The New Yorker: Poetry cover image

Vijay Seshadri Reads Sylvia Plath

The New Yorker: Poetry

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Interpretation of Sylvia Plath's 'The Moon and the Yew Tree'

The poem 'The Moon and the Yew Tree' by Sylvia Plath portrays a sense of isolation and despair. The imagery of the moon, yew tree, and surrounding nature evokes feelings of coldness, grief, and spiritual emptiness. The speaker feels disconnected from the world, unable to find a way forward. The moon symbolizes a haunting presence, dragging the sea like a dark crime, reflecting a state of quiet despair and hopelessness.

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