Blog post #4 topic #2

            Adrienne Rich’s “Diving into the Wreck” is a poem seemingly about a diver as he explores and investigates a ship wreck. Through her use of simple imagery to create the setting of a ship wreck, Rich is able to go further than this initial backdrop to use complex metaphors and symbolism to reflect and criticize her culture. Rich was a political author who expressed her strong beliefs on feminism and civil rights through her poems. In this essay, I will prove that “Diving into the Wreck” is a poem reflecting the struggles of minorities living in the 1960s and 70s. I will do this by, first, describing the cultural movements and personal experiences that inspired Rich. Then, I will analyze “Diving into the Wreck” and how it is a metaphor for the oppression of minorities.

            The 1960s in America was a time of great change and revolution in politics including both the feminist and civil rights movements. The Women’s Movement fought against the traditional, domestic lifestyle that was expected of women. Women were expected to marry, start a family, and take care of the home. She was restricted from many professional jobs in the workplace, only being hired as a secretary or teacher. They were not offered good jobs and were paid drastically less than their male coworkers. The Women’s Movement was an attempt to end workplace inequality. Being restricted in the workplace and at home, women felt as though they had no voice.

            Adrienne Rich was a wife and mother, but was discontent with her home life. She was not fulfilled by the domestic lifestyle; she desired to be heard and became active in the Women’s Movement. After her husband’s suicide, Rich came out as lesbian and has written many influential and progressive feminist poems.

            The 1960s was also defined by the Black Panther Movement, which was a party that attempted to protect African American neighborhoods against police brutality. After the abolishment of slavery, segregation and discrimination of black people continued. They experienced prejudice both in the workplace and on the streets. They were not offered the opportunity for higher education and professional jobs that white people were. They were often physically assaulted based on their race by police officers. Black Panther Party members vowed to protect their black neighborhoods and streets against these racist, violent crimes.

Adrienne Rich sympathized with this movement, because similar to the feminist movement, black people were denied a voice in society. Their stories and history were ignored and disrespected. They were continually discriminated, but continued to rise up and fight for justice and equality.

            In Rich’s poem “Diving into the Wreck,” she describes the inequality in her society through the imagery of a ship wreck. Without deeper analysis, “Diving into the Wreck” is a poem that details the experiences of a scuba diver as he investigates a ship wreck. But the entire poem is a metaphor for the suffering of minorities, such as women and African Americans, as they search for their voice. As the diver is preparing for his descent, the equipment is compared to battle armor, the diver “loaded the camera,” brought a “knife-blade,” and wore the “body-armor of black rubber.” The diver seems to be preparing for a battle or for the dangers to come. The ocean itself represents society that eats away at the ship, “worn by salt and sway into this threadbare.” The wrecked ship is human suffering and is described as a human body “ribs of the disaster.” Rich also describes that during this suffering or ship wreck many people died, saying she is among the “tentative haunters.” She explains that by physically exploring the wreck or suffering, she is one with them. We are all connected by our suffering. But even though we experienced the injustice, “our names do not appear” in the “book of myths.” The minorities opinions and experiences are not told. The women and African American’s point of view were not represented in media and are ignored by the majority. But through writing and poems like “Diving in the Wreck,” Rich suggests that minorities tell their stories and experiences.