“The Arrival of the Bee Box” by Sylvia Plath

“The Arrival of the Bee Box” by Sylvia Plath is a seven stanza Quintet. There is no rhyme scheme structure in this poem. In the first stanza the poem deals with the title of the poem the arrival of a bee box. Plath describes the bee box as a clean wooden box, that is almost to heavy to lift. She incorporates death in the first stanza by saying “I would say it was the coffin of a midget or a square baby.” (Plath pg. 604) I find that quote very interesting because it is almost like she is saying that the bees that just arrived are prisoners of death. In stanza three Plath uses the words “African hands”. By using those choice of words Plath is confirming that the bees in this wooden box or not just prisoners but slaves as well. In the last two stanzas Plath wonders if she sets the bees free that they might not be grateful but revengeful towards her. In a way Plath controls the bee’s faith. See comes to terms with herself and tells God that she will release the bees and set them free. In the last line Plath writes “The box is only temporary.” (Plath pg. 604) I feel by using that line to end the poem was a great choice of words because she is saying that even tough the bees are in the confined to a wooden box, when set free the bees can live their lives. The box is temporary for the live that they will live.

---Richard Liptak