Introduction to the Poem
The Applicant Summary By Sylvia Plath “The Applicant” by Sylvia Plath, written in 1962, is a darkly satirical poem in which the speaker, assumed to be a representative of patriarchal society, conducts an impersonal job interview with a female applicant. However, the “job” in question is not a career opportunity but rather a metaphor for the traditional roles of wife and mother that society demands of women. In the poem, the applicant is scrutinized and evaluated for her physical and emotional fitness to assume these roles, reducing her identity to mere functions and attributes that fit social expectations.
The poem is an excellent example of Plath’s literary style, which often blends existential themes with personal trauma, especially in relation to gender, identity, and societal constraints. Through sharp imagery, irony, and a detached tone, “The Applicant” critiques the objectification of women and the dehumanizing effects of rigid gender roles.
Summary of the Poem
The poem is written as a dramatic monologue, where the speaker—likely an interviewer or a representative of society—conducts an interrogation of an unnamed female applicant. The “job” the applicant is being considered for is never explicitly named, but it becomes clear that it refers to the role of a wife, a mother, and the societal expectations surrounding women in the mid-20th century.
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Stanza 1: The Interview Begins
The poem opens with the interviewer asking the applicant if she is “ready” for the job, which is described as a position that will require her to serve various functions, particularly in relation to others. This “job” asks for physical and emotional labor, as suggested by the lines “Your body / Is an old body” and “heat.” The very language in which the job is framed highlights how women’s bodies are seen not as autonomous entities but as instruments for service.
The interviewer’s tone is clinical and business-like, but the nature of the “job” she is being asked about is deeply personal—requiring her to fulfill roles that define her existence in the eyes of society, such as being a mother, wife, and caretaker. This job interview becomes a metaphor for how women are evaluated solely on their suitability for traditional roles, not on their individuality or their potential.
Stanza 2: The Applicant’s Physical Appearance
As the interview continues, the speaker turns the focus to the applicant’s physical appearance, which is seen as one of the most important assets she can offer in this societal “job.” The interviewer asks her to explain her “figures” and whether she has the necessary attributes, such as a certain appearance or emotional readiness to fulfill her role.
The focus here on appearance and physicality reveals a disturbing truth: for women in this societal framework, physical beauty and fertility are paramount. The female body, rather than being seen as a source of autonomy or individuality, is reduced to a set of attributes that are evaluated for their ability to fulfill prescribed roles, be they sexual, domestic, or maternal.
The application process becomes more absurd as the interviewer continues to list the requirements for the job: physical beauty, obedience, and the ability to endure the role of wife and mother without question. Here, Plath’s sharp critique of how women are objectified becomes clear—society evaluates them solely for how well they perform these roles.
Stanza 3: The Need for a Housewife Persona
In the third stanza, the poem delves deeper into the expectation of women as “housewives”—not as autonomous individuals with their own careers or aspirations, but as women whose worth is based entirely on their capacity for domestic labor. The interview now asks questions about how the applicant will handle marriage, children, and home life. The “job” appears to demand a woman who has no needs of her own but who instead fulfills the needs of her family and society.The Applicant Summary By Sylvia PlathThe Applicant Summary By Sylvia Plath
The speaker is less concerned with the woman’s inner world or desires and more interested in whether she can present herself as the ideal wife, mother, and caretaker—her function being to serve others, both emotionally and physically. This reduction of the female identity to the role of caretaker is a criticism of how women were expected to sacrifice their individuality for the sake of others.The Applicant Summary By Sylvia Plath
The use of the “father” and “children” in this context can be seen as symbols of the ideal family structure, a vision that demands the woman to exist as an extension of the men and children she serves. The focus is entirely on what she can give, not what she can be.The Applicant Summary By Sylvia Plath
Stanza 4: Further Dehumanization
As the interview progresses, the applicant is further dehumanized. The speaker tells her that, like a product on a market, she must be ready to “offer” herself, her body, her emotions, and her life. The repetitive references to women as “products” or “objects” to be molded or shaped into acceptable forms expose how society regards women as means to an end—whether that end is physical gratification or the fulfillment of domestic duties.
The absurdity of the application process becomes evident in the questioning, where the applicant is essentially asked to erase any identity or autonomy she might have in favor of a strictly prescribed role. Women, as Plath suggests, were not seen as individuals capable of shaping their futures, but rather as empty vessels to be filled with whatever expectations society demanded.
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The question “What’s your price for this job?” underscores the commodification of women and the notion that they are often reduced to bargaining chips in the patriarchal system. Women are expected to accept a price for conforming to traditional gender roles, but this price is the loss of individuality, self-determination, and autonomy.
Stanza 5: Rejection and Conclusion
In the final stanza, the poem closes with a rejection, revealing that the applicant, who has answered all questions in the hope of being accepted, may not be suitable for the job. She is told that she might not be “ready” for it or that she hasn’t proven herself worthy. This rejection is not based on the applicant’s individual worth but on the very societal standards that alienate and dehumanize women.
