Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

The poem "Natural History" by Sylvia Plath is a satirical allegory that uses the metaphor of monarchy to critique the intellectual elitism and the detachment of scholars from the common people. The poem presents a ruling figure, the "lofty monarch, Monarch Mind," who is engrossed in "Pure Philosophy" while his subjects starve and suffer. It is a vivid critique of ivory-tower intellectuals who engage in abstract thoughts without considering the practical implications of their actions or ideas on the broader populace.

The Monarch Mind, who "bedded in ermine, gorged on roast," is fixated on higher truths, "With stars, with angels, he conversed." This paints a picture of an individual who, despite physical comfort and luxury, is isolated by his cerebral pursuits. There is irony in the description "Blue-blooded in coarse country reigned"; the intellectual monarch is out of touch with the land and the people he governs.

However, the earthbound subjects are not content to be ignored. The lines "Till, sick of their ruler's godling airs, / In one body those earthborn commoners / Rose up and put royal nerves to the rack" signal an uprising, a rebellion against the neglectful monarch. The subjects dethrone the Monarch Mind, replacing him with "the base, barbarous Prince Ow." The title 'Ow' is onomatopoeic, indicative of pain and suffering, but it also serves as a symbolic inverse of 'woe,' perhaps suggesting that the intellect's detachment from earthly matters is a form of sorrow in itself.

The poem doesn't romanticize the replacement, Prince Ow, labeling him as "base" and "barbarous." Instead, it points to the dangers of any form of extremism-whether it be the elitism of intellectual pursuits without practical application or the rejection of intellect altogether. The dichotomy between the Monarch Mind and Prince Ow serves as a representation of a societal imbalance where neither pure intellectualism nor its complete absence is beneficial for the collective good.

The shift in power from the "Monarch Mind" to "Prince Ow" serves as a cautionary tale against the dangers of societal imbalance. By employing the metaphor of a kingdom and its subjects, Plath adroitly critiques both intellectual elitism and anti-intellectualism, calling for a more balanced approach to governance-whether it be the governance of a realm or the governance of one's own life and responsibilities to the community.

The rhyme scheme in "Natural History" is AABBCC, a couplet form, throughout the poem. While on the surface, the rhyme scheme adds a lyrical and rhythmic flow, it also serves to question what that moral might be, given the imperfect options presented in the poem. In that sense, the rhyme scheme complicates rather than simplifies the poem's message, leaving the reader to ponder the complex issues surrounding intellectualism, governance, and societal balance.

In summary, "Natural History" by Sylvia Plath is a richly layered and poignant allegory that critiques the extremes of intellectual detachment and populist uprising. Through a blend of irony, metaphor, and satirical elements, the poem calls for a balanced approach to wisdom, one that harmonizes intellectual pursuits with a grounded understanding of earthly needs and human suffering.

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