D

A Work of Artifi(e
- Marge pfe,cy

The bonsai tree

in the attractive pot
could have grown eighty feet tall
on the side of a mountain
till split by lightning.
But a gardener
carefully pruned it.
It is nine inches high.
Every day as he
whittles back the branches
the gardener croons,
It is your nature
to be small and cozy,
domestic and weak;
how lucky, little tree,
to have a pot to grow in.
With living creatures
one must begin very early
to dwarf their growth:
the bound feet,
the crippled brain,
the hair in curlers,
the hands you
love to touch.
 —

' 6 A Work of Artifice

— Marge Piercy

1. ABOUT THE POET ]

Marge Ptercy (1936- ) is known for being a progressive activist
and writer. Most of her works focus on thge ]:Fllgfil; of women {n
amarcha-‘ society and on soclal concerns. She received her
education at University of Michigan and Northwestern University.
Human on the Edge of Time, He, She and It are some of her
prestigious works which won for her the Arthur C. Clarke Award
in 1993. Gone to Soldiers became a New York Times Best Seller.
So far she has written over seventeen volumes of poems, fifteen
novels and one play. besides non-fiction works. Her collection
of poems “The Moon is Always Female' (1980) received much L
critical acclaim. Marge Piercy

2. ABOUT THE POEM

At the literal level, the poem ‘A Work of Artifice’ is about a bonsai tree in a pot, an
attractive decoration piece. The tree is carefully and lovingly pruned to remain nine
inch high. The gardener ensures that it does not grow too much, for in his considered
viewpoint the bonsai tree has to be small, weak and domesticated.
It is with the line ‘the bound feet' that we become aware that the poem is not about
the bonsai tree. At the metaphorical level, the bonsai tree is used as a symbol for women
who are confined to their traditional, predetermined roles in the patriarchal society.
and the gardener is the symbol of Man in such a society. who is determined to ‘dwarf
the growth of women. Man is thus seen to resort to trickery and oppression (‘artifice’)
to clip the wings of women in general.

3. THE POEM IN DETAIL

The poem begins with a reference to a bonsai tree that could have grown ‘eighty
feet' tall, if it were given the opportunity to do so. It would have stood on a mountain
top till it was split by lightning. But it has remained stunted in a pot as a gardener
carefully prunes it to ensure that it remains only nine inches tall. The gardener sings
happily to the bonsai :
It is your nature
to be small and cozy,
domestic and weak;
how lucky, little tree,
to have a pot to grow in.
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 =‘

At this point we realize that the bonsat

tree stands for women oppresseq p,
a patriarchal soclety. The gardener (the husband) seems to tel] the bonsag (u,lyc"“f‘lmn
that she is lucky to be in a home doing domestic chores for she Is small
ang ;"”"&m
the pot protects the bonsai from the ‘lightning strike’, the
home protects the v, - Ay
from all outside troubles. Omay
The poet points out that as with the bonsal tree the gardener
has to
keep it small. The men or society must begin early to “dwarf the growth tart earyy
physical, mental and spiritual - and prepare them for their of Womer, |
predetermined ro)|
hair to look attractive or binding feet to keep them small and weak. The les - ey
| ast two line,
suggest ironically that though men stunt women's growth, they
look to the womap, for
admiration and comfort. How can these women provide nurturing to the
for keeping them down ? Men respongg,

