Mock Orange

Mock Orange

By Louise Glück

It is not the moon, I tell you.
It is these flowers
lighting the yard.

I hate them.
I hate them as I hate sex,
the man’s mouth
sealing my mouth, the man’s
paralyzing body

and the cry that always escapes,
the low, humiliating
premise of union

In my mind tonight
I hear the question and pursuing answer
fused in one sound
that mounts and mounts and then
is split into the old selves,
the tired antagonisms. Do you see?
We were made fools of.
And the scent of mock orange
drifts through the window.

How can I rest?
How can I be content
when there is still
that odor in the world?

Summary of Mock Orange

• Background and Context: Louise Glück, a celebrated American poet born to Hungarian parents, first published “Mock Orange” in 1975 as part of her collection Mock Orange. The poem is written in free verse and explores the speaker’s complex feelings towards intimacy, especially the oppressive nature of traditional heterosexual expectations.
• Central Idea: The poem does not celebrate romance; it dissects it. Glück begins by rejecting conventional beauty, such as the moon, in favor of the intensely disliked mock orange blossoms. This sets the stage for a brutal examination of sexual connection, portraying it as a space of power imbalance, silencing, and ultimately a feeling of being tricked or “made fools of.”
• Key Themes:
  • Alienation from and distrust of sexual intimacy.
  • The restrictive and damaging effects of traditional gender roles on personal expression and autonomy.
  • The pervasive influence of societal “falsehoods”, represented by the mock orange, that mask deeper truths and perpetuate harmful patterns.

Detailed Analysis and Interpretation

The Opening Lines: Establishing a Rejection

It is not the moon, I tell you.
It is these flowers
lighting the yard.

The poem immediately establishes a defiant tone. The speaker insists on their own perception, it is not the moon illuminating the yard, but these specific disliked flowers. This is not simply about light; it is about control over narrative. The speaker is asserting their voice against a more romantic, expected image (the moon). This opening sets the poem’s trajectory: a rejection of the conventionally beautiful in favor of a raw, uncomfortable truth.

Hate as a Metaphor for Powerlessness

I hate them.
I hate them as I hate sex…

The blunt declaration of “I hate them” is repeated for emphasis, and immediately linked to “sex.” This is not a casual dislike; it is a profound aversion. The equating of the two reveals the underlying cause: the speaker does not inherently dislike flowers, but what they represent. The flowers, like sex in this context, are associated with a lack of agency, a feeling of being overtaken or diminished. The repetition builds emotional intensity and highlights the speaker’s struggle.

Imagery of Confinement and Loss of Voice

The man’s mouth sealing my mouth, the man’s
paralyzing body

This imagery is incredibly visceral and powerful. The “sealing” of the mouth is a direct silencing, a denial of voice and agency. It speaks to the silencing that can occur within relationships, where one partner dominates or controls the other. The “paralyzing body” isn’t simply physical; it suggests a psychological immobility, a feeling of being trapped or unable to move forward. This is not about physical force, but an emotional and psychological constraint. The poet uses concrete imagery to explore abstract feelings of powerlessness.

Internal Conflict: The Question and Its Echo

In my mind tonight
I hear the question and pursuing answer
fused in one sound…

This passage delves into the speaker’s internal turmoil. The “question and pursuing answer” aren’t clearly defined; they’re conflated, inseparable. This suggests a circular pattern of thought, a relentless internal debate. The merging of question and answer implies that the speaker feels trapped in her own anxieties, unable to find clear resolutions. The sound “mounts and mounts” illustrating a growing, almost unbearable, internal pressure.

Mock Orange as Symbol of Deception

And the scent of mock orange
drifts through the window.

The mock orange is a central symbol of the poem. Known for its strong fragrance that resembles orange blossoms, it is a mockery of the real thing, beautiful on the surface, but ultimately false. In this context, it represents the societal expectations surrounding femininity, romance, and sexuality, expectations that can be deceiving and ultimately unsatisfying. The scent “drifting” through the window suggests an inescapable pervasiveness, these false expectations are always present.

Final Plea: The Impossibility of Rest

How can I rest?
How can I be content
when there is still
that odor in the world?

The poem concludes with a rhetorical question, emphasizing the speaker’s state of unrest. The repetition of “How can I…” highlights her desperation. The “odor” of the mock orange is a lingering reminder of the false pretenses and the compromises that haunt her. This is not simply about individual unhappiness; it is a recognition that these societal “falsehoods” permeate the world, making genuine peace and contentment elusive.

Literary Devices Highlighted by the Poem

• Repetition: The repeated “I hate them” and “How can” emphasize the speaker’s emotional state and underscore the poem’s central themes.
• Imagery: The poem is rich with sensory details, light, scent, touch that create a visceral experience for the reader.
• Metaphor and Symbolism: The mock orange stands as a powerful symbol of false beauty and societal deception. Sex, in this context, becomes a metaphor for power imbalance and loss of agency.
• Free Verse Structure: The lack of traditional rhyme or meter mirrors the speaker’s chaotic inner world and contributes to the poem’s raw emotional honesty.

Why This Poem Resonates with Readers

“Mock Orange” is a challenging but rewarding poem that encourages readers to question assumptions about love, gender, and societal expectations. It validates feelings of discomfort or dissatisfaction with conventional norms. By exploring these complex themes in a poetic form, the poem offers a powerful outlet for critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the human experience. It is a poem that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading, prompting continued reflection and discussion.