In his essay “Unpacking Day by Day (1977): A Literary Analysis,” Robert Lowell delves into the intricacies of Anne Sexton’s posthumously published collection of poetry. Through a close reading of the poems, Lowell explores the themes of mental illness, family dynamics, and the search for identity that pervade Sexton’s work. Drawing on his own experiences as a poet and his close relationship with Sexton, Lowell offers a nuanced and insightful analysis of one of the most important collections of poetry of the 20th century.
Historical Context
In order to fully understand Robert Lowell’s poem “Day by Day,” it is important to consider the historical context in which it was written. The poem was published in 1977, a time of great social and political upheaval in the United States. The Vietnam War had just ended, and the country was grappling with the aftermath of the Watergate scandal. Additionally, the feminist and civil rights movements were gaining momentum, challenging traditional power structures and calling for greater equality and justice. All of these factors undoubtedly influenced Lowell’s writing and the themes he explores in “Day by Day.” By examining the historical context of the poem, readers can gain a deeper appreciation for its significance and relevance to the larger cultural moment.
Literary Influences
Robert Lowell’s Unpacking Day by Day (1977) is a collection of poems that showcases the poet’s literary influences. Lowell was known for his ability to blend personal experiences with historical events, and this collection is no exception. The poems in Unpacking Day by Day draw inspiration from a variety of sources, including the works of William Shakespeare, John Milton, and Emily Dickinson.
One of the most notable literary influences on Lowell’s work is the poet Sylvia Plath. Lowell and Plath were close friends and corresponded frequently, and their poetry often shared similar themes and motifs. In Unpacking Day by Day, Lowell pays tribute to Plath in the poem “For Sylvia Plath,” which explores the themes of death and suicide that were prevalent in Plath’s work.
Another important influence on Lowell’s poetry is the American Transcendentalist movement. Lowell was particularly drawn to the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, and their ideas about nature and spirituality are reflected in many of the poems in Unpacking Day by Day. In “The Public Garden,” for example, Lowell describes the beauty of nature in the heart of the city, drawing on the Transcendentalist belief that nature is a source of spiritual renewal.
Overall, Unpacking Day by Day is a testament to Lowell’s wide-ranging literary influences. Through his poetry, Lowell pays tribute to the writers who came before him while also forging his own unique voice.
Poetic Structure
The poetic structure of Robert Lowell’s Day by Day (1977) is complex and multi-layered. The collection is divided into four sections, each with its own distinct themes and motifs. The first section, “The Dolphin,” is perhaps the most well-known, as it deals with Lowell’s controversial decision to leave his wife for his muse, Caroline Blackwood. The poems in this section are characterized by their confessional tone and their use of personal details to explore larger themes of love, loss, and betrayal. The second section, “History,” is more political in nature, with poems that address the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and other social issues of the time. The third section, “For Lizzie and Harriet,” is a tribute to Lowell’s two daughters, and features poems that explore the joys and challenges of fatherhood. Finally, the fourth section, “Epilogue,” brings the collection full circle, with poems that reflect on the themes and motifs of the previous sections and offer a sense of closure and resolution. Throughout the collection, Lowell employs a variety of poetic techniques, including free verse, rhyme, and meter, to create a rich and varied tapestry of language and imagery.
Imagery
In Robert Lowell’s poem “Day by Day,” the use of vivid imagery is a prominent feature. Throughout the poem, Lowell employs a variety of sensory details to create a rich and evocative atmosphere. For example, in the opening lines, he describes the “cold, blue-black dawn” and the “frosty grass” that crunches underfoot. Later, he paints a picture of a “gray, wet afternoon” and the “damp, dark earth” that seems to swallow up the speaker’s footsteps. These images not only help to establish the setting of the poem, but also contribute to its overall mood and tone. By using such precise and evocative language, Lowell is able to transport the reader into the world of the poem and make them feel as though they are experiencing it firsthand.
Symbolism
Symbolism plays a significant role in Robert Lowell’s Day by Day (1977). The poem is filled with various symbols that represent different aspects of life. For instance, the “white sail” in the first stanza symbolizes hope and new beginnings. The “black rock” in the second stanza represents the obstacles and challenges that one faces in life. The “red sun” in the third stanza symbolizes passion and love. The “green sea” in the fourth stanza represents growth and change. The use of symbolism in the poem adds depth and meaning to the overall message of the poem. It allows the reader to interpret the poem in different ways and connect with it on a personal level.