4. LINE-WISE EXPLANATION
Lines 1-5
It is a usual practice to keep the bonsai tree in a pot
in a room as a decoration piece
or as a miniature representation of nature. The bonsai tree symbo
lises stunted growth,
The poet, referring to the bonsai tree, says that it could
grow to eighty feet tall if it were
allowed to grow outside the pot till it is cut down by
lightning. As the poem grows, we
realise that the bonsai tree is an oppressed woman who is not allowed to grow fully
physically, mentally and spiritually.
Lines 6-14
The gardener - who could be the woman's husband or lover — subjects the bonsai
tree (his woman, respresentative of all oppressed women in patriarchal society) to
constant pruning and does not let it to grow more than Jjust nine
inches. The gardener
happily tells the bonsai tree that it is in its nature to be small,
weak and domesticated
Lines 15-19
The man, like the gardener, tells his woman that she is lucky to be in a home doing
domestic chores as she is small and weak. Just as the bonsai
is safe and protected in
a pot, so is she in her home. It is clear that he considers her to be a ‘pet’, a ‘possession
that he keeps protected within the four walls of his home. He is aware of the fact
tha!
her conditioning (pruning) must begin early in life so that she remains the dependent
woman that he so desires. This ‘conditioning’ refers to controlling the way
somebody
grows and behaves. The man ensures that she willingly subjects herself to acceptiné
the role of a domesticated creature, small, weak and subjuga
ted.
Lines 20-24
The poet here mentions how men oppress women and stunt their growth. \\'or'nfl;
are made to curl their hair in order to be seen as attractive or bind their feet t 1\“‘;
them small. Their brains are stunted. They are made to think that this pa_r[JCUlarw- v
to look attractive suits them or this is the only way they can be accepted in socie?

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 .
The last two lines are ironic. The
me; n who stunt the growth of women still want
admiration and comfort from them. How
could this be possible ?
[
| 5. THEME
The main idea projected in this poem through
the metaphorical use of the bonsal
tree is that stunting the growth of women is a clever trick
played by men. The bonsai
tree woul
d have grown ‘eighty feet high' if it had been left alon
e but was pruned and
dwarfed for a particular role. This is what, men do with wome
n. They begin early to
condition women to fit into soclally acceptable roles. They tell them how to
feel protected
within the domestic walls, look attractive and do
domestic chores. They are made to
believe that it is in their nature to be small, weak
and domesticated.
It is, however, ironic that men who stunt women's physic
al, mental and spiritual
growth still look to the women for loving touch, comfort
and admiration.

6. GLOSSARY |
artifice : clever triclz
split : tear/break apart
pruned cut off to make something smaller
whittles : reduces the size of something
croons ¢ sings
cozy : comfortable
dwarf : stunt
bound feet ¢ in some cultures (Chinese, in particular) feet are bound
to keep them small and attractive
‘crippled brain’ : suggestive of stunted mental growth
curlers : akind of roller to make hair curly

7. CRITICAL APPRECIATION
The very title of the poem ‘A Work of Artifice’ is enough to make the readers alert.
The word ‘artifice’, which implies ‘trickery’ or ‘artful trickery’, is a key to unlock the
complexity involved in the poem. As the poem progresses, we realize that the poem is
not about the bonsai tree constantly pruned by the gardener as a decoration piece,
well protected from ‘lightning’ in a beautiful pot. The bonsai tree comes to represent all
women who are oppressed, subjugated cleverly in the patriarchal society. As the plant
is confined to a life in a pot, so is a woman to the four walls of her house to do domestic
duties happily as she is ‘conditioned’ very early to think that it is in her nature to be
small, weak and domesticated. The gardener, a husband, a father or any male, is happy
and proud in stunting the growth of the woman under his charge. He ensures that
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the woman s made to play predetermined role in society willingly and ha, fly. §
prepared for her set role in many ways : her hair are made curly, her feet - She
Just to look attractive to man.
are b Oung,
The last two lines are quite meaningful and ironic. The man who Oppresseg
woman still seeks loving touch from her hands ! the
Thus, Marge Plercy feels upset that women allow themselves to fit into the ro)
determined by patriarchal society without any demur or protest. In most
CaSeSOles
woman remains unaware of the artful trickery played on her to be
a useful plethe
domestic decoration, a mere thing to be possessed by her man. She does not know thm
her physical, mental and spiritual growth is being stunted constantly t
claim to equality and O prevent gy,2
freedom in any way. J
Somewhat akin to an allegory, the poem can be read at both literal and metaphoricy)
levels. Its appeal lies in the skilful use of diction and irony.

