Margaret Atwood’s poem “The Interior Decorator” Essay

Use of extended metaphors, and symbols to represent internal feelings and states of being are techniques Margaret Atwood utilizes in her poem The interior(a) Decorator. The poet attempts to describe an infixed struggle to hide and veil pain in the neckful emotions through the art of familiar decoration. It describes aspects of personality used to cover these feelings and the overall failure of it do so.When unity examines the title The Interior Decorator bingle may think of a career which involves garnishing ones home in style to touch on for a more than pleasant atmosphere or an atmosphere that is contributing(prenominal) to the personality of the person living within that home. However, upon closer examination, one may realize another meaning. Interior decorator is a term which is more symbolic and describes an artof personality. The first stanza holds clues. ..but under/These ornate surfaces, the hard/ naked as a jaybird wood is still there. Two symbols are introduced here. The ornate surfaces describe a pleasant and cheerful countenance while under this image a hardened spirit lies underneath. Stanza four reaffirms this position.Stanza two develops the poets ability to hold dear her pain. I am industrious and clever Here she states plainly that she is keen at hiding her true feelings. She paints Landscapes on door panels and screens. Here symbolisation is developed further as door panels may represent doors to her midriff or other aspects of her being. In parallel, the screens she paints provide illusion to the counselling she feels. By painting the the doors and screens she hopes others will follow the illusion rather of looking at what she really experiences.The introduction of the lemon tree in stanza three gives one clues well-nigh her pain. Here the symbol of pain is the bitter lemon rind. She states, It is careful to thus restrain ones eden/Indoors. Here she suggests that it is merry to sustain a star of order within so that emotio ns tangle witht get the best of oneself. This is supported by the line, And everything remains in its own spot. I never eat my bitter lemons is her trend of saying that she doesnt process her emotions, therefore she successfully represses them and maintains a sense of control.But she is not successful. The devil introduced in stanza four represents the aspect of the poet that cannot forefend the pain-it sucks the unavoidable bitter lemon rinds. She states that she cannot make Him blend in with her ornate personality no matter what she displays (roses) to off fix up it. In other words, she states that she is sunk in hiding her pain despite her charming personality and displays of laughter. vexation will exist until she goes through the process of grief and recognizes the Devil within. adept may conclude that the interior decorator will have to footstep aside in order for a sense of peace to return.The Interior Decorator by Margaret Atwood is a powerful poem that uses distinct symbols to express her feelings and frustrations about lifes pain. It could be written about the exit of a loved one or friend, a disappointment with way life has turned out, or any tragic incident. She expresses her frustrations effectively about the pressure to cover ones feelings and appear okay instead of processing them through grieving or a period of inner silence and honesty. The poet suggests that no matter how long one holds the emotions at mouth they will prevail and one will have to address them. She is pass on a gift to the readership in a similar circumstance set the interior decorator aside and be authentic, thereby allowing oneself to address the pain and move beyond it.