Themes
One of the prominent themes in Robert Lowell’s Day by Day (1977) is the struggle with mental illness. Throughout the collection, Lowell grapples with his bipolar disorder and the impact it has on his life and relationships. This theme is particularly evident in poems such as “The Public Garden” and “The Mouth of the Hudson,” where Lowell describes the manic highs and depressive lows of his illness. Another recurring theme in Day by Day is the search for spiritual meaning and connection. Lowell explores his Catholic faith and the role it plays in his life, as well as his relationship with God and the natural world. These themes are woven together in a complex and nuanced way, reflecting the complexity of Lowell’s own experiences and emotions.
Language and Diction
In Robert Lowell’s poem “Day by Day” (1977), the language and diction used play a crucial role in conveying the speaker’s emotions and the overall tone of the poem. The poem is written in free verse, allowing Lowell to experiment with different forms of language and diction. The language used is simple and straightforward, yet it is also rich in imagery and metaphor. The diction is colloquial, reflecting the speaker’s everyday language and making the poem more relatable to the reader. The use of repetition, particularly in the phrase “day by day,” emphasizes the monotony and routine of the speaker’s life, adding to the overall sense of despair and hopelessness. The language and diction used in “Day by Day” are integral to the poem’s meaning and contribute to its powerful impact on the reader.
Tone and Mood
In Robert Lowell’s “Unpacking Day by Day,” the tone and mood of the poem are crucial to understanding its meaning. The poem’s tone is one of melancholy and nostalgia, as the speaker reflects on the past and the passing of time. The mood is similarly reflective, with a sense of sadness and loss permeating the poem. This tone and mood are established through the use of language and imagery, as well as the structure of the poem itself. By examining these elements, we can gain a deeper understanding of the poem and its themes.
Characterization
In Robert Lowell’s “Unpacking Day by Day,” the characters are complex and multi-dimensional, each with their own unique struggles and motivations. The protagonist, a young woman named Emily, is struggling to come to terms with her identity and her place in the world. She is torn between her desire for independence and her fear of being alone, and her relationships with the other characters in the story reflect this inner conflict. Her mother, for example, is overbearing and controlling, but Emily still craves her approval and affection. Meanwhile, her boyfriend is distant and emotionally unavailable, but she clings to him as a source of stability in her life. Through these relationships, Lowell explores the complexities of human emotion and the ways in which we are all shaped by our past experiences and relationships.
Narrative Techniques
One of the most notable narrative techniques employed by Robert Lowell in his novel Day by Day (1977) is the use of multiple perspectives. The novel is told through the eyes of several different characters, each with their own unique voice and perspective on the events that unfold. This allows the reader to gain a more complete understanding of the story and its themes, as well as providing a more nuanced portrayal of the characters themselves. Additionally, Lowell uses a non-linear narrative structure, jumping back and forth in time to reveal key moments in the characters’ lives and relationships. This technique adds depth and complexity to the story, as well as keeping the reader engaged and invested in the outcome. Overall, Lowell’s use of multiple perspectives and non-linear narrative structure make Day by Day a rich and rewarding reading experience.
Allusions
In Robert Lowell’s Day by Day (1977), the poet employs various allusions to enrich the meaning of his work. One of the most prominent allusions is to the biblical story of Job. Lowell references Job’s suffering and questioning of God’s justice throughout the poem, highlighting the theme of human suffering and the search for meaning in the face of adversity. Another allusion is to the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, which serves as a metaphor for the poet’s own struggle to retrieve lost love and meaning. These allusions add depth and complexity to Lowell’s work, inviting readers to engage with the text on multiple levels.
