by Adrienne Rich
A striking symbolism from one of the most influential feminists of the century.
“The massive weight of Uncle's wedding band / Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand.”
Answer the following questions:
1) How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes?
The tigers live in the wilderness of the forests. They are the ‘denizens’ of the dense green jungles like all other beasts. As with the knights, the word ‘chivalric’ here reflects their majestic and honorable position in the animal kingdom.
2) Why do you think Aunt Jennifer’s hands are ‘fluttering through her wool’ in the second stanza? Why is she finding the needle so hard to pull?
Aunt Jennifer’s hands are fluttering because of extreme old age. The weakness due to her old age is the reason that she is unable to pull the needle properly. The fluttering may also indicate the mental struggle that she has gone through all these years due to her difficult marriage.
3) What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’?
The ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’ suggests the responsibilities and restrictions that come with the marriage. The commitments associated with marital bond here limits what Aunt Jennifer can do, and limits the ways she can live her life.
4) Of what or of whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified with in the third stanza?
Aunt Jennifer is terrified from all the hardships she has gone through probably with her dominating husband. The ‘ordeals’ she has faced make her fear as she would still be psychologically surrounded by them.
5) What are the ‘ordeals’ Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by, why is it significant that the poet uses the word ‘ringed’? What are the meanings of the word ‘ringed’ in the poem?
Aunt Jennifer has been living her life in accordance with the rules laid down by her husband. Her life lacks expression, and is overburdened by the demands and duties of her married life. Although old and weak, she still has to face oppression by her husband. These are the ordeals that the poet talks about.
The use of word ‘ringed’, in the poem, is significant and appropriate because it correctly represents the vicious circle from which Aunt Jennifer is unable to free herself. The word ‘ringed’ not only indicates that she is wearing her wedding ring but also that she is bound by the responsibilities, fear and oppression of her marriage for entire life, and probably, after it too.
6) Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character? What might the poet be suggesting through this difference?
Aunt Jennifer is a very timid person who lacks courage and does not seem to have freedom as she would have liked. The tigers she creates are free, fearless, confident and proud. The instance of Aunt Jennifer designing them indicates her strongest and innermost desire to be like them. The poet, through this difference, creates a clear contrast between Aunt Jennifer and Tigers to prove the point.
7) Do you sympathise with Aunt Jennifer? What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer?
Yes, we sympathise with Aunt Jennifer and feel for her condition. Her hardships and sufferings touch the readers’ hearts. The speaker of the poem also seems to be feeling sympathy and pity towards her in the narration. The speaker mentions that probably even after death Aunt Jennifer will be mastered by all these hardships. This shows that the speaker sympathises with her.
8) Interpret the symbols used in the poem.
Tigers:
Tigers in the poem represent men in the society, who are free, fearless and proud. They move in society with a certain confidence and freedom which women have not yet begun to enjoy.
Wedding Band:
The wedding ring symbolizes the responsibilities and restrictions that come with marriage. Especially in this case, it represents the oppressive and unhappy marriage that Aunt Jennifer had to go through with her dominating husband. The burden of this wedding ring and everything that comes with it prove to be a massive weight for any woman to carry.
Artwork:
Art has always been used to express the innermost and deepest of desires and emotions. People have found channels to vent their feelings through art. Here, the embroidery art serves as such a medium for Aunt Jennifer, and this poem does the same for the poet Adrienne Rich.
Aunt Jennifer:
Aunt Jennifer is the symbol or the representative for all those women who have had to suffer through unhappy marriage. She stands as a symbol for those who have lost their own identity and had to submit to their husband’s domination. Even in the last stanza of the poem, the poet drops the name ‘Jennifer’ and uses only ‘Aunt’. This signifies the loss of the individual identity during such a marriage. The dropping of the name also suggests the generalization of the idea to apply it to all the other women going through the same ordeals.
Poem Analysis:
* Rhyme Scheme:
AABB
* Figures of Speech:
1) Alliteration:
sleek chivalric certainty
fingers fluttering
weight of Uncle's wedding band
prancing, proud
2) Personification:
tigers prance, do not fear, proud
Uncle's wedding band sits
3) Synecdoche:
terrified hands
4) Hyperbole (Exaggeration):
massive weight
5) Pun:
ringed
6) Symbols:
Aunt Jennifer (represents all women)
Tigers (represent men)
Art (as medium of expression)
Wedding ring (of responsibility and restrictions)
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