity that the human lacks.

"Partial Resemblance" ultimately reflects on the complexities of human nature versus the simplicity of inanimate objects. The doll, Eileen, serves as a symbol of untainted innocence and virtue, while the human figure embodies deception and moral corruption. Through this contrast, Levertov invites readers to consider the nature of truth, appearance, and the often-hidden realities beneath the surface.

In this poem, Levertov uses the imagery of a doll and its contrasting human counterpart to explore deeper themes of innocence, corruption, and the unsettling nature of superficial appearances. The poem's vivid descriptions and poignant contrasts encourage readers to reflect on the nature of deception and the complexities of human behavior.

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