You Fit Into Me (Margaret Atwood): One moment it's like a love story, then tragic the next
Margaret Atwood is an exceptional writer and poet. She writes poems that are impossible to group with the feminine and flowery realm for at first look, like the poem You Fit Into Me, it looks like one of those cheesy, love poems but then you move to the next half of it and it turns somehow dark and horrifying. Atwood writes poetry with a theme of rape, murder, mayhem and sex, determined to defy the usual image of women embroidering flowers and butterflies during her time.
The first two lines of the poem can be interpreted as lovely, appealing and one way, sexual. For the terms "fit' and "hook and eye" are associated to tightness and security which is ideal for any kind of relationship, in this case, a romantic one.
Moving on to the rest of the poem, it may seem redundant to some for the terms "hook" and "eye" are used again but looking closely, they are used in a very different way. Wherein during the first time around, they are used in a way to mirror stability and happiness, the second time they are used it reflects a very gory and disturbing image.
Looking at the poetry as a whole, we can very easily deduce that the poem is about a romantic relationship but it can also be deduced that there is violence involved in the relationship. Most immediately assume that the "me" in the poem is a she, telling this certain "you" that they fit together, perfectly, then moves on to say that they fit together, like a fish hook in an open eye.
A very disturbing image. I would put up a photo, but I just can't handle to look at it. The message behind the next line is that, this "me" is very aware about the violence she is in, she sees everything with her open eye, ever since she is hooked by this "you" into a relationship which seemed to be sweet and promising at first, reeling her in his into his trap where she can't easily escape.
This simple four-lined poem is the story of many women, maybe even men. Trapped in an abusive relationship they can't seem to escape from, because of fear, the lack of trust of the system, who knows why else.
I am captured by this poem because it's fascinating how sixteen words can tell a tragic story. Feel free to share your own thoughts as well.