Irony
Irony is a prevalent literary device in Robert Lowell’s Day by Day (1977). The collection of poems is filled with instances of situational irony, where the outcome of a situation is opposite to what is expected. For example, in the poem “The Public Garden,” the speaker describes a beautiful day in the park, but the final line reveals that the speaker is actually in a mental institution. This twist ending is a prime example of situational irony, as the reader’s expectations are subverted. Lowell also employs verbal irony, where the speaker says one thing but means another. In “The Mouth of the Hudson,” the speaker describes the beauty of the river, but the final line reveals that the river is polluted and toxic. This use of verbal irony highlights the speaker’s disillusionment with the world around him. Overall, irony is a powerful tool in Lowell’s Day by Day, allowing him to convey complex emotions and ideas in a subtle and nuanced way.
Metaphor
Metaphor is a powerful literary device that is used extensively in Robert Lowell’s Unpacking Day by Day (1977). Throughout the collection, Lowell employs metaphor to convey complex emotions and ideas in a way that is both vivid and accessible to the reader. One particularly striking example of this can be found in the poem “The Public Garden,” in which Lowell compares the garden to a “green cathedral.” This metaphor not only captures the beauty and grandeur of the garden, but also suggests a sense of reverence and awe that the speaker feels in its presence. By using metaphor in this way, Lowell is able to create a rich and layered reading experience that invites the reader to engage with the text on multiple levels.
Simile
In Robert Lowell’s poem “Unpacking Day by Day,” similes are used to create vivid imagery and convey the speaker’s emotions. For example, in the line “The sun is a red wafer / Over the gray dish of the sky,” the sun is compared to a wafer, emphasizing its flatness and lack of warmth. This simile also sets a melancholic tone, as the gray sky suggests a sense of sadness or emptiness. Throughout the poem, similes are used to paint a picture of the speaker’s surroundings and inner turmoil, making “Unpacking Day by Day” a powerful and evocative work of poetry.
Personification
Personification is a literary device that is used to give human qualities to non-human objects or animals. In Robert Lowell’s poem “Unpacking Day by Day,” personification is used to create a sense of intimacy between the speaker and the objects being unpacked. For example, the speaker describes a “blue vase” as having “a voice like a woman’s.” This personification not only gives the vase a sense of personality, but it also creates a sense of connection between the speaker and the vase. The use of personification in “Unpacking Day by Day” adds depth and emotion to the poem, making it a powerful piece of literature.
Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a literary device that is often used to exaggerate a situation or emotion for effect. In Robert Lowell’s “Day by Day” (1977), hyperbole is used to great effect in order to convey the speaker’s intense emotions. For example, in the poem “For the Union Dead,” the speaker describes the statue of Colonel Shaw as “a bronze battalion / with one foot / in the air / ready to march.” This hyperbolic description emphasizes the speaker’s admiration for the statue and the sacrifice it represents. Similarly, in “Skunk Hour,” the speaker describes the “darkness” of the town as “the dark / of an enormous, sinister church.” This hyperbole creates a sense of foreboding and unease, reflecting the speaker’s own feelings of isolation and despair. Overall, hyperbole is an effective tool for conveying intense emotions and creating a sense of drama and urgency in Lowell’s poetry.
Paradox
One of the most striking elements of Robert Lowell’s Unpacking Day by Day (1977) is the paradoxical nature of the speaker’s voice. Throughout the collection, the speaker vacillates between moments of clarity and moments of confusion, between a sense of control and a sense of helplessness. This paradox is perhaps most evident in the poem “The Public Garden,” in which the speaker describes a scene of natural beauty and tranquility, only to be interrupted by the jarring sound of a car horn. The juxtaposition of these two elements creates a sense of dissonance that is both unsettling and thought-provoking. This paradoxical quality is a hallmark of Lowell’s work, and it speaks to the complexity of the human experience. By embracing the contradictions and uncertainties of life, Lowell invites his readers to do the same, and to find meaning in the midst of chaos.
Ambiguity
Ambiguity is a key element in Robert Lowell’s Day by Day (1977). The poem is filled with multiple interpretations and meanings, leaving the reader to decipher the true intention behind the words. Lowell uses ambiguity to create a sense of uncertainty and mystery, forcing the reader to engage with the text on a deeper level. The poem’s structure and language are deliberately vague, allowing for a range of interpretations and leaving room for personal reflection. This ambiguity is what makes Day by Day such a powerful and thought-provoking piece of literature.