Introduction: “A Work of Artifice” by Marge Piercy
“A Work of Artifice” by Marge Piercy, first appeared in her 1973 poetry collection To Be of Use, is a powerful feminist allegory that critiques the ways in which society restricts and diminishes women’s potential, much like a gardener prunes a bonsai tree to keep it small. Through the extended metaphor of the tree, Piercy highlights how women are conditioned from an early age to accept limitations placed upon them, with lines such as “It is your nature to be small and cozy, / domestic and weak;” reflecting the societal expectations imposed on them. The poem’s popularity as a textbook piece stems from its accessible language, striking imagery, and deep thematic resonance, making it a compelling entry point for discussions on gender roles, societal conditioning, and autonomy. Its brevity and layered meaning allow for rich literary analysis, reinforcing its place in educational settings.
Text: “A Work of Artifice” by Marge Piercy
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.
Annotations: “A Work of Artifice” by Marge Piercy
| Line | Annotation (Simple English Explanation) |
| The bonsai tree | The poem starts with an image of a bonsai tree, a small tree that has been deliberately kept from growing large. |
| in the attractive pot | The tree is in a beautiful pot, suggesting that it has been placed there for decoration, rather than being allowed to grow naturally. |
| could have grown eighty feet tall | If left in nature, the tree could have grown very tall, symbolizing its full potential. |
| on the side of a mountain | The natural environment of the tree is in the wild, on a mountain, where it could grow freely. |
| till split by lightning. | A natural force like lightning might eventually end its life, but at least it would have lived fully. |
| But a gardener | A gardener, representing societal control, intervenes in the tree’s natural growth. |
| carefully pruned it. | The gardener trims the tree to keep it small, preventing it from growing as it naturally would. |
| It is nine inches high. | Instead of reaching its full height, the tree is kept at only nine inches, symbolizing restriction and limitation. |
| Every day as he | The gardener consistently tends to the tree, reinforcing control over it. |
| whittles back the branches | He continuously trims the branches, preventing any uncontrolled growth. |
| the gardener croons, | The gardener speaks softly, almost like a lullaby, suggesting a deceptive or comforting tone. |
| It is your nature | He tells the tree that staying small is its natural state, though in reality, it has been forced to remain that way. |
| to be small and cozy, | The tree is made to believe that being small and contained is desirable. |
| domestic and weak; | The words suggest traditional gender roles, where women are expected to be passive and dependent. |
| how lucky, little tree, | The gardener makes the tree believe that it is fortunate to be controlled and limited. |
| to have a pot to grow in. | The pot, which confines the tree, is presented as protection, much like societal norms that limit women under the guise of security. |
| With living creatures | The poem shifts focus from the tree to all living beings, including humans. |
| one must begin very early | To control someone completely, the process must start in childhood. |
| to dwarf their growth: | Society intentionally limits the potential of certain groups, keeping them “small” metaphorically. |
| the bound feet, | A reference to the historical practice of foot-binding in China, which physically restricted women’s mobility. |
| the crippled brain, | Education and intellectual development are often restricted, keeping people from reaching their full potential. |
| the hair in curlers, | A symbol of traditional beauty standards that focus on appearance rather than personal growth. |
| the hands you | This line implies relationships and domestic roles, possibly referring to women’s work. |
| love to touch. | Suggests how women are often valued for their physical presence rather than their abilities or ambitions. |
Literary And Poetic Devices: “A Work of Artifice” by Marge Piercy
| Literary Device | Example | Explanation |
| Allusion | “the bound feet” | References the historical practice of foot-binding in China, linking the poem’s message to real-world oppression of women. |
| Ambiguity | “the hands you love to touch” | This line can be interpreted in multiple ways—either as affectionate or as a reference to control over women’s bodies. |
| Anaphora | “the bound feet, / the crippled brain, / the hair in curlers,” | Repetition of “the” at the beginning of each phrase emphasizes different ways society controls women. |
| Caesura | “It is nine inches high.” | A pause in the middle of the sentence isolates the phrase, emphasizing the stark contrast between potential and reality. |
| Connotation | “small and cozy, / domestic and weak” | These words carry societal expectations for women, suggesting their place is in the home, dependent and powerless. |
