Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Armor," Sharon Olds explores the intricate dynamics between a mother and her son, weaving together themes of vulnerability, protection, and the harsh realities of violence. The poem takes place in a museum, where the mother and son encounter a display of armor and weaponry, prompting a poignant meditation on the nature of safety and the inevitability of harm.

The poem opens with a striking image of the mother "sink[ing] down / as if shot" beside a "triple-barrelled pistol." This metaphorical collapse suggests a sense of overwhelm or emotional burden, potentially foreshadowing the poem's exploration of vulnerability and danger. The pistol, adorned with mother-of-pearl, juxtaposes beauty with lethal potential, highlighting the complex interplay between allure and threat.

As the mother sits on a bench, her son, Gabriel, moves through the exhibit, examining a suit of armor with a critical eye. His "blue eyes running over the silver, looking for a slit" suggest a child's curiosity and an instinctive understanding that even the most formidable defenses have weaknesses. The description of his "greenish" hair, reminiscent of the "gold velvet cod-skirt hanging before him," subtly connects Gabriel to the armor, as if he is trying to understand and possibly inhabit the idea of protection.

The mother's perspective shifts as she reflects on the potential loss of her son, comparing her temporary loss of sight of him in the museum to a mother's fear of losing her son in war. This thought reveals a deep-seated anxiety about the safety of her child in a world filled with violence. The mother contemplates the nature of men and, by extension, the world that creates and sustains violence.

Gabriel's return is marked by a transformation: he is "sated, so fattened with gore his eyelids bulge." This visceral imagery suggests that Gabriel has been metaphorically "filled" with the knowledge or presence of violence, symbolized by the armor and weapons. His experience at the museum has left him changed, burdened by the weight of what he has seen.

As they exit the museum, passing under "huge tumescent jousting irons," the imagery evokes a sense of phallic aggression and the historical legacy of male violence. The "pennants a faded rose, like the mist before his eyes," suggests a romanticized or softened view of violence, contrasting with the reality of its impact.

In the final lines, Gabriel, unable to resist the pull of the museum steps "railed with gold like the descent from heaven," performs a theatrical death, "over and over, clutching his delicate unprotected chest." This act of "dying" repeatedly underscores the boy's awareness of vulnerability and the inevitability of harm. His gesture is both a playful mimicry of death and a poignant acknowledgment of the fragility of life, particularly the life of a child.

"Armor" poignantly captures the mother's deep-seated fears for her son's safety in a world that often romanticizes violence and the illusion of protection. Sharon Olds uses the setting of the museum and its exhibits to explore the inherent vulnerabilities that armor, both literal and metaphorical, cannot fully protect against. The poem closes with the image of Gabriel's repeated mock deaths, a reminder of the constant and unavoidable presence of danger in life, and the tender, yet futile, attempts to shield those we love from harm.

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