The Phenomenon of Natural Beauty: Maya Angelous Phenomenal Woman - Essay Example

Your Number 12 April 2007 The Phenomenon of Natural Beauty: Maya Angelou’s “Phenomenal Woman” The poem “Phenomenal Woman,” by Maya Angelou is a powerful statement about the possibilities inherent in being a woman with faith in herself. Angelou, one of the foremost living poets today, is known for her work with the themes of women’s issues and the perspectives of those whose points of view are often silenced by mainstream society. In her poetry, as well as her autobiographical books, the overriding idea is that of the enduring courage of the human spirit and it ability to rise up over adversity. In the collection, And Still I Rise, we see these themes over and over again, beginning with the book’s title. It does not matter how the world seeks to belittle or beat down the outsider; this person still overcomes the weight of the world and finds spiritual success. These poems illustrate the triumph of the marginalized individual in a world that would prefer for outsiders to remain quiet. Angelou will not remain quiet, and will not be shunted to the side because she fails to fulfill some preconceived notions about who she should be as a woman. In “Phenomenal Woman,” Maya Angelou shows that beauty is in the heart and mind of the possessor, and that being phenomenal is a function of inner wisdom. This poem is divided into four parts, with each stanza capped by the reaffirmation of the poem’s persona’s remarkable nature: “Im a woman/Phenomenally./Phenomenal woman,/Thats me.” The first stanza discusses her relation to other women, the second introduces her dealings with men in groups, the third stanza highlights her relations with male admirers as individuals, and the final stanza expresses her relationship to the world, expressed through the use of the second person, as she addresses the reader as “you.” In every case, viewers know that there is something quite special about the phenomenal woman, but, given their limited worldview as dictated by current ideals of womanhood, they cannot understand what it is. Therefore, Angelou uses the chorus, repeating the words “phenomenon” and “woman,” to establish that it is actually the natural expression of the feminine principle that becomes remarkable, especially because it is so rarely expressed as she expresses it. This may not be immediately apparent to the observer, who questions its cause (one meaning of the word “phenomenon”), but its veracity is nevertheless verifiable through many examples provided in each stanza. The antecedent scenario of this poem can be understood as the experience of Maya Angelou and other women who do not fit into the narrow confines of conventional beauty, but have learned to love themselves and express true beauty despite the opinions of others. The poem’s agency describes a strong woman, secure, confident, and desirable, despite her failure to conform. In fact, she succeeds due to her non-conformity, finding power in her differences and maintaining an upbeat attitude, which is demonstrated not only in the choice of words, but in the quirky, whimsical rhyme scheme and changing meter that unfurls like a popular song. The speaker is clearly a playful person, having fun with her phenomenal presence as well as the poem that reports on her method. However, the repetition of the “phenomenal woman” chorus as well as the four descriptions beginning with the words “It’s in the,” demonstrates the truth of her reasoning, which stands up to repeated scrutiny. Angelou establishes her theme first with the poem’s title, but then in the poem’s first line: “Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.” From this line we are to understand that there are two ways of looking at beauty. The poem’s speaker clearly is beautiful; we can see this in later lines such as, “Its the fire in my eyes,/And the flash of my teeth,/The swing in my waist,/And the joy in my feet.” However, she does not fit into the conventional, commercialized Western ideal of beauty. She’s “not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size.” In other words, she does not look like a Barbie doll. Rather, she looks like a real woman. The fashion model to which she refers represents a false and generally unobtainable kind of prettiness: the blond hair that usually comes from a peroxide bottle, the button-nose that is so often the result of rhinoplasty. These qualities, along with the size zero waist and other elements of “cute” and “pretty” as presented by fashion magazines, are more common and more suited to small children than mature adults. To some viewers, they exclude huge swaths of the population from being seen as beautiful, and they are surprised at the phenomenal woman’s success, and unsure how to categorize her. Clearly, the picture of beauty as presented by the media is not the only kind of beauty there is. However, from the poem we can understand that the persona imparting the poem moves in a world that suggests otherwise. Therefore, she sets herself apart from the pretty women who can’t understand how a woman who does not fit neatly into their standard of beauty can exude the aura of desire that she possesses. These classically good-looking women, “think I’m telling lies,” because they believe the accepted lies, that women are only beautiful if they look and act according to prescription, and that they are not lovable if they do not look a certain way. To women who work hard to fit into the mold, it is amazing that a woman could be so phenomenal simply by being