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I do not want a plain box, I want a sarcophagus With…

“I do not want a plain box, I want a sarcophagus With tigery stripes, and a face on it Round as the moon, to stare up. I want to be looking at them when they come Picking among the dumb minerals, the roots. I see them already-the pale, star-distance faces. Now they are nothing, they are not even…” quote by Sylvia Plath
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“I do not want a plain box, I want a sarcophagus With tigery stripes, and a face on it Round as the moon, to stare up. I want to be looking at them when they come Picking among the dumb minerals, the roots. I see them already-the pale, star-distance faces. Now they are nothing, they are not even babies. I imagine them without fathers or mothers, like the first gods. They will wonder if I was important.”

Sylvia Plath

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker imagines alien beings, reflecting on insignificance and longing for recognition.

In simple terms: Imagining distant beings reveals personal yearning.

Key Takeaway

Embrace humility and wonder.

Themes

existence loneliness creativity

Mood

melancholic contemplative

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • artistic creation
  • personal reflection
  • science fiction writing

Key Concepts

existentialism imagination identity

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does the “sarcastic sarcophagus” symbolize?
  • How does longing shape your self‑view?
A Different Perspective

The abstract imagery may obscure clear meaning for some readers.

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