Words : summary

Sylvia Plath‘s (1932 – 1963) poem “Words” is a critical reflection on the power and limitations of language. The poem describes how words can be like a sword that causes wounds and pain deep in the speaker’s heart. But simultaneously, speech is like medicine that can be soothing and healing.

In the first stanza, Plath describes words as “weightless, like breath” but capable of causing pain and harm. She highlights the double-edged nature of language, which can be both beautiful and destructive.

In the second stanza, Plath acknowledges that words have limitations. She compares them to a “moth” that can only “flutter” around a flame, unable to capture its essence truly. It indicates that language can never fully express the depth and complexity of human experience.

In the last stanza, Plath laments that words can also be used to deceive. He suggests that language can create illusions that obscure truth. He concludes that language remains a powerful force that can shape our perception and the world around us despite these limitations.

The poem indicates that words have great power. We have to be very careful with what we say because it can hurt and soothe people. Plath acknowledges both the beauty and danger of words and suggests that they can never fully capture the complexity of human experience.