Descriptive Language In The Munich Manequins - 918 Words

The Munich Mannequins Perfection is terrible, it cannot have children. Cold as snow breath, it tamps the womb Where the yew trees blow like hydras, The tree of life and the tree of life Unloosing their moons, month after month, to no purpose. The blood flood is the flood of love, The absolute sacrifice. It means: no more idols but me, Me and you. So, in their sulfur loveliness, in their smiles These mannequins lean tonight In Munich, morgue between Paris and Rome, Naked and bald in their furs, Orange lollies on silver sticks, Intolerable, without minds. The snow drops its pieces of darkness, Nobodys about. In the hotels Hands will be opening doors and setting Down shoes for a polish of carbon Into which broad toes will go†¦show more content†¦Although they are beautiful, the women lack intelligence and charm. Their obsession with beauty has led to atrophy of their mental faculties. As Plath describes the cruelty of the fashion industry, she represents a sinister force which seeks to destroy to no end. Plath’s imagery further delves into the revolting nature of beauty. In the town, the â€Å"yew trees blow like hydras† (ln 3). This touches on the theme of rebirth and life. As the yew tree waits for spring, it is like a hydra preparing to grow a new head. This continues as Plath describes the menstrual cycle within the next two stanzas. Women release their â€Å"moons†¦ month after month† and it is a â€Å"blood flood,†¦ the flood of love.† However, these cycles are of â€Å"no purpose† (ln 5-6). After starving for perfection, the mannequins cannot have children and have lost an intrinsic part of themselves. The imagery of the moons further highlights the depiction of a menstrual cycle as it has often been associated with the cycles of the moon. A vital part of childbearing, the blood is a force of love that conveys fertility. The women have given up this ability in order to achieve an unnatural appearance. The speaker finds this repulsive, describing them as â€Å"naked and bald in their furs† (ln 13). Although they possess outward beauty, their insides are ugly. The models are forced to contain their empty, unnatural personalities in a glamour that does not belong to them. The