"Capturing Loneliness: A Review of Edna St. Vincent Millay's Poem 'Exiled'"

 

Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "Exiled" explores the feelings of loneliness and alienation that can arise from being separated from a loved one. In this critical review summary, I will examine the poem's themes, form, language, and imagery to provide a deeper analysis of its meaning and effectiveness.

The poem is written in free verse and consists of eight stanzas of varying lengths. The lack of a set meter or rhyme scheme contributes to the poem's sense of unease and instability, reflecting the speaker's emotional state. The use of enjambment and caesura also creates a disjointed rhythm that mirrors the speaker's fragmented thoughts.

The poem's title, "Exiled," immediately establishes a sense of displacement and separation. The speaker's first line, "I am homesick after mine own kind," suggests that she feels out of place in her current surroundings and yearns for the familiarity of home. This idea is reinforced throughout the poem as the speaker describes her isolation and longing for connection.

One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of vivid and sometimes unsettling imagery. The speaker describes herself as a "strange bird" with "beady eyes" and "feathered hair," creating a sense of otherness that emphasizes her isolation. She also compares herself to a "pale ghost" and a "shadow on the wall," highlighting her sense of invisibility and powerlessness.

Throughout the poem, the speaker grapples with the idea of identity and the role it plays in her isolation. She asks, "What is my heart to me? / Something that lies portentous and unstirred," suggesting that she feels disconnected from her own emotions and unsure of who she is without her loved one. This struggle with identity is further emphasized in the final stanza, where the speaker wonders if she is "still a woman, or only / A mist that has wandered into a shapeless moonlit / Space."

Despite the poem's bleak subject matter, there is a sense of resilience and determination in the speaker's voice. She declares, "I will be gone, / I will be forgotten, / But with a grave and level persistence / I am clawing my way back to the light," suggesting that she is determined to overcome her feelings of isolation and find her place in the world.

In conclusion, Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "Exiled" is a powerful exploration of loneliness, displacement, and identity. The poem's use of vivid imagery, free verse form, and fragmented rhythm all contribute to its sense of unease and instability, reflecting the speaker's emotional state. While the poem is undoubtedly bleak, there is a sense of resilience and determination in the speaker's voice that suggests a glimmer of hope in the face of isolation and alienation. Overall, "Exiled" is a moving and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the human experience of longing for connection and a sense of belonging.