“Daystar” by Rita Dove: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Daystar” by Rita Dove

“Daystar” by Rita Dove, first published in 1995 as part of her collection “Mother Love”is a beautiful and poignant exploration of motherhood, identity, and the search for self. With qualities of lyrical language, rich imagery, and a strong narrative voice, “Daystar” delves into the complexities of a mother’s role and the speaker’s own journey towards self-discovery. The poem’s use of metaphor, particularly the image of the daystar, adds a layer of depth and symbolism, making it a powerful and relatable read.

Text: “Daystar” by Rita Dove

She wanted a little room for thinking;
but she saw diapers steaming on the line,
a doll slumped behind the door.

So she lugged a chair behind the garage
to sit out the children’s naps.

Sometimes there were things to watch –
the pinched armor of a vanished cricket,
a floating maple leaf. Other days
she stared until she was assured
when she closed her eyes
she’d see only her own vivid blood.

She had an hour, at best, before Liza appeared
pouting from the top of the stairs.
And just what was mother doing
out back with the field mice?  Why,

building a palace. Later
that night when Thomas rolled over and
lurched into her, she would open her eyes
and think of the place that was hers
for an hour – where
she was nothing,
pure nothing, in the middle of the day.

Annotations: “Daystar” by Rita Dove

Text: “Daystar” by Rita Dove	Annotations
She wanted a little room for thinking;	The speaker desires solitude and space for contemplation.
but she saw diapers steaming on the line,	Her domestic responsibilities intrude upon her desire for solitude.
a doll slumped behind the door.	Symbolizes the presence of motherhood and its demands.
So she lugged a chair behind the garage	She takes proactive measures to find a space for herself.
to sit out the children’s naps.	Utilizing the time when her children are asleep.
Sometimes there were things to watch –	She finds solace in observing nature or small details.
the pinched armor of a vanished cricket,	Observing mundane or transient aspects of nature.
a floating maple leaf. Other days	Nature provides her with moments of contemplation and escape.
she stared until she was assured	Reflecting on her own thoughts and existence.
when she closed her eyes	Seeking inner peace and clarity.
she’d see only her own vivid blood.	Her internal struggles and vitality are emphasized.
She had an hour, at best, before Liza appeared	Limited time for her personal space before her daughter interrupts.
pouting from the top of the stairs.	Liza’s demeanor indicates annoyance or dissatisfaction.
And just what was mother doing	Liza is curious about her mother’s activities.
out back with the field mice? Why,	The speaker’s actions seem strange or mysterious to her daughter.
building a palace. Later	The speaker’s imaginative response to her daughter’s inquiry.
that night when Thomas rolled over and	Reference to her husband, Thomas.
lurched into her, she would open her eyes	Interruption of her thoughts by her husband’s presence.
and think of the place that was hers	Returning to her brief moment of solitude.
for an hour – where	Highlighting the significance of her solitary hour.
she was nothing,	Emphasizing her escape from the demands of her role as a mother.
pure nothing, in the middle of the day.	Finding peace and liberation in solitude during daylight hours.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Daystar” by Rita Dove

Literary/Poetic Device	Example from “Daystar”	Explanation
Imagery	“diapers steaming on the line”	Vivid description using sensory details to evoke the scene of domestic life.
Symbolism	“a doll slumped behind the door”	The doll symbolizes the speaker’s maternal duties and the burden of motherhood.
Metaphor	“the pinched armor of a vanished cricket”	Describing the exoskeleton of a cricket as armor, suggesting resilience and fragility.
Alliteration	“Liza appeared pouting”	Repetition of the ‘p’ sound creates a rhythmic effect and emphasizes Liza’s mood.
Simile	“pure nothing, in the middle of the day”	Comparing the speaker’s state of solitude to “pure nothing” using “like” or “as.”
Personification	“a floating maple leaf”	Assigning human qualities to a maple leaf, giving it the ability to float as if by its own will.
Irony	“building a palace”	The speaker’s response to her daughter’s inquiry about her activities is ironic, as she is not literally building a palace but seeking solitude.
Enjambment	“building a palace. Later / that night”	The continuation of a sentence or phrase across line breaks, creating a sense of flow and continuity.
Repetition	“She wanted a little room for thinking”	Repeating the phrase emphasizes the speaker’s desire for solitude and reflection.
Allusion	“Daystar”	Referring to the title of the poem, which alludes to the sun, suggesting both illumination and oppressive heat.
Hyperbole	“she’d see only her own vivid blood”	Exaggerating the intensity of the speaker’s internal focus and awareness.
Onomatopoeia	“diapers steaming”	Words that imitate the sound they represent, enhancing the sensory experience of the scene.
Assonance	“pouting from the top of the stairs”	Repetition of vowel sounds within words, creating a musical effect and drawing attention to Liza’s mood.
Oxymoron	“pinched armor”	Combining contradictory terms (“pinched” and “armor”) to create a striking image of the cricket’s exoskeleton.
Juxtaposition	“So she lugged a chair behind the garage / to sit out the children’s naps.”	Placing the speaker’s desire for solitude alongside her maternal duties highlights the tension between the two.
Metonymy	“building a palace”	Using “palace” to represent the speaker’s mental refuge or inner sanctuary.
Consonance	“diapers steaming on the line”	Repetition of consonant sounds within words, creating a sense of harmony and rhythm.
Anaphora	“Sometimes there were things to watch –”	Repetition of the phrase at the beginning of successive lines, emphasizing the speaker’s moments of observation.
Euphemism	“Thomas rolled over and lurched into her”	Using “rolled over” to describe Thomas’s movement in bed, masking the more intimate action of physical closeness.
Paradox	“she was nothing, pure nothing”	Contradictory statement emphasizing the speaker’s sense of self-obliteration and liberation in solitude.

