This is newness: every little tawdryObstacle glass-wrapped and peculiar,Glinting and clinking in a saint's falsetto. Only youDon't know what to make of the sudden slippiness,The blind, white, awful, inaccessible slant.There's no getting up it by the words you know.No getting up by elephant or wheel or shoe
The excerpt reflects a sense of bewilderment and disorientation in the face of new experiences and challenges. The imagery of "tawdry obstacles" and "glass-wrapped" elements conveys a sense of fragility and allure, suggesting that new situations can be both captivating and daunting. The reference to the "saint's falsetto" adds a layer of irony, highlighting the contrast between beauty and the underlying discomfort of facing the unknown.
Plath emphasizes the limitations of language and traditional means of understanding when confronting sudden changes. The mention of being unable to navigate the "blind, white, awful, inaccessible slant" illustrates the feeling of helplessness in unfamiliar circumstances. Ultimately, she indicates that conventional tools—be they words, animals, or objects—are inadequate for surmounting these challenges, underscoring the struggle to find meaning in the face of confusion.
