Daddy-Sylvia Plath

This poem was very difficult for me to comprehend. I am still not sure if I think that she is referring to her father, Hiltler, or the Nazi events in general. I took the Hitler interpretation and ran with it. While its not 100%, its close.

Lines 1-5
I believe that the speaker could be one of the soldiers under the terrorizing  reign of Hiltler. The "Black Shoe" that the speaker was referring to feeling like a "foot" in, in my opinion, was a metaphor for Hitler. Stepping on the innocent and containing the foot at full disclosure. The speaker "barely daring to breathe or achoo" is scared to step out of line.

Lines 6-10
This section seemed to be relative to the author's father rather than the Hilter interpretation that I was running with. However, I still found enough evidence for the direction that I was going with it. The soldier, not wanting to be the "foot in the shoe of Hitler" anymore, wants out. The "marble-heavy" and "ghastly" statue, for my interpretation was that of the undeserved honor that Hitler was given by his followers. The "statue" being Hitler being held as an important person to those that agreed with his wicked actions.

Lines 11-15
This section was one of the most difficult for me to interpret because I couldn't really find a link between my interpretation and the author's words. I almost thought that this could be the soldier reflecting back on the war years down the road.

Lines 16-20
The Polish Town was overtaken by the Germans, (hence the "German tongue in the Polish town"). Overtaken being "scraped flat by the roller" (tanks, etc.), "wars", referring to war, obviously.

Lines 21-25
There were many involved in Hitler's Army. The soldiers under Hitler's command never quite knew his next moves, but did as they were told.

Lines 26-30
I interpreted this section as the speaker reflecting again. The memories "stuck like a barb wire snare". Every German, mainly those under Hitler's control, were like robots and seemed like versions of their leader. Hearing the German language brings back these memories.

Lines 31-35
The engine being the army. The soldiers, being treated like tools, (for Hilter to use as he pleases) could have felt just as trapped.

Lines 36-40
These lines mainly refer to the speaker reflecting upon their German roots. They are also expressing the irony of the fact that they very well could have Jewish ancestory.

Lines 41-45
The speaker, I believe, is expressing their fear of Hitler's reign and his power. The "neat mustache", I believe, referred to Hitler's iconic facial hair and the "Panzer-man" referred to the more destructive members of Hitler's following, if not referring to Hitler himself.

Lines 46-50
With so much destruction occuring, there seems to be little hope "Black (dark color, signifying horror or dark times) no sky could squeak through." (All the soldiers/Hitler's followers or really anyone involved could see was dark, dreary days.

Lines 51-55
While in this section, the speaker seems to be talking to her father, I looked toward the end of this section. The speaker is calling the "inspiration" of this poem a devil. This could easily be a reflection of their distate for Hitler, depending upon whom the author intended this poem to be about.

Lines 56-60
This section was the hardest in terms or linking it to my interpretation. Therefore, I could not find any viable link. Although, the "back back back to you" part could be the speaker's constant battle between trying to forget and being unable to stop remembering.

Lines 61-65
This section referred to the speaker feeling as though they are the dictator's mini-me, being molded and taught/formed to be like him. As if the army is simply a mirror image of Hitler's ideals.

Lines 66-70
In my opinion, the speaker has finally had enough of "Hitler" and his ideals in this section.

Lines 71-75
They are reflecting back upon the awful that they have done. The "vampire" being Hitler (?), sucked the life from his tired servants.

Lines 76-80
The speaker is rejoicing in the relief of being done with the overbearing "father" (Hitler being referred to as the 'father/daddy'--of the senseless killings that the speaker was involved in.) The speaker is finally through with it.

This interpretation may be a bit of a stretch, but this is what I inferred from it when I read it the first time. Overall it was a very dark, odd poem. Not one of my favorites, but it definitely makes you think.