| Contrast | “could have grown eighty feet tall / It is nine inches high.” | Juxtaposing the tree’s potential with its reality highlights the limitations placed upon it. |
| Diction | “croons” | This word choice suggests a comforting, deceptive tone, making oppression appear as care. |
| End-stopping | “It is nine inches high.” | The use of a period forces a full stop, emphasizing the finality of the tree’s limited growth. |
| Enjambment | “the gardener croons, / It is your nature / to be small and cozy,” | The line breaks create a natural flow, mimicking the way societal messages are subtly ingrained over time. |
| Extended Metaphor | The bonsai tree represents women in society. | Throughout the poem, the tree symbolizes the suppression of women’s potential by societal forces. |
| Hyperbole | “could have grown eighty feet tall” | Exaggeration of the tree’s height emphasizes its lost potential, making the restriction seem even more unjust. |
| Imagery | “the bonsai tree / in the attractive pot” | Vivid visual imagery allows readers to picture the small tree, symbolizing a restricted life. |
| Irony | “how lucky, little tree, / to have a pot to grow in.” | The tree is not lucky; it is trapped. The statement is ironic because it disguises oppression as care. |
| Metaphor | “the crippled brain” | This phrase metaphorically represents how society stifles intellectual growth in women. |
| Paradox | “how lucky, little tree, / to have a pot to grow in.” | It seems contradictory to be “lucky” while being confined, highlighting the manipulation of societal control. |
| Personification | “the gardener croons, / It is your nature” | The gardener is given human qualities, symbolizing societal forces that enforce limitations. |
| Repetition | “the bound feet, / the crippled brain, / the hair in curlers,” | Repetition emphasizes different forms of societal restriction, reinforcing the theme of oppression. |
| Symbolism | “The bonsai tree” | The tree represents women and the way their potential is deliberately restricted by societal norms. |
| Tone | “It is your nature / to be small and cozy,” | The tone is deceptive, mimicking how oppression is often disguised as nurturing guidance. |
Themes: “A Work of Artifice” by Marge Piercy
- Gender Oppression and Societal Expectations: One of the central themes of “A Work of Artifice” is the oppression of women and how society systematically stifles their growth and potential. The bonsai tree serves as a metaphor for women who, like the tree, could have grown “eighty feet tall” but are instead pruned and restricted. The gardener, representing societal forces, controls the tree’s growth, just as patriarchal structures limit women’s independence and ambitions. The lines “It is your nature / to be small and cozy, / domestic and weak;” highlight how women are conditioned to accept confinement under the illusion that it is their natural role. The poem critiques these imposed limitations and challenges the notion that women should be confined to traditional roles.
- The Power of Conditioning and Manipulation: “A Work of Artifice” emphasizes how social conditioning begins at an early age, shaping individuals to accept imposed restrictions without question. The gardener croons reassuring words to the bonsai tree, persuading it that being small and contained is a blessing. This represents how societal norms manipulate individuals, especially women, into believing that their limited opportunities are for their own good. The line “With living creatures / one must begin very early / to dwarf their growth” underscores the idea that control must be established from childhood to be effective. This theme critiques the way institutions—families, schools, and cultural norms—enforce restrictive gender roles through subtle but powerful messages.
- The Illusion of Protection and Care: The gardener in the poem appears to nurture and protect the bonsai tree, but in reality, he is controlling and restricting it. This reflects how patriarchal society often disguises oppression as care, convincing women that their confinement is for their own safety and well-being. The line “how lucky, little tree, / to have a pot to grow in.” is deeply ironic, as the tree is not fortunate—it is trapped. Similarly, women are often told that their limited roles as caregivers and homemakers are for their benefit, when in truth, they are being denied full autonomy. The poem challenges the reader to recognize how systemic oppression is often masked as kindness or guidance.
- Lost Potential and the Tragedy of Confinement: Another significant theme in “A Work of Artifice” is the idea of lost potential. The bonsai tree, which could have grown tall and wild in nature, is instead kept at “nine inches high.” This symbolizes how individuals, particularly women, are denied opportunities to fully develop their abilities and ambitions. The image of the “crippled brain” further reinforces this theme, illustrating how intellectual and creative potential is deliberately stunted by societal expectations. The poem mourns the tragedy of what could have been and serves as a call to recognize and resist such restrictive forces.
