Adrienne Rich's Poetry and Universal Human Suffering

Introduction: Rich's Transformative Vision

"The one constant in Adrienne Rich's poetry has been change and successive self-transformation" (cited by Emmitt 226). Transformation is a word used often when referring to Adrienne Rich's life, perspective, and poetry. Eulogizing Rich formally in "A Tribute to Adrienne Rich," Bialosky writes, "Adrienne demolished the myths and obsessions of gender, race, and class, and recognized poetry's transformative potential" (Bialosky 11). Rich addresses personal and political transformation in light of gender and identity. The corpus of Rich's work changed, transformed, and shifted over time to account for the poet's personal growth and also for the cultural, political, and social changes that provide necessary context.

Much of Rich's work concerns personal issues related to gender. However, as Clark points out, Rich's later work in the 21st century is "marked by an intensified focus on global suffering that highlights the importance and complexity of ethical questions in her work" (46). Rich did not wait until the 21st century to explore global issues related to gender, though. The concern for global suffering emerges even in her earlier poems and is not in itself something new. All of Rich's poetry is — the pun intended — rich with imagery, symbolism, and political import. The more the reader encounters the poetry of Adrienne Rich, the clearer it becomes that the poet remains firmly aligned with the concept of universal human suffering.

Three of Rich's poems that illustrate her concern with universal suffering are "Diving into the Wreck," "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers," and the opening passages of "An Atlas of the Difficult World." These three poems exemplify the fact that the more one encounters Rich's work, the more it becomes apparent that Rich is talking about more than gender issues. Gender issues do, however, remain salient political and personal topics throughout her poems.

In "Diving into the Wreck," Rich relies heavily on symbolism and imagery to convey central themes related to universal suffering. The poem is literally about diving to a wreck, as the title suggests. Beyond that, however, the poem "reflects her interest in feminism, taking the form of a heroic quest" ("Overview: 'Diving into the Wreck'"). The reference to a "heroic quest" derives directly from the first line of the poem, which reads, "First having read the book of myths." The line alludes to Homer's Odyssey, which evokes tales of quest, loneliness, and identity.

In "Diving into the Wreck," the narrator spends some time describing the equipment and the conditions of the dive. Unlike Cousteau and "his assiduous team," the narrator is "here alone" (first stanza). Then the narrator delves into the deep. Diving is a symbol for descending into the human subconscious mind. The inner realms of the human being are as uncharted as the waters of the sea. When the narrator dives, she loses her sense of self and humanity. She becomes one with nature and, like an animal, surrenders her identity: "My flippers cripple me, / I crawl like an insect down the ladder / and there is no one / to tell me when the ocean / will begin." Gradually, the narrator grows accustomed to her unnatural surroundings. "The sea," she observes, "is not a question of power."

Symbolism and the Self in 'Diving into the Wreck'

As one commentator states, "the wreck she examines has different levels of meaning, referring to the neglected, unexamined inner lives of women, or perhaps to civilization itself, ruined by false ideas and stereotypes about gender and gender roles" ("Overview: 'Diving into the Wreck'"). The narrator "came to explore the wreck," and the wreck symbolizes patriarchy and the human experience. She seeks "evidence of damage" and the "ribs of disaster." The rib in this case directly refers to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, which is the hallmark of gender segregation, gender norms, and gender roles.

In "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers," Rich offers a more literal feminist commentary. The titular Aunt Jennifer wears a ring that constricts her personality and identity. "When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie / Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by." The ring represents Aunt Jennifer's marriage; the marriage was patriarchal, with the man serving as the "master" of the woman. Aunt Jennifer, "like the ring itself, is confined to a specific, limited space; Aunt Jennifer is a symbol of marriage, tightly wound around the circumference of her husband's universe" ("Overview: 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers'").

However, Rich does not title the poem "Aunt Jennifer's Ring." Rather, Rich uses the title "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" to offer a sense of hope, transformation, and overcoming. Patriarchy can be resisted through self-awareness. Aunt Jennifer is creating embroidery — a traditional form of women's work — and the image woven into her wool depicts tigers that "prance" and "do not fear the men beneath the tree." The tigers are "proud and unafraid." Aunt Jennifer projects her ideal self onto her embroidery, whereas her real self is burdened by the "massive weight of Uncle's wedding band" that weighs her hand down as she sews. In "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers," Rich creates a poem that is paradoxically filled with sorrow and human suffering as well as hope and transformation.

In "From an Atlas of the Difficult World," Adrienne Rich presents an image of universal suffering that shows that feminism is about human rights and not just about women's rights. Rich uses "concrete images" to "achieve both clarity of idea and fidelity to women's lives" (Emmitt 226). The poem is told in the first person singular, making it a poignantly personal work. In this sense, "From an Atlas of the Difficult World" differs from "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers." It is similar to "Diving into the Wreck," however, in that it is also told from the first-person perspective.

In "From an Atlas of the Difficult World," Rich repeats the phrase "I know you are reading this poem…" over and over to establish a direct relationship with the reader. The poem therefore is not solely about gender issues as some of Rich's other work may seem to be. It speaks to all of humanity, asking all readers to question their identities and roles. Even in "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" and in "Diving into the Wreck," Adrienne Rich moves beyond themes of feminism to explore a more universal human suffering, one for which sexism is merely a symptom.

"Adrienne Rich is one of the most important poets writing today, both for her style and her mission" (Emmitt 227). That mission is elucidating the causes of human suffering, and Rich locates that cause in the social construction of gender. The social construction of gender constrains human identity and self-expression. Rich displays a "relentless and urgent mission to articulate through singular poetics the personal and political issues of our time" (Bialosky 11).

Patriarchy and Hope in 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers'

Although Rich's poems — "From an Atlas of the Difficult World," "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers," and "Diving into the Wreck" — are personal, they are also political. They are about feminism and about universal human suffering. As Clark points out, Rich "is rarely if ever unattuned to the questions of authority, authenticity, and commensurability her practices provoke, but she refuses, again and again, to be vexed into silence by them" (48). Adrienne Rich has left an indelible stamp on poetry by conveying universal themes within the framework of gender issues. The more one encounters her poetry, the more apparent it becomes that the poet held a strong and enduring humanistic vision.

Bialosky, Jill. "A Tribute to Adrienne Rich." Publishers Weekly.

Clark, Miriam Marty. "Human Rights and the Work of Lyric in Adrienne Rich." Oxford University Press, 2009.

Emmitt, Helen. Book Reviews.

"Overview: 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers'." Gale Online Encyclopedia. Detroit: Gale, 2013. Literature Resource Center. Web. 8 Apr. 2013.

Conclusion: Feminism as a Framework for Human Rights

Rich, Adrienne. "From an Atlas of the Difficult World."

Rizza, Michael James. "The 'Split' in 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers'." Heldref, 2008.