The end of the poem, like much of Plath’s work, highlights the hopelessness and exclusion that women often face in their struggles to meet societal expectations. In essence, the poem suggests that no woman, no matter how perfectly she fits into these roles, can ever truly fulfill the demands of an inherently patriarchal and dehumanizing system.
Thematic Analysis of “The Applicant”
- Objectification of Women:
At the heart of “The Applicant” is the theme of objectification. Through the metaphor of the job interview, Plath exposes how women are reduced to their physical attributes and their ability to serve the needs of others. The poem critiques how women’s worth is determined by their ability to conform to traditional, patriarchal roles—primarily those of wife, mother, and caretaker. In this society, women are not individuals but are evaluated based on how well they can perform these roles.The Applicant Summary By Sylvia Plath - Patriarchy and Gender Roles:
The poem serves as a critique of patriarchy and the restrictive gender roles it imposes. The societal norms in the poem demand that women fit into preordained roles—whether they want to or not. The metaphor of the “job interview” highlights how these roles are imposed externally, rather than allowing women the freedom to define themselves. - The Dehumanization of Women:
The dehumanizing nature of societal expectations is a central theme of the poem. The woman is treated not as an individual but as a tool or object—her body, mind, and emotions all evaluated based on their ability to fulfill specific societal functions. This mirrors the way women were often seen in the 1950s and 1960s—valued primarily for their utility in the domestic sphere and their attractiveness.The Applicant Summary By Sylvia Plath - Self-Identity and Alienation:
In the poem, the applicant is alienated from her own identity. She is reduced to a list of functions, unable to express her own desires or sense of self. The loss of self-identity is a recurring theme in Plath’s work, and “The Applicant” demonstrates how societal expectations can strip women of their individuality and agency. - Marriage and Domesticity:
Marriage and domestic life are presented as a “job” that requires constant sacrifice, compromise, and conformity. Women are expected to adhere to the role of wife and mother without question or deviation. The poem critiques the myth of the perfect housewife, suggesting that these expectations force women into rigid roles that leave little room for personal growth or fulfillment.
The Applicant Summary By Sylvia Plath
Symbolism in “The Applicant”
- The Job Interview:
The job interview is a central symbol in the poem, representing the way in which women are often reduced to roles that serve the needs of others. The “job” in question—wife, mother, homemaker—becomes a metaphor for the societal roles that women are expected to fill, regardless of their individual desires or aspirations.The Applicant Summary By Sylvia Plath - The Applicant:
The “applicant” symbolizes the woman who is being evaluated and judged based on her ability to conform to traditional roles. She represents all women who face the pressure to fit into preordained roles rather than live as individuals with unique identities and needs. - The Body:
The repeated references to the applicant’s body symbolize how women’s physicality is often the most important aspect of their identity in patriarchal societies. The body becomes an instrument for domestic labor, physical attraction, and the fulfillment of societal roles, rather than being a source of personal autonomy.Conclusion
Sylvia Plath’s “The Applicant” remains one of her most potent feminist critiques, addressing the dehumanizing effects of societal expectations placed on women. Through the lens of a job interview, Plath exposes how women are objectified and reduced to their ability to fulfill the roles of wife, mother, and caretaker. The poem’s sharp tone and dehumanizing imagery serve as a powerful commentary on the restrictive and patriarchal systems that shaped women’s lives in the 20th century.
This 4000-word analysis of “The Applicant” provides insight into its themes, symbolism, and Plath’s critique of gender roles. The poem not only reflects her personal struggles with identity and societal expectations but also acts as a timeless commentary on the ways women continue to be evaluated and restricted by narrow societal norms.
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(FAQ)
1. What is the main message of “The Applicant”?
The main message of “The Applicant” is a critique of the objectification and commodification of women in society. Plath exposes how women are evaluated based on their ability to conform to societal expectations, primarily in the roles of wife and mother, rather than being valued for their individuality or autonomy.
2. How does Plath criticize gender roles in the poem?
Plath criticizes gender roles by illustrating how women are expected to conform to traditional, patriarchal ideals—primarily in the roles of wife, mother, and homemaker. The poem’s format, which mimics a job interview, highlights how these roles are externally imposed, reducing women to objects evaluated solely for their ability to fulfill these predefined functions.The Applicant Summary By Sylvia Plath
3. What does the job interview symbolize in the poem?
The job interview symbolizes the societal pressure placed on women to conform to traditional roles. It represents how women are evaluated for their physical appearance, domestic skills, and suitability as wives and mothers, rather than being recognized for their individual talents or identities.
4. What role does the applicant’s body play in the poem?
The applicant’s body in the poem symbolizes how women’s physicality is often seen as their most important attribute in a patriarchal society. Women’s bodies are commodified and reduced to tools for fulfilling societal expectations, whether in marriage, motherhood, or domestic labor.
5. How does “The Applicant” reflect Sylvia Plath’s personal struggles?
“The Applicant” reflects Plath’s own struggles with the societal expectations placed on women during her time. Like many of her poems, it critiques the way women were limited by their gender roles and forced to sacrifice their individuality for the sake of conforming to societal standards of femininity, marriage, and motherhood.
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