Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Aftermath" by Sylvia Plath is a poem that delves into the voyeuristic nature of society, as well as the aftermath of a tragedy that seems to consume everyone but particularly its victim. The poem opens with an evocative image of people compelled by "calamity's magnet" to gawk at a burnt-out house. It's as though the tragedy exerts a gravitational pull, drawing them to the spectacle but not to empathize or assist. They appear more interested in the possibility of scandal than in the real human suffering that the scene represents.

This attitude is depicted through the vivid phrase "hunters after an old meat," signifying that the crowd is seeking remnants of something dark and primal. They're interested not in the newness of the tragedy, but in the "blood-spoor of the austere tragedies," as though they are tracking an animal. The word "austere" in this context could imply that these tragedies are both harsh and emotionally severe, providing the spectators with a sort of grim satisfaction.

The poem takes a theatrical turn when it introduces "Mother Medea," the mythical figure who killed her own children. In Plath's version, Medea is not the grandiose sorceress but a humble housewife "in a green smock," surveying the damage in her "ruined apartments." This portrayal accomplishes several things: it draws a stark contrast between the expectations of the crowd and the reality of the individual in the midst of tragedy, it humanizes Medea by placing her in an everyday context, and it also adds an element of irony, as the notorious mythic figure becomes just another victim here. The crowd, "cheated of the pyre and the rack"-traditional forms of public spectacle and torture-merely "sucks her last tear and turns away."

One cannot ignore the bitter tone of this final line. It shows a society that feeds off others' pain and, finding it insufficiently dramatic, moves on without a backward glance. Medea's "last tear" could symbolize the depletion of her emotional resources, sucked dry by a society that is as callous as it is curious.

The language Plath employs in this poem is richly metaphorical. Words like "calamity's magnet," "smoke-choked closet," and "charred shoes" serve to create vivid imagery that elevates the mundane into the realm of the poetic, while also demonstrating the sordid aspects of human behavior.

In summary, "Aftermath" serves as a caustic commentary on the social dynamics surrounding tragedy and scandal. It offers a critical look at how society turns private pain into public spectacle, and in the process, dehumanizes the individuals who are the real victims of tragedies. Through Plath's exquisite use of language and metaphor, the poem becomes a powerful critique of the darker aspects of human nature.

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