Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Alcatraz," Sharon Olds captures the intense emotions and imaginings of a young girl who conflates her perceived inner "badness" with the fear of being punished like a criminal. The poem explores themes of guilt, punishment, and the psychological confinement of self-criticism.

The narrator begins with a striking declaration: "When I was a girl, I knew I was a man / because they might send me to Alcatraz / and only men went to Alcatraz." This opening sets the tone for the poem, reflecting a child's misunderstanding of gender roles and punishment. The girl associates the notorious prison of Alcatraz, known for housing the most dangerous male criminals, with her own fears of being inherently bad. This comparison underscores her perception of guilt and punishment as something severe and male-coded.

As the family drives to the city, she sees Alcatraz as "white as a white / shark in the shark-rich Bay," with bars resembling "milk-white ribs." The imagery here is stark and vivid, emphasizing the cold, harsh reality of the prison. The metaphor of the shark-rich bay suggests danger and the inevitability of being trapped. The girl views the prison not only as a physical place but as a symbol of her own perceived wickedness, "my inner badness had / spread like ink and taken me over."

The poem continues to delve into the girl's psyche, revealing her fear of being sent to Alcatraz for minor transgressions, such as spilling milk. This mundane act becomes a symbol of her perceived failures and the punishments she fears they warrant. The reference to "Ala / Cazam" evokes a magical spell, as if her misdeeds could instantly transport her to the prison, emphasizing the irrational nature of her fears. The image of being "a girl-faced man in the / prison no one had escaped from" highlights her confusion and anxiety, as she struggles with her identity and the consequences of her actions.

Despite her fear of Alcatraz, the girl does not fear the other prisoners, who she believes are "men like me who had / spilled their milk one time too many." This line suggests a deep sense of empathy and self-identification with those who have transgressed, reflecting her own feelings of guilt and shame. The real terror lies not in the inmates but in the "horror of the circles." The repetition of the word "circle" emphasizes the feeling of being trapped and enclosed, with each circle representing a layer of confinement: the sky, land, water, walls, and finally, the cell itself.

The poem's climax occurs with the image of the girl at the center of these concentric circles, facing "the glass of milk AND the guard's / eyes upon me as I reached out for it." This moment encapsulates the fear of judgment and the weight of her perceived guilt. The glass of milk symbolizes innocence and normalcy, yet for the girl, it is a source of anxiety, as it reminds her of her supposed propensity for wrongdoing. The guard's watchful eyes represent authority and the ever-present threat of punishment.

"Alcatraz" poignantly captures the inner turmoil of a child grappling with feelings of guilt and the fear of punishment. Sharon Olds masterfully uses the metaphor of Alcatraz to explore how perceived misdeeds and self-criticism can imprison the mind, creating an emotional landscape of confinement and anxiety. The poem resonates with the universal experience of fearing judgment and struggling with self-acceptance.

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