Themes: “Daystar” by Rita Dove

1. The Quest for Solitude and Personal Space: The poem highlights the mother’s longing for a moment of solitude and personal space, away from the demands of motherhood. The opening lines “She wanted a little room for thinking; / but she saw diapers steaming on the line, / a doll slumped behind the door” (lines 1-3) illustrate the contrast between her desire for quiet contemplation and the chaotic reality of her domestic life. The speaker’s actions, like lugging a chair behind the garage, demonstrate her determination to carve out a space for herself, no matter how small.
2. Motherhood and its Demands: The poem portrays the exhausting and all-consuming nature of motherhood, where the speaker’s time and energy are constantly devoted to her children. The lines “She had an hour, at best, before Liza appeared / pouting from the top of the stairs” (lines 9-10) emphasize the limited window of time the mother has to herself before her child’s needs take priority again. The poem also touches on the societal expectations placed on mothers, as seen in the question “And just what was mother doing / out back with the field mice?” (lines 11-12), implying that a mother’s actions are always subject to scrutiny.
3. Escapism and the Desire for Freedom: The speaker’s actions in the poem reveal a desire to escape the confines of her domestic life and tap into a sense of freedom. By sitting behind the garage, she creates a temporary escape from her responsibilities, allowing herself to “watch” and “stare” (lines 5 and 7) at the world around her. The image of building a “palace” (line 14) suggests a longing for a grander, more expansive existence beyond the limitations of her current life.
4. Identity and Self-Discovery: The poem explores the speaker’s search for self and her struggle to maintain a sense of identity outside of her role as a mother. The lines “where / she was nothing, / pure nothing, in the middle of the day” (lines 17-19) suggest a desire to shed the burdens and expectations of motherhood and exist in a state of simplicity and freedom. The speaker’s hour of solitude becomes a moment of self-discovery, where she can reconnect with her own thoughts and desires, unencumbered by the demands of others.

Literary Theories and Interpretations of “Daystar” by Rita Dove

Literary Theory	Interpretation	Example from “Daystar”
Feminist Criticism	Examining the poem through the lens of feminist theory reveals the struggles of women in balancing domestic responsibilities with personal aspirations. The speaker’s desire for solitude reflects the limitations imposed by traditional gender roles, where women are primarily seen as caregivers and homemakers.	The depiction of the speaker finding a secluded spot behind the garage to escape the demands of motherhood highlights the challenges faced by women in finding time for personal reflection and self-care amidst their familial duties.
Psychoanalytic Criticism	Psychoanalytic theory can interpret the poem as an exploration of the speaker’s subconscious desires and conflicts. The longing for solitude and the imagery of “building a palace” may symbolize the speaker’s need for autonomy and self-actualization outside of her roles as a wife and mother.	The speaker’s inner turmoil and desire for escape are evident in her vivid imagination of a place where she is “nothing, pure nothing,” suggesting a subconscious desire for freedom from societal expectations and domestic constraints.
Ecocriticism	Ecocriticism focuses on the relationship between literature and the environment, interpreting the natural imagery in the poem as symbolic of humanity’s connection to the natural world. The speaker’s moments of contemplation amidst nature reflect a desire for harmony and a respite from the pressures of urban life.	The speaker’s observations of nature, such as the “pinched armor of a vanished cricket” and the “floating maple leaf,” highlight the significance of the natural world in providing solace and inspiration, suggesting a longing for a deeper connection to the environment.

