Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Adrienne Rich
Adrienne Rich's "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers", depicts a woman trapped within the cultural constraints and responsibilities of married life.
1.In the first stanza, Aunt Jennifer’s situation and character is contrasted with her artistic creation that portrays her aspiration. The tapestry/panel on which she has embroidered the tigers is a world she desires. The tigers are symbolic of what she wants to be in life - fearless, assertive, noble, majestic, certain and powerful , as expressed in the words "They pace in sleek chivalric certainty". The tigers depicted as prancing across the screen are confident, self-assured and happy, unafraid of hunters who appear tame in front of them- all things that Aunt Jennifer is not. The use of rich colours implies that Aunt Jennifer's tigers and their land have vitality and enjoy a sense of freedom that she has lost. Yellow (bright topaz) connotes the sun and fierce energy, while green reminds one of spring and vitality.
In the second stanza, Aunt Jennifer's present state is depicted. Her fingers are "fluttering through her wool" showing both physical and mental weakness. She finds it difficult to pull the needle. "The massive weight of Uncle's wedding band / Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand" reminds us that her marriage responsibilities weigh her down which makes her unable to realize her full potential as a woman in a male-dominated society. She tries to escape from her difficult situation through her art work she is embroidering, yet fears giving expression to her dreams because of her domineering husband.
The final stanza contains imagery that reflects back on the first two stanzas. She is referred to as 'Aunt' and not 'Aunt Jennifer ' as by the end she would lose her individual identity and be seen only as Aunt, that is Uncle's wife. The reference to the hands symbolizes Aunt Jennifer as a whole. Even after death she will remain terrified because the wedding ring on her finger will bind her to her ordeals that took complete control of her in life. In the last two lines the poet underscores the message that unless women demand their rights in a marriage their dreams will merely live on as art work mocking the reality of their lives.
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Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger -my answers1.In the first stanza, Aunt Jennifer’s situation and character is contrasted with her artistic creation that portrays her aspiration. The tapestry/panel on which she has embroidered the tigers is a world she desires. The tigers are symbolic of what she wants to be in life - fearless, assertive, noble, majestic, certain and powerful , as expressed in the words "They pace in sleek chivalric certainty". The tigers depicted as prancing across the screen are confident, self-assured and happy, unafraid of hunters who appear tame in front of them- all things that Aunt Jennifer is not. The use of rich colours implies that Aunt Jennifer's tigers and their land have vitality and enjoy a sense of freedom that she has lost. Yellow (bright topaz) connotes the sun and fierce energy, while green reminds one of spring and vitality.
In the second stanza, Aunt Jennifer's present state is depicted. Her fingers are "fluttering through her wool" showing both physical and mental weakness. She finds it difficult to pull the needle. "The massive weight of Uncle's wedding band / Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand" reminds us that her marriage responsibilities weigh her down which makes her unable to realize her full potential as a woman in a male-dominated society. She tries to escape from her difficult situation through her art work she is embroidering, yet fears giving expression to her dreams because of her domineering husband.
The final stanza contains imagery that reflects back on the first two stanzas. She is referred to as 'Aunt' and not 'Aunt Jennifer ' as by the end she would lose her individual identity and be seen only as Aunt, that is Uncle's wife. The reference to the hands symbolizes Aunt Jennifer as a whole. Even after death she will remain terrified because the wedding ring on her finger will bind her to her ordeals that took complete control of her in life. In the last two lines the poet underscores the message that unless women demand their rights in a marriage their dreams will merely live on as art work mocking the reality of their lives.
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By Adrienne Rich
Text questions:
1. How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding the tiger’s attitude?
The tigers embroidered by Aunt Jennifer are free inhabitants of the vibrant green forests, masters of their domain and movements. They are ‘chivalric’- i.e. noble and majestic, pacing powerfully and confidently, fearless of the hunters . They stand in stark contrast to their frail creator who is timid, fearful of her husband, confined and crushed in an oppressive marriage.
2. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer’s hands are ‘fluttering through her wool’ in the second stanza? Why is she finding the needle so hard to pull?
Aunt Jennifer struggles to express her dreams through needlework, but her fingers tremble nervously as she tries to pull the light ivory needle because she fears her domineering husband, which has made her physically and emotionally frail. She is weighed down by uncle’s wedding band-a symbol of her suffocating marriage and the compulsions therein, in a patriarchal society.
3. What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’?
Uncle’s wedding band is heavy as it is a symbol of bondage, of being crushed in an unhappy marriage. It has kept her encircled and trapped in a burdensome marriage in a patriarchal society- a relationship of subjugation and domination. It has restricted her freedom and eroded her individuality.
4. Of what or whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified in the third stanza?
Even after death, Aunt would carry her fear of her domineering husband as she would yet bear the burden of the wedding band on her finger. The ordeals faced by her in an oppressive marriage would continue to terrify her.
5. What are the ordeals Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by, why is it significant that the poet uses the word ringed? What are the meanings of the word ringed in the poem?
Aunt Jennifer’s ordeals are those suffered by all women who face physical, mental or emotional trauma at the hands of insensitive husbands in a patriarchal society, restricting a woman’s personal liberty and dignity. The wedding ring has kept her ringed in i.e. trapped in a gender role - a victim of male domination.
6. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character? What might the poet be suggesting through this difference?
The timid and fearful Aunt Jennifer creates an alternative world of free and fearless tigers to express her longing for freedom, a medium of escape from her grim marriage. The ironical contrast underscores a warning by the poet against acceptance of subjugation by women as it crushes their dreams, individuality and a full life.
Irony: It is ironical that Aunt Jennifer’s creations- the tigers will continue to pace and prance freely, while Aunt herself will remain terrified even after death, ringed by the ordeals she was controlled by in her married life.
7. Interpret the symbols in the poem
Wedding band- symbol of oppression in an unhappy marriage. Marriage is socially and legally binding, making women silently accept their subjugation and male domination, especially in a patriarchal society. Its weight refers to the burden of gender expectations. Ringed means encircled or trapped, losing individuality and freedom.
Aunt Jennifer- a typical victim of male oppression in an unhappy marriage, who suffers loss of individuality, dignity and personal freedom silently. She becomes dependent, fearful and frail.
Tigers- symbolize untamed free spirit. Here they are antithesis of their creator’s personality. The use of colours implies that Aunt Jennifer's tigers and their land are more vital and enjoy a sense of freedom far greater than her. Yellow (bright topaz) connotes the sun and fierce energy, while green reminds one of spring and vitality.
They pace and prance freely, proudly, fearless, confident and majestic in their bearing.
They pace and prance freely, proudly, fearless, confident and majestic in their bearing.
Embroidery- symbol of creative expression. The artwork expresses the Aunt’s suppressed desires and becomes her escape from the oppressive reality of her life.
Aunt (last stanza) – as opposed to Aunt Jennifer. It shows that she has lost her identity completely, thus lost even her name.
‘Pace’ and ‘prance’ are action words. The rhyme mimics the movement of the tigers.
Do you sympathize with Aunt Jennifer? What is the attitude of the speaker towards her?
Aunt Jennifer’s plight as a victim of gender oppression in an unhappy marriage draws our sympathy. However, the poet underscores that Aunt by accepting her suffering silently let her life be completely mastered over by her husband and lost her personal freedom and individuality. Her desires expressed in her art work will remain only a dream unless women like her assert their equal status.
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