Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In Sylvia Plath's "Polly's Tree," the reader is transported into an ethereal dreamscape, a far cry from the more turbulent and somber motifs often associated with the poet. This intricate tableau appears to be a celebration of the imagination, encapsulated in the notion of a "dream tree" that belongs to a character named Polly. The poem unravels layers of subtle complexities through its exploration of this otherworldly tree, inviting us to consider themes of individuality, the realm of the subconscious, and the intertwining of the ordinary and the extraordinary.

The tree itself is not merely a tree; it's a "dream tree," existing in the liminal space between waking and dreaming. This designation immediately places the tree-and by extension, Polly-outside conventional bounds. The description of the tree as "a thicket of sticks, each speckled twig / ending in a thin-paned leaf unlike any other on it" underscores the tree's uniqueness, drawing parallels to the complex facets of human individuality. Each part is distinct, yet collectively they form an entity brimming with wonder and intricacies.

A particularly fascinating aspect of Plath's dream tree is its fantastical palette of colors and elements. The "ghost flower" is "vaporish as frost-breath," and the leaves are "more finical than / any silk fan." These descriptions give an ephemeral, almost spectral quality to the tree, amplifying its dreamlike atmosphere. But this diaphanous beauty isn't presented in isolation; it is juxtaposed against natural elements that anchor the dream tree in the tangible world. "Snuff-ruffed dandelions," "white daisy wheels," and a "tiger-faced pansy" all contribute to this liminality, making the tree a stunning confluence of the real and the imagined.

Even as Plath dabbles in the extraordinary, she subtly negates any over-romanticization. Polly's tree is neither a "family tree" nor a "tree of heaven." Despite its enchanting beauty, it's not linked to lineage or divinity. This could imply the unfiltered quality of imagination, a realm where one isn't bound by familial or societal expectations. The tree "sprang from her pillow whole as a cobweb," affirming its origins in the subconscious, where it's "ribbed like a hand"-yet another juxtaposition of the fantastical and the humanly intimate.

The final lines of the poem add emotional weight through the imagery of "bleeding hearts on its sleeve" and a "blue larkspur star" crowning the tree. It's as though the tree, and Polly herself, are imbued with a palette of emotions, from love to sorrow to hope. This multitude of feelings allows the tree to glow "palely," in its own unique luminance, much like how individual experiences illuminate the corners of our own lives.

"Polly's Tree" leaves us in a state of reverie, compelling us to contemplate the beauty of imagination, the splendors and sorrows of individuality, and the striking balance between the dream world and the tangible realm. Sylvia Plath weaves an intricate fabric of ideas and images to create not just a portrait of a dream tree but also a narrative on the intricate ways in which the ordinary and extraordinary coexist, lending profundity to the world both within and around us.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...