Critically Analyze the Poem: A Woman Is Not a Potted Plant (Coursework Sample)

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A Woman Is Not a Potted Plant
Walker’s poem, a woman, is not a potted plant, involves a representation of the women place in the society such as being bound by their origins or kept in one location like a potted plant. The poem is emblematic of a larger social issue within most communities globally and seeks to improve the women position. It exemplifies the nature in which women are kept in one place with no power to express their desires or inner feelings. Alice tends to explain how race, nationality and family can influence the gender discrimination issue. She uses plants to symbolize the women’s position that involves being confined in one place and dependent on other people. The paper develops insights into different ways that poems represent broader issues in the society based on Walker’s poem and her illustration of women.
According to Walker, women are kept in one place while others are bound by their origins and backgrounds. The poem uses the potted plant as a metaphor describing the women’s role in the society as well as the oppression they face. The author unfolds the differences between a potted plant and the woman to provide insights on the expected roles. Walker uses the poem to express her inner feelings while the poem is influenced by the author’s earlier life. The women’s position slowly changed after the world war compared to their role in the 20th century. Walker states that a woman should not be confined to her house like a potted plant rather they should be allowed to move out and interact with the world. She uses symbols to deliver the required message to the readers such as using the potted plants to symbolize the women’s position and how they should be treated (Simcikova 95)
The introduction sentence seeks to reduce the negative treatment women face by suggesting that they should not be treated as potted plants. The author seems to call for freeing women from the confinement of their husbands, houses, and society. Potted plants have roots that are bound or confined to the pot only. Therefore, Walker suggests that a woman should be allowed to be free and not mistreated based on her sex. She demonstrates that a woman is more than a decorative piece in the house suggesting that they build the foundations of the home. The first stanza explains ways in which women are confined in the houses based on their duties. The author compares a woman with the roots of the potted plants. Without the roots, how could the plant survive, similarly, a woman provides the required foundation to build a home. However, the society tends to judge and treat them based on their racial or social background. They should not be stuck in the houses or the primary duties assigned to them by men in the household (Walker 85).
The themes presented in the poem suggest that there is need to ensure equality and liberty of women in the society since they provide a strong family and society foundation. The second part of the poem tends to compare the appearance of a woman with the society perception that defines every woman (Walker 85). The author provides elements or factors that shape a woman such as her race and how she came into being. Despite being born from man, a woman should not be bound to man or conform to their expectations. They should have free will to decide what’s best for them and their family. However, Walker uses the poem to illustrate how the women are tied down in their houses like the potted plants.
The third stanza suggests that a woman should not be tied against the fences of her race, husband or country but rather be allowed to follow the sun. Walker seeks to refrain men from misusing their wives because they feed or take care of them. The author uses repetition to emphasize on the main topic of the poem i.e. a woman is not a potted plant. Walker’s use of repetition increases the reader’s attention on the topic and ensures the message is understood as required in all the stanzas in the poem. She also states that a woman “leaves are not trimmed to the contours of her sex” suggesting that their physical shape or gender should not be used to define the women in the society. Walker’s poem tends to represent the society treatments towards women as well as providing ways that they should be treated such as respect. They should not be perceived as plants that are not free to experience the natural beauty and environment that they deserve. They are rather confined in the pots and depend on other elements for survival.
The poem themes convey a message that the women happiness is hampered by the slavery they face in the houses under their husbands. The society perception about them also reduces their ability to achieve justice and liberty they deserve. The author also uses the fence metaphor to explain a woman’s position. The style allows the author to tell the story through safe measures rather than explaining directly that can develop mixed feelings among the readers. The inclusion of men in the poem represents the aspects that i...