Literary Theories and “A Work of Artifice” by Marge Piercy
| Literary Theory | Application to “A Work of Artifice” | References from the Poem |
| Feminist Literary Theory | This theory examines how literature reflects or challenges the oppression of women. The poem critiques patriarchal control by portraying the bonsai tree as a symbol of women whose growth is intentionally restricted by societal norms. The gardener represents patriarchal figures who dictate women’s roles, reinforcing the idea that their place is in the domestic sphere. | “It is your nature / to be small and cozy, / domestic and weak;” — These lines illustrate how women are conditioned to accept limited roles in society. |
| Marxist Literary Theory | Marxist criticism focuses on power structures, class struggles, and how ideology reinforces oppression. The poem can be read as an analysis of how those in power (represented by the gardener) impose limitations on others (the bonsai tree, symbolizing women or the working class). The gardener’s control mirrors how ruling classes maintain dominance by keeping certain groups dependent and powerless. | “With living creatures / one must begin very early / to dwarf their growth:” — This line suggests that oppression is most effective when it begins at an early age, aligning with Marxist ideas of ideological conditioning. |
| Psychoanalytic Literary Theory | This theory explores the unconscious mind, repression, and conditioning. The poem reflects how individuals internalize societal expectations, believing that their limitations are natural. The gardener’s repetitive, soothing words mirror how cultural messages are ingrained into the subconscious, shaping identity and self-worth. | “how lucky, little tree, / to have a pot to grow in.” — The tree (and by extension, women) is made to believe that its confinement is a privilege, illustrating the internalization of societal constraints. |
| Poststructuralist/Deconstructive Literary Theory | This theory challenges fixed meanings and binary oppositions, questioning dominant narratives. The poem can be deconstructed to expose contradictions in the gardener’s words—he claims to nurture the tree, yet he is the one limiting its growth. The phrase “it is your nature” falsely naturalizes imposed restrictions, making oppression seem inevitable. | “the crippled brain, / the hair in curlers, / the hands you love to touch.” — These images show how society constructs artificial identities for women, making oppression appear normal and desirable. |
Critical Questions about “A Work of Artifice” by Marge Piercy
1. How does the metaphor of the bonsai tree reflect the limitations imposed on women in society?
The bonsai tree in “A Work of Artifice” serves as an extended metaphor for the way women are deliberately restricted by societal norms. The tree, which “could have grown eighty feet tall / on the side of a mountain,” represents the full potential of women, which is often stifled through imposed limitations. The gardener, who carefully prunes the tree and keeps it “nine inches high,” symbolizes patriarchal forces that dictate the roles and behaviors of women. The tree’s natural ability to grow is contrasted with the artificial constraints placed upon it, just as women’s ambitions and independence are often curtailed by cultural expectations. This metaphor critiques the way gender roles are constructed to appear natural when, in reality, they are artificially enforced.
2. How does the poem use irony to critique societal control?
Piercy employs irony throughout “A Work of Artifice” to highlight the deceptive nature of oppression. One of the most striking examples is in the lines “how lucky, little tree, / to have a pot to grow in.” The phrase suggests that the tree is fortunate to be confined when, in reality, it has been robbed of its potential. The irony lies in the contrast between the gardener’s words and the reality of the situation—the tree is not lucky; it is trapped. Similarly, women are often told that their assigned roles as caregivers or homemakers are desirable and fulfilling, masking the reality that they are frequently denied freedom and agency. The poem critiques the way oppression is disguised as protection, making it more difficult for those affected to recognize and resist it.
3. What role does language play in reinforcing oppression in the poem?
The language used by the gardener in “A Work of Artifice” reflects how societal control is often enforced through gentle, seemingly caring words. The phrase “It is your nature / to be small and cozy, / domestic and weak;” demonstrates how authority figures convince women (or marginalized groups) that their limited roles are not imposed but rather a natural part of their identity. The use of the word “croons” to describe the gardener’s speech suggests a soothing, almost hypnotic effect, reinforcing the idea that societal conditioning is often subtle and disguised as encouragement. This manipulation through language is a key tool of oppression, as it convinces individuals to accept their constraints without questioning them. By exposing this dynamic, the poem challenges readers to be more critical of the messages that shape their understanding of identity and worth.
4. How does the poem address the long-term impact of societal conditioning?
“A Work of Artifice” suggests that societal control is most effective when it begins at an early age, shaping individuals before they have the opportunity to develop independently. The lines “With living creatures / one must begin very early / to dwarf their growth:” emphasize how oppression is a gradual process, instilled from childhood. The reference to “the bound feet, / the crippled brain, / the hair in curlers,” further illustrates how various cultural practices reinforce limitations on women’s physical and intellectual freedom. By highlighting the long-term consequences of conditioning, the poem underscores the difficulty of breaking free from societal expectations once they have been internalized. This critique serves as a call to recognize and challenge restrictive norms before they become ingrained in future generations.
