Explain the reference to the context the following :
And afterwards we climbed a tree, she said,
Not very tall, but full of leaves
Like those of a fig tree,
And we were very innocent about it.
Ans – The provided lines are an excerpt from the poem "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" by Adrienne Rich. In these lines, the speaker reminisces about a past experience involving climbing a tree with another person, which contrasts with the sense of restriction and powerlessness expressed in the rest of the poem. Let's delve into the reference to the context:
Context: The poem "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" revolves around the life of Aunt Jennifer, who is portrayed as a woman constrained and oppressed by the patriarchal society she lives in. The poem highlights her artistic outlet of creating tigers in her needlework, which stand as symbols of strength and freedom that she lacks in her own life. The lines you've provided offer a momentary contrast to Aunt Jennifer's oppressed life, as the speaker recalls a memory of her climbing a tree with another person.
Explanation of the Lines:
- "And afterwards we climbed a tree, she said": The speaker is recalling a shared experience from the past when they climbed a tree together. This memory stands out as a contrast to the rest of the poem, which focuses on Aunt Jennifer's subdued existence.
- "Not very tall, but full of leaves / Like those of a fig tree": The tree they climbed was not extremely tall, but it was dense with leaves, reminiscent of a fig tree. This description paints a vivid picture of the tree's lush foliage and adds to the sense of natural beauty and abundance.
- "And we were very innocent about it": The speaker emphasizes the innocence of the experience. Climbing the tree was not an act of rebellion or defiance; rather, it was a simple and innocent adventure. This innocence is in stark contrast to the subtext of the poem, which addresses the weight of societal expectations and gender roles.
In this context, these lines serve to highlight the stark contrast between the past innocence and freedom that the speaker and Aunt Jennifer experienced and the current reality of Aunt Jennifer's oppressed life. The memory of climbing the tree is a fleeting moment of joy and liberation, a memory that stands in stark contrast to Aunt Jennifer's current reality, where she is bound by the societal norms and the oppressive marriage she is in. The tree-climbing memory becomes a symbol of a time when Aunt Jennifer may have experienced a sense of agency and freedom, before she became entangled in the constraints of her marriage.
These lines also underscore the theme of the poem, which examines the disparity between Aunt Jennifer's inner desires and the external reality she lives in. The memory of climbing the tree is a poignant reminder of the potential for freedom and empowerment that exists, even if it is only accessible through memories of the past. It's a brief glimpse into a world where Aunt Jennifer was not weighed down by the tigers of her needlework or the constraints of her marriage.
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