Literature In English
Elizabeth Jennings – Selected Poems
Summary and analysis – Practice Essay
One Flesh
The poem, “One flesh”, is written by Elizabeth Jennings, an English poetess.
This poem explores two very different stages in human life, that is, a unified
marriage in youth and a separate relationship in old age. Also, the speaker is
either a child or a teenager who is reflecting on the relationship of his or her
parents, in terms of, their physical, mental and emotional separation. This poem
clearly depicts the separateness and relationship between the poetess’ parents.
First and foremost, Elizabeth Jennings published the poem “One flesh” in 1966,
that is, during a decade that saw sweeping changes in western attitudes towards
sexuality. In 1960s, in Britain, the law made it easier to divorce and finally,
decriminalised homosexuality. Advances in contraception (“the pill”) Also
contributed to people taking a more relaxed, less moralistic view towards sexual
behaviour. This was reflected in more explicit depictions of sexuality in
literature, on stage and on screen. Also, like her parents, Jennings was a devout
Catholic. This branch of Christianity perceives marriage as a lifelong
commitment and traditionally does not grant divorces. This would explain why
the couple in the poem do not separate if the poem is read as an
autobiographical one. If the poem is autobiographical, it may explain why
Jennings never married and the reason behind this is because she witnessed the
depressing decline in the physical and emotional bond between her parents
which may have deterred her from getting married.
Metaphorically, this poem is about the poetess’ parents who have now grown
old and moved apart physically. Though the passion that existed between them
has dried up, they still remain bonded to each other. They have become
unemotional and go through life as though they are strangers. They have
nothing to speak to each other. It is not that there is any animosity between them
but their need for each other is gone. Instead of being “one flesh” as the title
ironically suggests, they have become two distinct entities. The passion from
which the poetess was born has, by now, died down. Thereafter, the title of the
poem “one flesh” is a reminder of their religious vows as Adam recognised that
Eve was part of him, that is, they were in fact “one flesh”. The term “one flesh”
means that just as our bodies are one whole entity and cannot be divided into
pieces and still be a whole, so, God intended it to be with the marital
relationship too. However, the title is ironic seeing as the couple portrayed in
Elizabeth Jennings – Selected Poems
Summary and analysis – Practice Essay
One Flesh
The poem, “One flesh”, is written by Elizabeth Jennings, an English poetess.
This poem explores two very different stages in human life, that is, a unified
marriage in youth and a separate relationship in old age. Also, the speaker is
either a child or a teenager who is reflecting on the relationship of his or her
parents, in terms of, their physical, mental and emotional separation. This poem
clearly depicts the separateness and relationship between the poetess’ parents.
First and foremost, Elizabeth Jennings published the poem “One flesh” in 1966,
that is, during a decade that saw sweeping changes in western attitudes towards
sexuality. In 1960s, in Britain, the law made it easier to divorce and finally,
decriminalised homosexuality. Advances in contraception (“the pill”) Also
contributed to people taking a more relaxed, less moralistic view towards sexual
behaviour. This was reflected in more explicit depictions of sexuality in
literature, on stage and on screen. Also, like her parents, Jennings was a devout
Catholic. This branch of Christianity perceives marriage as a lifelong
commitment and traditionally does not grant divorces. This would explain why
the couple in the poem do not separate if the poem is read as an
autobiographical one. If the poem is autobiographical, it may explain why
Jennings never married and the reason behind this is because she witnessed the
depressing decline in the physical and emotional bond between her parents
which may have deterred her from getting married.
Metaphorically, this poem is about the poetess’ parents who have now grown
old and moved apart physically. Though the passion that existed between them
has dried up, they still remain bonded to each other. They have become
unemotional and go through life as though they are strangers. They have
nothing to speak to each other. It is not that there is any animosity between them
but their need for each other is gone. Instead of being “one flesh” as the title
ironically suggests, they have become two distinct entities. The passion from
which the poetess was born has, by now, died down. Thereafter, the title of the
poem “one flesh” is a reminder of their religious vows as Adam recognised that
Eve was part of him, that is, they were in fact “one flesh”. The term “one flesh”
means that just as our bodies are one whole entity and cannot be divided into
pieces and still be a whole, so, God intended it to be with the marital
relationship too. However, the title is ironic seeing as the couple portrayed in