Literary Works Similar to “A Work of Artifice” by Marge Piercy
- “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou – Like “A Work of Artifice,” this poem challenges societal expectations placed on women, celebrating female confidence and defying restrictive norms.
- “The Applicant” by Sylvia Plath – Plath’s poem, similar to “A Work of Artifice,” critiques the societal roles imposed on women, particularly in marriage, exposing how they are shaped to fit expectations rather than their true potential.
- “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy – Another poem by Piercy that, like “A Work of Artifice,” explores the theme of societal conditioning, highlighting how young girls are pressured to conform to unrealistic beauty standards and gender roles.
- “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou – While more empowering in tone, this poem shares “A Work of Artifice’s” theme of overcoming oppression and resisting attempts to diminish one’s worth.
- “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers” by Adrienne Rich – Similar to “A Work of Artifice,” this poem explores the idea of female oppression and the ways in which women are restricted by societal expectations, represented through the imagery of embroidery and tigers.
Representative Quotations of “A Work of Artifice” by Marge Piercy
| Quotation | Context | Theoretical Perspective |
| “The bonsai tree / in the attractive pot” | Introduces the central metaphor of the poem: a bonsai tree, which symbolizes women whose growth is deliberately stunted. The “attractive pot” suggests how restrictive societal roles are often made to appear desirable. | Feminist Criticism – Examines how women are confined within socially constructed roles under the guise of beauty and order. |
| “could have grown eighty feet tall / on the side of a mountain” | Highlights the lost potential of the tree, reinforcing the idea that women, if left unrestricted, could achieve great things. | Psychoanalytic Theory – Suggests repression of one’s true potential due to external conditioning. |
| “But a gardener / carefully pruned it.” | The gardener represents patriarchal control, actively limiting the tree’s growth. The word “carefully” suggests a deliberate act of suppression disguised as care. | Marxist Criticism – Reflects power structures where those in control dictate the development of others, keeping them dependent and limited. |
| “It is nine inches high.” | A stark contrast between the tree’s potential height and its artificially restricted state, emphasizing imposed limitations. | Structuralism – Highlights binary oppositions (freedom vs. control, potential vs. restriction) that shape societal roles. |
| “Every day as he / whittles back the branches” | Suggests continuous, systematic suppression—just as gender norms are reinforced daily in society. | Feminist Criticism – Shows how gender roles are maintained through persistent social reinforcement. |
| “It is your nature / to be small and cozy, / domestic and weak;” | The gardener’s words reflect how social conditioning convinces individuals that their limitations are inherent rather than imposed. | Deconstruction – Challenges the notion that gender roles are “natural,” exposing their artificiality. |
| “how lucky, little tree, / to have a pot to grow in.” | Uses irony to critique how confinement and oppression are often framed as protection or privilege. | Poststructuralism – Questions dominant narratives that justify oppression under the guise of care. |
| “With living creatures / one must begin very early / to dwarf their growth:” | Emphasizes how societal conditioning begins in childhood, shaping individuals before they can question their roles. | Psychoanalytic Theory – Explores early socialization and how it shapes the unconscious acceptance of limitations. |
| “the bound feet, / the crippled brain, / the hair in curlers,” | References historical and cultural practices that have restricted women’s freedom and autonomy. | Historical Criticism – Connects literary themes to real-world historical oppression of women. |
| “the hands you / love to touch.” | Implies that even acts of love and intimacy are shaped by societal expectations, possibly referencing how women’s bodies are controlled or objectified. | Feminist Criticism – Examines the intersection of gender roles and objectification in personal relationships. |
Suggested Readings: “A Work of Artifice” by Marge Piercy
- Piercy, Marge, and Marge Piercy. A work of artifice. VR Leviathan Publications, Incorporated, 1970.
- Willson, Norma. “Majority Report: The New Women’s Poetry.” The English Journal, vol. 64, no. 3, 1975, pp. 26–28. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/815047. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
- Wesley, Kimberly. “The Ill Effects of the Five Paragraph Theme.” The English Journal, vol. 90, no. 1, 2000, pp. 57–60. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/821732. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
- Sudha, T. Bhaskara. “Marge Piercy’s” A Work of Artifice”: An Extended Metaphor.” Research Journal of English 2.3 (2017): 18-22.
- Wang, Tianran. “Marge Piercy’s “A Work of Artifice” and “Barbie Doll”: How is the will of others imposed on the female bodily self in a patriarchal society?.” 2022 5th International Conference on Humanities Education and Social Sciences (ICHESS 2022). Atlantis Press, 2022.