Always use the old sense of the word

My favorite poem - 'The Tender Place' 

Firstly, my favorite poem is probably the 'The Rag Rug' but my gal Leanne done an AMAZING analysis which I couldn't bear to compete with (and I couldn't think of anything else to write about it as she done it so well-woo love u darlin) SO HERE IS MY SECOND FAVORITE, 'The Tender Place'

SO! The postmodern era was the shift from the modern era, where there were strong, innate beliefs in society due to the various empirical observations scientists put forth, to the postmodern era. Due to this, the modern era  was known as the ‘age of reason/enlightenment’, as it gave individuals a solid, objective answer to all theories and uncertainty. Although,  due to significant changes in the economy, culture, society, science and philosophy in the 1950’s and 1960’s, a new era developed around 1949;

The Postmodern era

·       The name derives from the term modernity, which basically means a new, distinctive way of thinking.

·        Thus, new forms of literature were emerging different to the prior ‘medieval’ thinking.

·        These were more contemporary and involved techniques such as fragmentation, complexity, contradiction, ambiguity, suspicion of hierarchy, paradox and diversity.

Also, breaking down the fourth wall! (an imaginary boundary obviously, that were frequently broken in Elizabethan and Restoration drama, acknowledging the fictional work as well as the audience)

·         All these techniques combined were known to be reflective of the mind-set in the postmodern era. As individuals experienced the ‘EXISTENTIAL CRISIS’!! (crisis of existing?-a breakdown in humanity?!) Therefore, wanted to break from these traditional conventions and express how they feel their own way, providing us with art which overturn these modes.

Therefore, this shifted from the age of discoveries to the age of art and expression.

The Tender Place

-     Firstly, the title is quite ambiguous. Hughes could be referencing any ‘place’, yet as it is ‘tender’, we as readers learn that this ‘place’ must be sensitive and delicate. From reading the first line, readers are aware that Sylvia's ‘temples’ are the ‘tender place’. Readers could take this for the surface meaning of it addressing Sylvia's ‘temples’, or a the underlying meaning, which I am urged to think may be Sylvia's inner soul Hughes is referencing.

-       As we are aware Sylvia unfortunately experienced depression. Due to this, it may be that Hughes is commenting on how Sylvia's soul is the delicate ‘place’ that is subject to harm. This pose a double meaning as Sylvia is having physical, external ECT treatment to cure an underlying mental condition which is manifested internally in Sylvia.

-        Moving ooooon, Hughes stresses that ‘Once to check I dropped a file across the electrodes’- Considering this is about an ECT treatment the doctors are performing, I found it unusual as Hughes addresses himself as the person who ‘dropped the files’. This made me think it may be a reference to how Sylvia's depression impacted on Hughes, how he is forced to ‘drop’ and sacrifice his once calm life, for Sylvia's unstable mind set.

-        Which could effectively blow up any moment ‘like a grenade’.  Hughes dexterously in-cooperates this simile to portray the uncertainty in their marriage.  As this may display the hardship Hughes had to endure and the sacrifices he made in order to keep their relationship virile. Readers may even develop gratitude for Hughes as he handles this task whilst Sylvia was going through this life-threatening, challenging condition.

-      The poem shifts from first person to third, as Hughes depicts ‘somebody wired you up’ ‘they crashed the thunderbolt into your skull’ ‘their bleached coats and blenched faces’.

-        We learn here he has put her in the hands of a doctor, who is usually associated with being a life-saver and role model. Although, this is contradicted through Hughes paradox, associating them with harming Sylvia. This is portrayed through a pathetic fallacy, as the doctors are in fact crashing ‘thunderbolts’ into her skull. This may represent a destruction of Sylvia's mindset, or yet be allegorical to the human race during the 1950’s. As I mentioned above, people were experiencing an existential crisis. Sylvia's breakdown may be a symbol this crisis in society, as Hughes depicts the paradox of the doctors destructing her, mirroring the breakdown in society which overturned traditional norms.

-       Also, by incorporating third and first person, I got the impression Hughes may feel guilty towards allowing Sylvia continue with her ECT. Thus, this may be reflective on the shared blame Hughes feels, yet it isn't all his fault as ‘they’ are the ones who ‘pushed the lever’ not him.

- This idea of shared blame for Sylvia's condition is continued, as Hughes references her dad. 'You your daddy's leg'. This informs readers of the pain Sylvia's dad was also forced to go through, creating the sense that history is simply repeating itself. This is quite cynical, as it shows how Hughe's may be mentally anticipating Sylvia's death, as he places 'you' and 'your daddy' next to each other, readers may feel Sylvia's condition may mirror her 'fathers' leg amputation and effectively end in her passing away as he did. This is also evident as he expresses he was 'waiting for these lightnings' as if her condition has become so severe, her self-destruction is inevitable to him. We as readers feel sympathetic not only towards Sylvia, but Hughes, who is forced to experience the emotional effects of Sylvia's physical condition.

- We learn that even 'years later' ECT has made Sylvia become 'over exposed, like an X-ray'. By using this simile, we are able to understand how ECT treatment has made her even vulnerable and stripped her of her attributes she may of had prior depression. The X-ray connotation may present how she is now transparent and unprotected, like an X-ray.

- Finally, Hughes ends on a mournful note as he expresses ECT has left 'scorched-earth scars of your retreat'. The treatment has not only left physical exhaustion, but deep implemented 'earth scars'. This reference to nature gives us the idea that Sylvia's condition is natural and isn't curable by anything, not any technological advances. This portrays a realistic view of human nature, as Hughes depicts miracles aren't always possible. The condition is brutal and urges readers to understand there isn't such thing as quick fixes.

- Likewise, the modern era attempts to tackle these unrealistic, glossy conventions that was created by society, as she didn't magically transform, but in fact she retracted and 'retreated'. 

- This paralleled the human race as it was breaking down and people were creating their own interpretations. From this, I am drawn to think that Sylvia's unstable, fragmented mindset may symbolise this fragmentation in society.

Alsy yoooooooooooo