Critical Questions about “Daystar” by Rita Dove

• How does the poem “Daystar” challenge traditional notions of motherhood and domesticity, and what implications does this have for our understanding of gender roles and societal expectations?
• The poem subverts the idealized image of motherhood by portraying a mother who longs for solitude and freedom, rather than embracing her role as a caregiver. The lines “She wanted a little room for thinking; / but she saw diapers steaming on the line, / a doll slumped behind the door” (lines 1-3) highlight the tension between the mother’s desires and her responsibilities, suggesting that motherhood is not always a fulfilling or empowering experience.
• In what ways does the poem use the natural world to explore the speaker’s inner life and emotional state, and what symbolic significance do the images of nature hold in the poem?
• The poem employs natural imagery, such as the “pinched armor of a vanished cricket” and the “floating maple leaf” (lines 6 and 8), to convey the speaker’s feelings of confinement and longing. These images also symbolize the speaker’s desire for freedom and her sense of disconnection from the natural world, highlighting the tension between her inner life and her external circumstances.
• How does the poem’s use of language and form contribute to its exploration of identity, selfhood, and the search for autonomy, and what role do the poem’s structural divisions and line breaks play in conveying the speaker’s emotional journey?
• The poem’s use of short, fragmented sentences and stanzas creates a sense of disjointedness and fragmentation, mirroring the speaker’s feelings of disconnection and isolation. The line breaks and structural divisions also emphasize the speaker’s moments of introspection and self-reflection, such as the lines “where / she was nothing, / pure nothing, in the middle of the day” (lines 17-19), which highlight her desire for self-annihilation and rebirth.

Literary Works Similar to “Daystar” by Rita Dove

1. “The Mother” by Gwendolyn Brooks: This poem explores the complex emotions surrounding motherhood, including the sacrifices and struggles mothers face.
2. “The Bean Eaters” by Gwendolyn Brooks: While not specifically about motherhood, this poem delves into the quiet, everyday lives of an elderly couple, reflecting on themes of solitude and resilience.
3. “To My Daughter Leaving Home” by Linda Pastan: This poem captures the bittersweet moment of a mother watching her daughter grow up and leave home, reflecting on the passage of time and the complexities of mother-daughter relationships.
4. “Birches” by Robert Frost: Although not directly about motherhood, this poem reflects on the desire for escape and renewal, themes that resonate with the speaker’s yearning for solitude in “Daystar.”
5. “The Lanyard” by Billy Collins: This poem humorously explores the relationship between a mother and her child, reflecting on the ways in which love and gratitude are expressed and received.

Suggested Readings: “Daystar” by Rita Dove

• Georgoudaki, Ekaterini. “Rita Dove: Crossing Boundaries.” Callaloo 14.2 (1991): 419-433.
• Righelato, Pat. Understanding Rita Dove. Univ of South Carolina Press, 2006.
• Wright, LaVonna D. “Breaking Black Boundaries: The Poetry of Rita Dove.” (2020).
• Richards, Page. “Rita Dove and Backyard Updates.” The Backyard of the US Mansion (2011).
• McDowell, Robert. “The Assembling Vision of Rita Dove.” Writers and Their Craft: Short Stories & Essays on the Narrative (1991): 294.

Representative Quotations from “Daystar” by Rita Dove

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“She wanted a little room for thinking;”	The speaker desires solitude and space for introspection, but is surrounded by domestic responsibilities.	Feminist Theory: Highlights the constraints on women’s autonomy and agency in domestic spaces.
“a doll slumped behind the door.”	The doll represents the speaker’s lost identity and creativity, relegated to the background.	Psychoanalytic Theory: Symbolizes the repression of the speaker’s desires and creative potential.
“She had an hour, at best, before Liza appeared”	The speaker has limited time for herself before her child’s needs take priority.	Critical Race Theory: Illustrates the oppressive nature of societal expectations on mothers, particularly women of color.
“building a palace.”	The speaker creates a mental escape, a “palace” of freedom and autonomy.	Postcolonial Theory: Represents the speaker’s resistance to oppressive structures and her desire for self-determination.
“where she was nothing, pure nothing, in the middle of the day.”	The speaker finds freedom in anonymity and self-annihilation.	Existentialist Theory: Highlights the speaker’s search for authenticity and freedom in a seemingly meaningless world.