rnw+Clownlike

=Plath's original--if at first confusing--comparison between a baby and clown doing a hand stand is a good one. First, a baby is upside down in the womb and so is a clown doing a handstand, so the two things are positioned the same with "feet to the stars." Also, the ruffle around a clown's collar is similar to being "gilled like a fish," which a baby still in the embryonic sack actually is too. These clever clues begin to unlock the mystery of the poem's subject. The image also helps the reader understand the speaker's attitude toward the baby, though. A clown is usually a happy, festive thing that brings delight to the audience. In the same way, this unborn baby will bring delight to its mother. The comparison allows Plath to communicate many complicated emotions and images through efficient, powerful figurative language.=