Conversation Among the Ruins by Sylvia Plath - An Analysis

A sonnet composed of an octave and sestet, this poem is an exploration of an iredeemable relationship between a man and a woman. One of three of Plath's poems inspired by the work of artist, Giorgio de Chirico, it is ironic that she borrowed the painter's title when the poem is in fact the lonely monologue of a woman. Whilst this may be attributed to the need  to clarify the connection between poem and painting, it could be argued that this hints at the breakdown of communication in such destructive relationships.

The opening line, 'through portico of my elegant house you stalk', is curious when the reader realizes that the poet is referring to a male lover as the image depicted by Plath is one of a predatory stranger. The possessive noun, 'my' establishes the woman's ownership of her house, presenting the male as intrusive and dangerous. Plath then contrasts images that define female delicacy, perhaps questionable according to some sects of feminism that will regard such associations as conforming to a societal image of women, such as 'garlands of fruit', 'fabulous lutes and peacocks' with the man's 'wild furies'. The world 'wild' with its inherent animalistic connotations adds to the image of the male as a destructive force. It is interesting to note that whilst the images associated with both the man and woman are connected to nature, it is the 'garlands of fruit' that are tangible images while the personification of the man's 'wild furies' does not refer to an object but is rather a powerful force. This analysis combined with the later mention of the 'psyche-knot', a reference to both a hairstyle and the character Psyche from Greek mythology, could be a reflection of how the woman from the myth was containable by Cupid who overpowered her and therefore tangible.

The image of rooks is a recurring theme in Plath's poetry and in this poem she incorporates them into an extended metaphor describing the broken down relationship as an 'apalling ruin' 'above' which 'rooks croak'. This not only creates a forboding image, it adds a sense epic tragedy, corresponding with the later comment, 'the play turned tragic'. The onomatopoeic verb, croak extends the gothic depiction to provide a auditory experience. Additonally, the half rhyme when read aloud creates a sense of rigid finality, reinforcing the idea that there is no recompense.

Plath ends the poem rhetorically by posing the question,  'with such blight wrought upon our bankrupt estate,/what ceremony of words can patch the havoc?'. The contrast in scales between the damage caused which is described as an 'estate' and the word 'patch' creates the impression that the damage is beyond repair. There is perceivable sense of cynicism in 'what ceremony of words' which carries on the dramatic theme than runs throughout the poem.

''Conversation Among the Ruins' perpetuates an overwhelming sense of irrevocable damage when it comes to the break down of a romantic relationships, creating with words a pessismistic image that originated from Plath's perception of another form of art.