Explore the ways in which Plath presents motherhood in “Morning Song” Sylvia Plath wrote numerous poems that describe her views and feelings towards being mother, some of whom appear unconventional and insensitive. Some critics hold the same opinion regarding his poem "Morning Song", due to the way he describes his own daughter in a very detached and distant manner. However, at the beginning of the poem, this seems false because of the way the child is described. For example, the title immediately had a very positive, cheerful and celebratory vibe, suggesting her joy at the birth of her baby. The first word used in the poem is "love", giving the reader the impression that, in addition to happiness, Plath felt a strong sense of affection towards her child. The child is then described as a "fat gold watch" which in some cases has been argued to represent a plump, healthy child or to suggest the preciousness and value this child has in Plath's eyes. The "fat gold watch" could also be seen as a positive symbol towards time and the beginning of a new, precious life in a mother's mind. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay However, despite the positive first impression the reader might receive, the mood in the poem eventually changes. The child appears to be named as an object more than once throughout the poem, being called "statue" and "clock", which are both heavy and cold inanimate objects, suggesting that the child is a burden in Plath's life, or even something which consumes his time. A clock can also be seen as mechanical, implying that the relationship between the child and the mother is not natural or felt, but forced and routine; which could be represented by the perfect 3-line structure of every stanza throughout. The idea of ​​a 'drafty museum' as opposed to the comfort of a home gives us a sense of a cold and uncomfortable feeling, along with the vulnerability of the child's 'nakedness'. All of these ideas would lead the reader to believe that Plath feels resentful towards her son because instead of bringing her happiness and joy, he dragged her down and made her heart cold. This is further demonstrated by Plath's disavowal and abandonment of the child, when she states, "I am no longer your mother." Towards the end of the poem the tone becomes much more selfish as we see much greater use of the word "I", suggesting that for Plath motherhood is about herself and not the child. The phrase "Effaced by the wind" is also significant as it highlights Plath's fear of growing old and losing her physical appearance, for which she believes the child is responsible. The idea of ​​a “cloud distilling a mirror” represents the temporary and short-lived relationship between mother and child due to its lack of feeling and detachment. Furthermore, towards the end of the poem there is punctuation that suggests a slow pace, perhaps representing the feelings Plath feels towards her son due to the weight with which he seems to hold her down. Furthermore, the fact that the window square "swallows its opaque stars" could imply that the child has altered his perception of nature and the beauty it should contain within it. Please note: this is just an example. Get an article customization now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay Many critics have argued that new mothers in the 1960s would be different from Plath in that they showed a great deal of happiness, satisfaction, and joy from their newborns.