The lines I chose to analyze from the poem Hunger were: “I’m alive to want more than life/ want it for others starving and unborn/ to name the deprivations boring/ into my will, my affections, into the brains/ of daughters, sisters, lovers caught in the crossfire/ of terrorists of the mind”(Rich 138). The first cluster or repetition I see is in the first line with the words “alive” and “life.” There are also the words “daughters, sisters, lovers” which all refer to women so I know the poem is targeting women or more specifically lesbian women or women of color. There is the repetition of the word “want.” I think using the phrase “terrorists of the mind” to describe any type of oppressor is really powerful because it shows that oppression is an act of terror and it stops people from being true to themselves and doing what they want and expressing their erotic because it is a way of messing with one’s mind and deceiving them to think that there is only few options for one’s own life. I think Rich is convincing women that their power is endless and they can make more for themselves than what they are offered by society. Rich says she “want[s] it for others starving and unborn” which puts the idea more broadly saying that every woman should feel empowered no matter what condition they are in and for women to come. What I am really trying to say here is that I think these lines make the oppression of women more violent through her word choice of “terrorists of the mind” expressing that women have endless power through their erotic but are constantly terrorized to hide it.
4 thoughts on “Hunger”
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Hutchink,
I think this is a great breakdown of the poem. I agree that the words which first stick out to me in repetition is “life” and “alive” and I think when Rich adds in the phrase “terrorists of the mind” it completely contrasts both those words as you said. I feel that Rich was saying we have this amazing life to live and to truly be alive, but our own minds can be suppressed by others. By using “daughters” “sisters” and “lovers” Rich is explaining that all types of girls and women in the world are being oppressed in one way or another. I think you did a great job dissecting this poem!
I really enjoyed these lines. I also noticed the words “alive” and “live” in the beginning of the poem and thought she was trying to emphasize the difference between being alive or existing vs living fully and apologetically. In the other post, “The scream of an illegitimate voice”, the author explains that how women don’t feel human and are relegated to suffering and oppression, specifically queer women of color. Lorde isn’t the exclusive voice for queer women of color, rather she is a messenger that encourages and challenges qwoc to voice their pain. I see the similarity in unifying women to speak their truths.
Bouncing off of one of your main points- that this poem is Rich’s way of protesting the powerlessness that women (specifically queer woc) face everyday, I do think it’s also important to note the fact that this is so important to Rich, that it’s basically the only reason she’s still alive. The lines, “I’m alive to want more than life/ want it for others starving and unborn” turn this poem into some sort of martyr’s declaration of solidarity. Additionally, I’m really glad that you incorporated Audre Lorde’s concept of the power of the Erotic, as well as identifying this lack of power as something violent. When I first read the poem, the “terrorists of the mind” part confused me a bit, but with your analysis I’ve been able to completely understand it now.
Hey hutchink,
Similar to you, I found the line “terrorists of the mind” to be extremely powerful. Though the term may not have been as prevalent in the time period that the poem was written, in our modern culture “terrorist” has evolved into a term that immediately attracts attention. To describe a person or group as a “terrorist of the mind” may also represent the effort of extending awareness on the oppression to a broader audience. Terrorism is a term that applies to everyone, thus I felt it may have been an attempt to draw attention on the severity of the oppression from all people. Furthermore, I interpreted the mention of daughters, sisters, and lovers as a plea to all women. I felt that Rich was trying to convey the necessity of women to not only standup for their own sake but for the sake of all women. Particularly in the lines you mentioned, I feel that Rich is encouraging women to unite against the oppressors and terrorists trying to censor them in all aspects.