Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Alicia Suskin Ostriker’s poem "Anxiety About Dying" uses a seemingly mundane experience—visiting the dentist—as a vehicle to explore deep-seated fears and existential concerns about death. Through a blend of humor, surreal imagery, and poignant reflection, Ostriker captures the complexity of confronting mortality in a way that is both accessible and profound.

The poem begins with an almost casual tone as the speaker compares the anxiety about dying to the discomfort of being in the "dentist’s chair / under the nitrous oxide." This comparison immediately grounds the reader in a relatable, everyday experience—dental work—while also hinting at the underlying fears that such moments can evoke. The phrase "the whole jaw is going" reflects a sense of decay and deterioration, a metaphor that extends beyond dental health to the larger theme of the body’s inevitable decline.

The interaction with the dentist introduces a dark humor that runs throughout the poem. When the speaker laments the loss of "two enormous fillings," the dentist jokingly suggests a "guillotine" might be necessary. This offhand remark about a guillotine—a symbol of execution and death—underscores the poem’s engagement with the theme of mortality, but in a way that is jarringly lighthearted. The dentist’s irreverent attitude contrasts with the speaker’s anxiety, adding a layer of irony to the exploration of death’s inevitability.

The poem then shifts into a surreal and introspective mode as the effects of the "happy gas" take hold. This is where the speaker begins to confront the big questions about death: "Will there be pain? Yes. / Will my desires still be unsatisfied? Yes. / My human potential remain unrealized? Yes." These answers are stark and unflinchingly honest, reflecting the fears and uncertainties that often accompany thoughts of death. The acknowledgment that desires will remain unsatisfied and potential unrealized speaks to the human condition of incompleteness—how life, for many, ends with unfinished business.

However, the poem also suggests a kind of acceptance or resignation: "Can a person stop minding about that? Certainly." The use of the word "certainly" here conveys a sense of inevitability but also implies that with the right perspective—perhaps induced by the "happy gas"—one might be able to let go of these fears. The speaker imagines "commend[ing] my spirit to the seventeen / angels whistling outside the dentist’s window," a whimsical image that evokes a sense of peace and surrender, contrasting with the earlier anxieties.

The poem’s conclusion is both humorous and touching. The speaker imagines saying goodbye to their teeth, which are personified as leaving "by train for a vacation." This image of the teeth taking a trip adds a surreal, almost childlike quality to the poem, softening the harsh reality of decay and loss. The promise to "meet them in the country when I can" suggests a hopeful, if not entirely serious, belief in some form of reunion or continuation after death.

"Anxiety About Dying" masterfully combines humor with existential reflection, using the familiar setting of a dentist’s office to delve into the universal fears surrounding mortality. Ostriker’s use of surreal imagery and lighthearted tone allows the poem to address these fears in a way that is both approachable and deeply resonant. The poem ultimately suggests that while death is inevitable and often accompanied by fear, there is also the possibility of acceptance, humor, and even a strange sort of peace in the face of the unknown.

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