“Aunt Jennifer’s tigers” is a feminist poem, which is critical of the male dominated world for terrifying and oppressing
women like aunt Jennifer. The author
“Adrienne Rich” symbolized the spirit of freedom by the tigers. Aunt Jennifer, in this poem is knitting a panel of
Tigers jumping jerkily in the forest .It symbolizes the freedom, which is enjoyed by male folk only in this world. Jennifer wanted to enjoy freedom in her art only, but in the actual world she is oppressed. Women like Aunt Jennifer are never been able to taste the freedom, as they are victims of Male chauvinism.
As the poem grows we find that Aunt Jennifer is suffering from a very dreaded disease, which is named as
“Feeling of slavery”. The poet used the image of “fluttering wool” that highlights the extensive oppression of women. Aunt Jennifer is so oppressed and so timid and terrified than her frail fingers are not able to hold the weight of something even as light as wool. Her struggling with ivory needles suggests the loss of her individual identity under the weight of uncle’s domination and her terrorized state of mind. The expression
“Uncle’s wedding band”
Symbolizes the
suppression of women in matrimony. Wedding band is the symbolic of oppression of a woman by custom and law.
Lastly the author wants to express that Aunt is so victimized that even death can’t make her free. She will remain trapped in the struggle of spirit. But it is quite surprising that why her relatives did not step in to save her?? And the answer may be that since the society is male dominated, it shows no concern for Aunt Jennifer’s sufferings, even her death. As an expression of spirit Aunt’s Art That is “A panel of tiger jumping jerkily” will survive long after her death but the social milieu remains unaffected, arrogant and ferocious.