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Essay / "The Silken Tent: Praise to Women in a Traditional Poetry Format
Throughout “The Silken Tent,” Robert Frost employs an extended metaphor by comparing a woman to a delicate tent surrounded by nature. This device explores the idea of freedom possessed by a woman in 1940s America, but she also faces the restrictions and responsibilities of family and society.Say No to Plagiarism Get a tailor-made essay on “Why "Shouldn't Violent Video Games Be Banned"?Get the original essayFrost explores the importance of context. , focusing on nature scenes to evoke connotations of an ethereal and light atmosphere surrounding the tent: "She is like in a field a tent of silk At noon when a sunny summer breeze..."[1] The " silk tent” suggests softness and sensuality, which are juxtaposed against the extremely mundane environment: “a field”, presenting a mixture of practicality and openness. The time of day is also significant: “Noon,” a time when the sun would naturally be highest in the sky. the delay gives a warm and comforting feeling not only to the character but also to the reader. Additionally, the alliteration of "Sunny Summer" accentuates a song-like rhythm that contributes to the light atmosphere, a mood that continues into "the safety of the soul." The theme of the location brings an additional message regarding the position of women in society: “And its central cedar pole which supports it is its summit towards the sky”[2]. The suggestion of a "peak to the sky" presents the idea that a woman has an ethereal, almost angelic status; Frost's entire description focuses on the positive aspects of women, perhaps displaying society's idealistic image. Furthermore, such descriptions may further suggest that although a woman does not necessarily turn to God, she is expected to seek advice from an authoritative figure, perhaps her father or husband. Frost's use of natural imagery continues: "cedar center pole" to suggest that this woman is strong-willed or, in a more literal sense, could support the branches of society as a tree trunk would support its branches . A feeling of freedom permeates the entire poem. , as reflected in the structure and form: “But strictly held by no one, is loosely bound by innumerable silken bonds of love and thought. »[1] Lack of restraint: “strictly held by no one” suggests that this entity cannot be fully controlled in marriage or life; on the contrary, such an entity remains a free spirit and in turn chooses to give “love and thought” to others. The adverb “vaguely” suggests that although the ties hold her back, they are a gentle reminder and have no restrictive element. This freedom is reflected in the enjambment and absence of points, giving the poem a free and endless movement. Literary scholar Mordecai Marcus argued that "tension represents strains in relationships, and the lightness of slavery shows that woman's tender duty responds not to compulsion but to loving necessity." » [2] This is seen through the ending, when the slight lack of freedom becomes apparent: "bondage" evokes images of imprisonment and slavery, although the extremity is softened by the adjective "light" . Additionally, the repetition of "silk ties" gives the sonnet a circular structure, reflecting the fact that a woman's duties are never finished. However, the woman's role is still portrayed positively through the metaphysical aspect of "bonds of love and thought", suggesting the qualities a woman can bestow on others and her connections to family, a husband or even “with »[3]..