Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Edward Field’s poem "Sweet Gwendolyn and the Countess" delves into the dynamics of power, submission, and transformation, creating a striking and provocative narrative that juxtaposes innocence against dominance. The poem takes the form of a twisted fairy tale, exploring darker themes through vivid imagery and a gothic atmosphere.

The poem opens with a vivid image of the Countess riding her “black horse in spring wearing her black leather riding costume.” Her attire and demeanor exude control and danger as she flicks her whip at “rosebuds as she passed.” This initial description sets the stage for the contrast between the Countess’s dark power and Gwendolyn’s innocence. In this metaphorical countryside, the Countess seeks “disciples,” indicating her desire to impose dominance and bend others to her will.

In stark contrast to the Countess, Sweet Gwendolyn is described as an image of purity, wearing a “white dress” and gathering May flowers. Field’s imagery paints her as the quintessential embodiment of innocence and virtue, “under sunshade hat,” blushing “to the singing bees.” Her “golden curls lay passive on bent shoulders” as she stoops to pluck a lily. The poetic language creates a pastoral scene of tranquility and purity, which is soon disrupted by the Countess’s presence.

The Countess’s reaction to seeing Gwendolyn is immediate and predatory. She “galloped up, and reined her stallion sharply in,” towering above the unsuspecting girl. This imagery highlights the power imbalance between the two characters, with the Countess’s black horse symbolizing her dominance over Gwendolyn’s modest figure. The Countess dismounts and “knelt, laying the whip in tribute before the golden girl,” an ironic gesture that cloaks her darker intentions in a veneer of admiration.

Gwendolyn’s response is to swoon forward, overcome by the Countess’s imposing presence. However, this act of submission becomes her downfall as the Countess rises “in all her black pride” and places “her dirty leather boot hard on Gwendolyn's bent neck.” The Countess’s whip strikes Gwendolyn’s “innocently upturned behind,” solidifying her dominance over the vulnerable girl. Gwendolyn looks up “with begging eyes and a small whimper of submission,” a poignant image that encapsulates her complete subjugation.

Field’s language becomes increasingly explicit as the Countess “threw the skirt up, exposing legs and bottom bare,” and uses the whip handle to force Gwendolyn’s legs apart. The depiction of Gwendolyn’s “pink pulsing maidenhood” contrasts starkly with the Countess’s brutal control. The imagery of Gwendolyn’s skirt falling “over her head like petals of a fully-opened flower” and her legs waving “in the air like stamen and pistil” evokes both beauty and vulnerability. Her exposure invites the “bee of the Countess’s tongue / to slip in and sip nectar in the golden fuzz.”

Gwendolyn’s “moaned with shame and pain” as she is exposed and crushed among her May flowers. This image of crushed flowers symbolizes the destruction of her innocence, and her submission is further emphasized as she lies “exposed and unresisting.” The Countess, “in full charge,” ties the whip around Gwendolyn’s neck, forcing her to walk behind the Countess’s horse “a captive behind her / off to her dark castle.” This imagery of captivity completes the narrative arc from innocence to submission.

Structurally, "Sweet Gwendolyn and the Countess" is a single, continuous narrative that unfolds like a gothic fairy tale. Field’s use of descriptive imagery and direct dialogue creates a vivid, cinematic quality that draws readers into the disturbing relationship between the two characters. The poem's free verse allows for a fluid and conversational tone, enhancing the immediacy of the narrative.

In summary, "Sweet Gwendolyn and the Countess" is a provocative exploration of dominance and submission, innocence and corruption. Edward Field crafts a gothic fairy tale that examines the darker aspects of human relationships through vivid imagery and a compelling narrative. The poem challenges readers to reflect on the complexities of power dynamics and the consequences of blind submission.

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