The Longing of Confidence in “The Woman I Am In My Dreams” 92% of teen girls would like to change something about the way they look due to societal pressures (Dove campaign). Having self confidence is clearly something many woman struggle with, but Margret Tynes had an exceptionally more difficult time finding self love. At the age of 4 she contracted polio, the disease left her paralyzed from the hip down on her right leg and both feet deformed. Her work would occasionally reflect her struggle, and the struggle of most women, to accept their flaws. Maxine Tynes’ “The Woman I Am In My Dreams” uses imagery, juxtaposition, and personification to portray the confidence and steadfastness Tynes aspires to have in spite of her disability. “The
…show more content…
Though Tynes does not outwardly declare her disability in the poem, she does give the reader contrasting descriptions of both herself, and her dream self which allude to her impairment. She applies the juxtaposition in seemingly mundane activities that able bodied people take for granted, such as walking, describing her ideal as “[seeing] the world as she walks”, where as Tynes herself “[walks] with eyes on every step / eyes ever and always on the ground”. The author wishes she did not have to walk with her head down, looking meek and shy, but she must take caution with every step, instead of being able to confidently be able to look others in the eyes and appreciate her surroundings. Even when sitting Tynes feels her ideal version would be superior, as “[she] lifts one leg effortlessly over the other / crosses them / high up on / the hip / the thigh / not just at the ankle like I do”. Tynes, unable to do this as one leg is paralyzed, aspires she could convey the strength and confidence that is displayed when a woman is sitting with crossed legs, as opposed to the submissive, traditional body language that is displayed by a crossing of the ankles. The juxtaposition Tynes creates allows the reader to relate to her difficulties, but Tynes’ personification of legs truly lets the reader understand her
Though Tynes does not outwardly declare her disability in the poem, she does give the reader contrasting descriptions of both herself, and her dream self which allude to her impairment. She applies the juxtaposition in seemingly mundane activities that able bodied people take for granted, such as walking, describing her ideal as “[seeing] the world as she walks”, where as Tynes herself “[walks] with eyes on every step / eyes ever and always on the ground”. The author wishes she did not have to walk with her head down, looking meek and shy, but she must take caution with every step, instead of being able to confidently be able to look others in the eyes and appreciate her surroundings. Even when sitting Tynes feels her ideal version would be superior, as “[she] lifts one leg effortlessly over the other / crosses them / high up on / the hip / the thigh / not just at the ankle like I do”. Tynes, unable to do this as one leg is paralyzed, aspires she could convey the strength and confidence that is displayed when a woman is sitting with crossed legs, as opposed to the submissive, traditional body language that is displayed by a crossing of the ankles. The juxtaposition Tynes creates allows the reader to relate to her difficulties, but Tynes’ personification of legs truly lets the reader understand her