Aunt Jennifer's Tigers

Aunt Jennifer's Tiger

The poet compares Aunt Jennifer's difficult life with a strong imagery; tigers which are well-known as its strength and its fear. Aunt Jennifer is described as a woman who has an unhappy family, and she has to suffer bullying from her husband. "The massive weight of Uncle's wedding band" (line 7). This shows that she is pressured by her husband. However, she has a desire that she can be stronger and braver to face with her husband, but she cannot do it. The poet compares Aunt Jennifer's desire with a number of tigers which she is sowing on her panel. As you know, tiger is the symbol of strength and fear. "They do not fear the men beneath the tree" (line 3). The poet wants to borrow this natural imagery to show that how Aunt Jennifer wants to be. Even she is old and weak, but her inner feelings are very strong. The poet uses the imagery of tigers to show the readers that Aunt Jennifer wants to be stronger and more confident in her life. In addition, her inner feelings and her desire to be stronger will never disappear in her mind even though she is dead. "Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid" (line 12). This shows that her desire is very strong; however, she cannot reach it when she lives. In general, the poet uses the imagery of the tigers to show Aunt Jennifer desire that she wants to be stronger and more confident in her family life.