Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Ellen West" by Frank Bidard is a poignant exploration of the conflict between the self's physical reality and the idealized image one desires to embody. Through the lens of Ellen West, a woman struggling with her identity and body image, Bidart delves into themes of existential despair, the search for identity, and the societal pressures that shape our perceptions of ourselves. The poem navigates the complex terrain of mental illness, specifically anorexia, and the profound impact it has on the individual's psyche and relationships.

The form of the poem, with its fragmented structure and abrupt shifts in tone and perspective, mirrors Ellen's internal turmoil and fragmented sense of self. Bidart's use of whitespace and the strategic placement of words and phrases on the page serve to emphasize the isolation and disconnection Ellen feels, not just from her body, but from the world around her. The poem oscillates between Ellen's internal monologue and her interactions with doctors and her husband, creating a multifaceted portrait of a woman trapped between her reality and her desires.

Ellen's declaration of love for sweets and her fantasy of dying on a bed of vanilla ice cream juxtapose her struggle with her eating disorder, highlighting the tragic irony of her situation. Her assertion that her "true self / is thin, all profile / and effortless gestures" reveals the depth of her identification with an idealized image, one that is at odds with her physical reality. This idealization is not just a superficial desire for thinness but a profound yearning for a self that reflects her inner conception of beauty and worth.

The poem's exploration of identity extends beyond body image to encompass questions of gender and existence. Ellen's questioning of why she is a girl and the implications of her gender identity touch on the deeper existential questions of why we are who we are and how our identities are constructed by both internal desires and external pressures.

The doctors' inability to provide answers represents the limitations of medicine in addressing the existential and psychological dimensions of anorexia. Ellen's feeling that she is not just a "case" to her husband, yet recognizing his view of her as "meat," underscores the painful disconnect between how she is seen by others and how she perceives herself. This realization is both a critique of societal objectification of women's bodies and a tragic acknowledgment of her own internalization of these views.

"Ellen West" is a powerful indictment of the societal and psychological forces that contribute to the development of eating disorders. Bidart's use of poetic form, with its fragmentation and shifts in perspective, effectively conveys the disorienting and destructive nature of these illnesses. The poem invites the reader to empathize with Ellen's struggle and to reflect on the broader cultural and existential questions it raises. Through this intimate and tragic portrait, Bidart challenges us to consider the complex interplay between body, identity, and society.

POEM TEXT: https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~cinichol/CreativeWriting/423/Bidart.htm

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