Metaphors are one of the integral and main devices that Sylvia Plath uses right through the poem, “The Arrival of Bee Box”. For instance in stanza two, Plath makes reference to a “box is locked, it is dangerous”. What she is infact referring to here through the use of metaphors is that of her thoughts that she considers to be dangerous which Plath feels she cannot refrain from thinking about. Subsequently she says, “I can’t keep away from it”. Consequently it foreshadows the fact that her views might just come true. Through the use of metaphors Sylvia Plath is able to express the complex feelings that are transpiring in her without actually referring to what these thoughts are to the readers.
Sylvia Plath also makes use of imagery and allusions for the most part in this poem, The Arrival of Bee Box. To help the readers understand the flow of thoughts and emotions of the character (she) is going through. In the first stanza the readers are aware that Sylvia Plath has not completely understood that the emotions she is going through is infact one of suicidal. Hence a distorted image is created for the reader through sentences such as, “it was the coffin of a midget”. Towards the second stanza when she has realized that she cannot let her thoughts go away. She once again makes use of imagery to further reinstate that through the line, “There are no winds so I can’t see what is there.” Allusions on the other hand are used towards the end of the box to express how she can not let these thoughts be out in the open. Subsequently to help the readers comprehend this fact better she mentions, “It is like a Roman mob, small taken one by one, but my god together.” Thus suggesting to the reader’s that if she were to let these thought out in the open it would lead to something dangerous and destructive.
Tone is another device that Sylvia Plath uses to help create the mood for the various thoughts that she is feeling including the dark thought. For instance in Stanza one Sylvia Plath uses an abstract tone since she is just coming to the realization of what her thoughts are. As these thoughts develop, the tone tends to be one of confusion and sadness. Since the poet is facing a dilemma of how and whether she can let her thoughts out in the open or whether she should “set it free”. Also Diction ensures that the tone is sad through the use of words such as “black, dark, funeral” etc. Since it is the solitary suffering of Sylvia Plath and her dilemma the mood does not uplift her sentiments even towards the end of the poem.
Lastly the structure that Sylvia Plath makes use of right from Stanza one helps the readers understand exactly what the character is feeling. The structure is also important for the reason that it shows the progression of thought within the character. For instance the very first line of the poem she says, “I ordered this, clean wood box”. However towards the fourth stanza when she starts feeling scared she says “How can I let them out”. Despite the fact that it is ironical that she ordered the box and now does not want to open it. The reader is able to understand the bigger message of the poet that she is feeling scared. The reader is able to comprehend this fact solely because of the structure in which it is written.
In conclusions this poem, The arrival of Bee Box is mainly an attempt by Sylvia Plath to express the dark thoughts of suicide that she is having without exposing them directly to the readers in a straightforward manner. To help emphasize this situation better to the readers, Sylvia Plath the poet uses herself as a character and also makes use of literary techniques and devices such as structure, tone, metaphors, allusions and imagery.