She seems to claim ownership over the box as she "ordered this, this clean wood box". Showing that she claims responsibility over the arrival of the box, and this arrival of the box is not a mere coincidence. The use of the word "clean" represents the initial visual innocence of this wooden box, but as mentioned later on the poem, this is merely a façade and its contents are extremely volatile. The box is described to be as "square as a chair", and "wooden", the imagery of the chair represents the box to be direct, and honest.
In stanza two, Sylvia Plath gives us more detail about the bee box. She says that "the box is locked" because its contents are "dangerous", yet she "can't keep away from it". This suggests that whatever is in her mind, can cause damage to the people around her, but unfortunately she cannot change her ideas. The fact that she has to "live with it overnight" implies that this inner conflict is at all times taking place, even in her dreams. She is not fully aware of what is bothering her for "there are no windows" so she "can't see what is in there", however she knows that she cannot reveal it for there is "no exit". This also reflects her sense of entrapment and the fact that there is only a "little grid" makes one think of a prison and thus emphasises the idea of captivity of the black slave trade that was evident at her time. This shows the intrinsic bond of the colonizers with the black slave trade, as even though she does not know what burden she is carrying, she is still bonded to the box, as she has to live with it overnight. Also, it could also explain her repressed emotions and how she feels that she has no way out.
The narrator "put [her] eye to the grid" and it was "dark, dark", the repetition of the word dark again emphasizes the evil nature of the contents of the bee box. She saw the "smarmy feeling of African hands Minute and shrunk for export". This could be seen as a direct reference to the trading of black African slaves, that have been exported to the colonial countries under unpleasant conditions as they were all "shrunk", possibly meaning treated like possessions with no feelings whatsoever and used for one’s personal use thus deciding their fate. It represents the power given to the slave exporter, where the slaves are minute in their eyes and are nothing but merchandise. .
These contents are also "black on black, angrily clambering". This could show how dangerous these repressed African slaves are feeling, and how volatile the situation is, necessitating the need of the lock as they are most eager to escape as they want to rebel or breakout of the chains(captivity) . It could also show how dark her inner feelings are, and how integral it is to keep them under lock and key.
She wonders whether she can let them out although she is "appall[ed]" at the sound she relates these sounds to be "unintelligible symbols" that although "small, taken one by one, but my god, together!" Thus emphasizing one the repression of the Black American slaves, the unintelligible symbols could show her inability to understand the black slaves, again emphasizing her position over the black slaves as she seems to be above them, their language unintelligible to her ears, she seems to be overwhelmed by them and is lost in her own emotions. However, it could also show how overwhelming her dark thoughts are together, she herself does not understand her inner repressed emotions.
She states the she is "not a Caesar" thus abandoning all claims to these slaves and her feelings. Which contrasts her earlier comments on how she must “live with it”? However, she still seems to claim ownership of the box, as she "simply ordered a box of maniacs", possibly showing that she was not prepared for such volatile contents in the box, and that she could simply get the box "sent back". She again illustrates her power over the box, as she says that they "can die, I need feed them nothing, I am the owner." This directly contrasts her earlier feelings where she feels overwhelmed by the chatter in the box. However, despite her earlier feelings, she believes she can still control this box.
Although earlier in the poem she acknowledges the evil nature of the box's contents, she seems to forget it or refuses to accept it as she contemplates undoing "the locks and [stand] back" as she wants to know whether they would "forget me". This could mean that she is simply refusing to accept the truth about the contents and that she hopes that they don't have any negative feelings king towards her and would simply forget her. This shows how simply she is treating such a sensitive subject as black slavery, and how simply she dismisses the responsibility of taking care of the box, which is in some sense procrastinating or delaying the current issue “tomorrow I will be sweet god and set them free”. This is also evident in the way she speeds up the pace of the poem as if there is an excuse that is needed to define her actions, or in other words she throws a flurry of words which best fits the course of action that she has taken. The last line "the box is only temporary" could allude to her want to free the bees as well as the lack of control she has over the box even though she is supposedly in control.
Also contradictory in nature this poem is greatly illustrated which can be taken in many interpretations such as; her state of mind and emotions or the repression of the black African slaves. Either way, it describes the overwhelming nature of both these issues and how she is unequipped to cope with its demands.
Word Count: 1415