Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Pastan's poem "Agoraphobia" delves into the psychological landscape of someone who, while physically confined, experiences a rich inner world. Through vivid imagery and introspective reflections, the poem explores themes of isolation, the tension between safety and entrapment, and the ambivalence of freedom. Pastan’s portrayal of agoraphobia, or the fear of leaving a safe space, resonates as a metaphor for the broader human experience of confronting the unknown and the limits we place on ourselves.

The poem opens with an epigraph from Shakespeare, setting a tone of foreboding: "Yesterday the bird of night did sit, / Even at noon-day, upon the marketplace, / Hooting and shrieking." This quote evokes a sense of ominousness, as if the natural order is disturbed, with night invading the day. It introduces the idea that the speaker’s world is one where the boundaries between safety and threat are blurred, and where even familiar, public spaces can become sites of anxiety and dread.

In the first section of the poem, the speaker imagines waking to a fresh scene of snow, "so new / not even memories / of other snow / can mar its silken / surface." The snow here symbolizes purity and untouched potential, a blank slate that represents innocence. The speaker's refusal to "violate such whiteness / with the booted cruelty / of tracks" conveys a fear of disrupting this perfection, suggesting an aversion to action or change that could disturb the pristine, controlled environment. The snow's untouched surface reflects the speaker's desire to maintain the purity of their internal world, unspoiled by the outside.

The second section presents the speaker as someone who, despite being unable to leave their house, has "memorized the view / from every window." The house becomes a world unto itself, with "23 framed landscapes" offering a variety of perspectives and experiences. However, the speaker emphasizes that they do not feel like "a prisoner / pacing a cell," but rather like "the embryo [that] knows / the walls of the womb." This comparison to an embryo suggests a sense of comfort and security within the confines of the home, where the speaker is free to explore their inner world without the pressures of the external. The imagery of the embryo, "free / to swim as its body tells it," also implies a fear of the inevitable "moment / of contraction" when they will be forced out into the "gaudy world," a place that feels overwhelming and threatening.

In the third section, the speaker describes the occasional attempt to venture out: "Sometimes I travel as far / as the last stone / of the path." Yet, each step feels painful, "pricks that tender place / on the bottom of the foot," and like the tide, the speaker is "dragged back" by an irresistible force. This section captures the ambivalence of the speaker’s relationship with the outside world—there is a pull toward it, but also a deep-rooted fear that forces them to retreat. The imagery of the "ebb tide" suggests a natural cycle of retreat and return, driven by forces beyond the speaker’s control, perhaps symbolizing the cyclical nature of anxiety.

The final section of the poem shifts to an observation of the natural world from within the safety of the home. The speaker notices how "leaves are torn from the trees," waving goodbye as they are separated from their source of life. This imagery parallels the speaker’s own sense of being uprooted or detached if they were to leave their safe space. The moon, described as "pinned / to the very center of the window," is like "a moth wanting only to break in," suggesting a longing for connection with the outside world, even as it remains unattainable.

The speaker then reflects on the house itself, which "follows all the laws of lintel and ridgepole," adhering to the familiar and comforting rituals of domestic life. The house represents order and tradition, a place where "custom and grace" prevail. The speaker asserts that "It is not fear that holds me here but passion / and the uncrossable moat of moonlight / outside the bolted doors." This conclusion reveals a complex mix of emotions—the speaker’s attachment to their home is not solely out of fear, but also out of a deep connection to the safety and structure it provides. The "uncrossable moat of moonlight" symbolizes the insurmountable barrier that separates the speaker from the outside world, where the risk of losing this carefully maintained control is too great to bear.

In "Agoraphobia," Linda Pastan captures the intricate dance between the desire for safety and the fear of the unknown. The poem’s rich metaphors and imagery create a vivid portrayal of a mind that finds solace in confinement, where the familiar routines of home offer comfort against the unpredictable and chaotic nature of the world outside. Yet, this comfort comes at the cost of freedom, as the speaker remains trapped within their own carefully constructed boundaries, unable to fully engage with the world beyond their doors. Through this exploration, Pastan invites readers to reflect on their own fears and the ways in which we all seek to protect ourselves from the uncertainties of life.

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