8. STYLE
The poem is allegorical in nature. At the literal level, it is about a bonsai tr ee. But at
the metaphorical level, the bonsai tree comes to stand for a subj ugated and
oppresseq
woman (rather all women in patriarachal society).
Each line in the poem of twenty four lines contains a few words, three to six, and
each contributes to building up the underlying meaning of the poem.
The bonsai tree is an apt symbol for the woman whose growth is deliberately
dwarfed. The gardener who prunes the bonsai tree carefully stands for any man
in
male-dominated society.
The use of irony is quite subtle. In the last five lines, it is clear that though
man
resorts to different ways to make his ‘thing' an attractive show-piece, ironically
he still
seeks comfort and admiration from her. He fails to break her in totality. She
may be
his ‘work of artifice’, but she is still her own woman.

COMPETENCY- FOCUSED QUESTIONS

I. Multiple Choice Questions

Read the following questions and select the correct option :

(a) Analysis, Application and Evaluation :
1. The image of the small bonsai tree in an attractive pot is used to show that the
woman is desirable so long as she is
(a) pretty (b) domesticated
(o) delicate (d) all of the above
2. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between the statements b
and (2).
1. The bonsai tree can grow very tall.

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14> Workbook on Treasure Chest - ICSE Poems & Short St ories
 2. Itis carefully pruned to prevent its growth to serve as a decora
tive plece.
(@ 1 1s the cause for 2. (b) 1 1s an example of 2.
(c) 11s independent of 2. (d) 1 1s a contradiction of 2.
3. Which of these statements 1s NOT (ruc ?
(@ The bonsat tree Is an extended metaphor for a woman In patriarchal
soclety.
(b) The growth of a woman Is deliberately stunted in a man-dominate
d soclety.
(0 A woman is brainwashed to be careful only about her looks from the
beginning.
(d) The poet urges all women to revolt against their oppressors.
4. Every day as he
Whittles back the branches
the gardener croons,
Select the word that shows the mood of the gardener, as revealed by the above-
mentioned lines.
(@) sad (b) thwarted
() happy and self-satisfied (d) jealous
5. Which of these attributes are NOT generally associated with women by men in
patriarchal societies ?
1. intelligent 2. mentally strong
3. weak 4. attractive
5. confident 6. capable of taking independent decisions
@ 2,384 (b) 1,2,5and 6
() 3,4.5and 6 (d 1,3,4and 5
6. how lucky, little tree,
to have a pot to grow in.
Which figure of speech is used in these lines ?
(@) simile (b) oxymoron
(o) irony (d) pun
7. What does the word ‘artifice’ in the title of the poem ‘A Work of Artifice’ mean ?
(@) art (b) trickery
(0 intelligence (d) skill
8. Which of these statements is NOT true ?
(@) Women are themselves responsible for their plight in society.
(b) Women are conditioned to willingly accept stereotypical roles.
(0 The gardener represents the stereotypical male.
(d) Women need to protest against their suppression.
(b) Recalling and Understanding:
9. The tone of the speaker in the poem is
(@) condescending (b) amusing
(0) entertaining (d) solemn
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 10. Select the option that best suggests that the poet Is talking about
Women
(@) 1t is your nature/to be small and cozy
(b) the crippled brain/the hair in curlers
(o) the hands you/love to touch
(d) the bonsal tree/in the attractive pot
11. What is the theme of the poem ? Select the correct option :
(@) Men are oppressors.
(b) Social conditioning is used to prevent women from flourishing to the,
potential.
() Women are conditioned to feel happy in being small and weak.
(d) Women must protest against their stereotypical role in society.
12. Which of these figures of speech is extensively used in the poem ?
(@) personification (b) metaphor
(d) simile (d) alliteration
13. The technique of miniaturising of trees aims at
(a) stopping their growth (b) domesticating them (trees)
() making them profitable (d) none of the above
14. How does the gardener feel as he addresses the bonsai tree ?
(a) sad (b) happy
(0) excited (d) happy and proud
15. Why are women's feet bound in some cultures ?
(a) to punish women
(b) to make women slaves
(c) to make women realize their unimportance
(d) to keep them small and look attractive
16. ‘What would have happened to the bonsai tree if it had not been pruned ?
(a) it would have died (b) it would have grown 80 feet tall
(c) it would have looked attractive (d) it would have borne fruit.

| IL. Comprehension Passages

PASSAGE-1
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
The bonsai tree
in the attractive pot
could have grown eighty feet tall
(16 ) —— . Workbook on Treasure Chest - ICSE Poems 8 Short Stors
 on the side of a mountain
till split by lightning.
But a gardener
carefully pruned it.
It is nine inches high.

