Aunt Jennifer S Tigers

Both Kamala Das in My Mother at Sixty-six and Adrienne Rich in Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers use their poetry to reflect the emotional and psychological struggles of women in different life situations. Though distinct in context, the poems reveal the internal conflict faced by the women protagonists, highlighting the universal nature of emotional suppression and helplessness.
In My Mother at Sixty-six, the poet observes her aging mother and experiences a wave of fear and sorrow at the sight of her frail figure. The mother, dozing open-mouthed in the car, resembles a corpse—symbolising mortality. Kamala Das is torn between her worldly obligations and the deep, unspoken grief of possibly losing her mother. Her smiling goodbye is an attempt to mask the pain she feels inside. The internal conflict arises from her helplessness in the face of time and death, and the emotional distance that age inevitably brings. In contrast, Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers explores the theme of oppression and lack of agency.
Aunt Jennifer, trapped in a patriarchal marriage, finds her only escape in the tigers she embroiders—symbols of strength and freedom. These fearless creatures contrast sharply with her reality of fear and submission. Her internal conflict is rooted in the restrictions imposed upon her by societal norms and gender roles. Even in death, her hands will remain ‘ringed with ordeals’, symbolising the lasting impact of patriarchal control. Thus, both poems reflect deep-seated emotional turmoil—one due to existential fear and familial bonds, the other due to gender-based oppression. The poets sensitively bring out these struggles, urging readers to recognise and empathise with women’s silent battles.