Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Marge Piercy’s poem "In the Department Store" presents a keen observation of societal expectations and personal identity through the lens of a seemingly mundane experience. The poem's protagonist navigates the cosmetic section of a department store, and in doing so, reflects on the stark contrast between herself and the women who work there. Through vivid imagery and insightful commentary, Piercy explores themes of conformity, self-perception, and the social pressures placed on women.

The poem opens with an immediate sense of intimidation: "The women who work at cosmetics / counters terrify me. They seem molded / of superior plastic or light metal." This description of the cosmetics workers as being made of "superior plastic or light metal" conveys a sense of artificial perfection and rigidity. The choice of materials suggests an unyielding, almost inhuman quality, as if these women are manufactured rather than born. This imagery sets up the dichotomy between the narrator and these seemingly flawless figures.

The hyperbolic notion that these women "could be shot up into orbit / never mussing a hair, make-up intact" further emphasizes their perceived perfection and invulnerability. This exaggeration serves to highlight the narrator's feelings of inadequacy and alienation in comparison to the polished and composed demeanor of the cosmetics workers. The perfect, unflappable exterior of these women contrasts sharply with the narrator’s own sense of self.

As the narrator moves through the store, she notes that the cosmetics workers "never pester / me, never attack me with loud perfume, / never wheedle me into a make-over." This lack of engagement is unusual in such environments, where employees typically try to draw in potential customers. The narrator speculates, "Perhaps I scare them too, leaking / some subversive pheromone." This notion of emitting a "subversive pheromone" suggests an underlying rebellion or nonconformity that sets her apart from the norm. It hints at an instinctual recognition of difference, as if the narrator’s essence disrupts the expected social order.

The metaphor of the narrator as a raccoon, "I trot through like a raccoon / in an airport," paints her as an outlier, an animal in an unnatural habitat. This comparison to a raccoon—often seen as a crafty, nocturnal scavenger—reinforces her sense of not belonging. The cosmetics workers "look and turn away," implying both recognition and dismissal. This rejection is further explored when the narrator describes herself as "a project they fear to tackle / too wild, too wooly, trailing / electrical impulses from my loose / black hair."

The depiction of trailing "electrical impulses" from her loose hair suggests an untamed and uncontrollable nature. The cosmetics workers, in contrast, are portrayed as predators, fastening "on the throat / of the neat fortyish blond behind me / like stoats, dragging her to their / padded stools." This imagery evokes a predatory hunt, where the neat, conforming woman is the preferred prey, more easily molded to fit the standard of beauty upheld by the cosmetics industry.

The poem concludes with the narrator's retreat into a space where she feels less judged: "I sidle past into men's sporting / gear, safe but bemused." The shift to men's sporting gear, an area typically devoid of the same pressures found in the cosmetics section, provides a sanctuary from the intense scrutiny of appearance. However, the narrator remains reflective, "wondering / if they judge me too far gone / to salvage or smell my stubborn / unwillingness like rank musk." This introspection reveals her awareness of being perceived as beyond help or redemption in the eyes of the cosmetics workers.

"In the Department Store" by Marge Piercy is a poignant examination of the societal pressures women face regarding beauty and conformity. Through her nuanced and vivid descriptions, Piercy captures the narrator's sense of alienation and defiance in the face of these pressures. The poem critiques the rigid standards of beauty and the ways in which they can marginalize those who do not or choose not to conform. Ultimately, it celebrates the narrator’s resilience and individuality, even as she navigates a world that often values appearance over authenticity.

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