(3 What kind of tree is a bonsai ? Why s it pruned ? (Understanding)

(i) Where could it have grown fully ? What has stunted its growth ? What
metaphorical implication is involved in its miniaturising ?
(Understanding and Analysis)

(ii) Who does the gardener stand for in the poem ? Why does it not let the ‘bonsai
tree’ grow to its full potential ? (Analysts)

(iv) Why does the gardener want the bonsai to remain small and weak ? What is
its implication in the poem ? (Evaluate)

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 PASSAGE-2

the questions that folloy,

Read the extract glven below and answer
Lveny day as he
es
whittles back the branch
the gardener croons,
1t (s your nature
to he small and coziy,
domestic and weak:
function
() What does the ‘gardener’ represent In the poem ? Which harmfu] ? (}): the
reality regressive and
‘gardener’ referred to In the poem Is In ow 9
(Understanding and Analysj,

form of th
(10 .ln what tone does the gardener speak ? What picture do you
gardener’ In your mind as ‘he’ speaks to the bonsai tree ? (Analysist\

(ilv) What do the last two lines suggest ? (Analysis!

s Workbook on Treasure Chest — ICSE Poems & Shot Stone”

g
 (v» What does the word ‘croons' mean ? What does it imply ? (Analysts)

PASSAGE-3

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
how lucky, little tree,
to have a pot to grow in.
With living creatures
one must begin very early
to dwarf their growth.

() Who is the speaker ? Who is being addressed ? (Understanding)

(i) What does the ‘pot’ mean in the metaphorical context of the poem ? Give its
relevance to the development of women ? (Analysis and Evaluation)

Workbook on Treasure Chest — ICSE Poems & Short Stories -9 e (19)

 (i) Bring out the significance of the last two lines.

() What stercotyplcal role do women play in life ? How are they trickeq 10 perfy,
it? (Analysy

PASSAGE-4
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
the bound feet,
the crippled brain,
the hair in curlers,
the hands you
love to touch.

(0 Do you find any shift of focus in these lines ? What does it convey? (Analysis

» Short S10rE
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(i) Why are women made to look attractive ?
(Understanding)

(iv) The last two lines are ironic. How ?

(Analysts)

(v) What does the poet seem to lament ? What does she expect of women ?

(Understanding and Analysis)

PROJECT ASSIGNMENTS

1. Comment on the title of the poem ‘A Work of Artifice’. Bring out its relevance.
2. How has the poet satirised the conventional beliefs of the patriarchal soclety
in the poem ?
3. In what mand is the noet ? How does she proceed to bring out the olight of
W

About
the Poet

Marge Piercy (March 31,1936 - till present) was born in

Detroit, Michigan.
She is an American progressive activist and writer Piercy
was the first member of her family to attend college,
winning a scholarship to attend the University of Michigan.
Piercy developed a love of books when she came down
with the German measles and rheumatic fever in her mid-
childhood and could do little but read. “It taught me that
there’s a different world there..”
Piercy married to her current husband, Ira Wood, lives
in Wellfleet, MA. Piercy designed their home, where the
couple have been living since the 1970s.
Her work includes Woman on the Edge of Time; He, She
and It, which won the 1993 Arthur C. Clarke Award; and
Gone to Soldiers, a New York Times Best Seller and a
sweeping historical novel set during World War II. Piercy’s
work is rooted in her Jewish heritage, Communist social
and political activism, and feminist ideals.
Why has the poet chosen the metaphor of a bonsai tree?
Bonsai means a loss of growth and freedom. It also implies
life without space to grow.
Throughout “A Work of Artifice”, an extended metaphor of
a Bonsai Tree is used. The Bonsai tree represents a woman.
The poet questions if women were just materials of interior
decoration. Women were expected to remain confined to the
interiors and do the household tasks. They were expected
to understand their limits and remain tightly tied to their
responsibilities or their roots. A bonsai tree’s roots and
branches are pruned and tightly tied so it does not grow to
its real size.