herself. Her “secret” is that she does not torture herself to squeeze into an impossible ideal. Rather than suffer to achieve a particular waist-size, she delights in “the span of my hips,” reclaiming the power inherent in a woman’s body. She is beautiful because she is not afraid of herself, and refuses to hate her body, as is the current cultural standard for women of all sizes. This current ideal of feminine beauty robs women of the power of their sexuality. Rather than accepting the natural curves of a woman, popular images suggest that the perfect woman is, in fact, more like an adolescent boy: straight, flat, hairless, and wiry. But Angelou’s phenomenal woman kindles her own beauty through expansiveness. Not only are her hips wide, but her stride is also. She is not to be confined, and she is not ashamed to take up as much space as she needs. She says, “my head’s not bowed,” as some women are taught to behave when they are told they are ugly. Instead, she “walk[s] into a room/Just as cool as you please,” her head held high as she willingly fills the room. This confidence magnifies her natural beauty and acts as a magnet to people who never even realized that a woman could create her own kind of phenomenon. By simply believing in herself, she magnifies her own appeal, and by believing that she is cool, she becomes cooler. The sexual power of this strong woman is out in the open, not because the speaker verbally broadcasts it or dresses provocatively, but because she lets her natural beauty shine through, allowing other to respond naturally to her presence. The cool way she enters the room causes men to pause and take notice, “And to a man,/The fellows stand or/Fall down on their knees,” because they are overwhelmed by the depth broadcast by her aura. There is so much power in the metaphor of the men swarming around her like, “a hive of honeybees,” suggesting that she is the queen, larger than others, and they feel a natural inclination to serve her. Her sexuality is natural and unaugmented, powerful as a pheromone that summons men through a call deeper than external appearance, and there is nothing at all shameful or scandalous about its expression. In the same vein, she exudes a kind of sweetness that is both palpable and still unbelievable. To some, the draw is invisible, but only because it manifests in ways that seem unremarkable or insubstantial: “the fire in my eyes,/And the flash of my teeth,” elements that are fleeting and cannot be captured. These small demonstrations of her own joie de vivre create an irresistible pull, and others wish to understand for themselves from where this power emanates. The pretty women in the first stanza seek to emulate it, while the men in the second stanza seek to bask in it. In the third stanza, the same men who are drawn inexorably to her, question “What they see in me.” That is the nature of a phenomenon. It can be perceived and experienced without being understood. This is also its power, since those who are attracted by her glow try to understand what it is that draws them. Angelou can illustrate this with every line describing the separate phenomenal physical elements of the woman in question, but even the power of deduction does not allow the men in question to put all these disparate characteristics together to answer the question of what makes her so wonderful. The speaker tries to clear up the mystery by showing that, while some elements of her appeal are shadowed by virtue of being an untouchable “inner mystery,” all this power is outwardly manifest in the way she carries herself. The natural interior beauty comes out “the arch of my back,/The sun of my smile,/The ride of my breasts,/The grace of my style.” Not only does she hold her body in such a way as to express pride in herself, she does so with grace. The word “style,” which holds certain meanings in the context of fashion models, imparts here a different connotation. Modified by the word “grace,” we are to understand that the woman’s style has nothing to do with fashion, but rather refers back to her carriage, and her outlook on life. Of course grace, in the divine sense, still cannot be explained. Phenomenal woman’s style provides a celestial accompaniment to her other unrestrained physical qualities. Because of her love for herself and her belief in her own agency, she is able to inject perfect grace into all her movements and expressions. This is why “I dont shout or jump about/Or have to talk real loud.” Drawing conspicuous attention to oneself is for those who depend on the opinions of others to derive their self-worth. The pretty women in the first stanza are only pretty because they are noticed by others who agree upon a certain standard of beauty, judge them, and place them into that category. The phenomenal woman is phenomenal whether or not she receives the approval of those around her. She does not need to be told that she is beautiful, and she doesn’t need others to reflect her beauty back at her. She remains beautiful regardless of where she is, and whether anyone else is around. The last stanza of this poem attempts to put a stamp of finality on the mystery of the persona. In fact, Angelou seems to understand that the speaker has convinced only herself. Those who see her still will not fully comprehend how she can project such beautiful vitality, although she says, “Now you understand,” she probably realizes that the poem, as powerful as it is, can never truly express this inner power. All she can do is describe how it affects her exterior presentation. That is the nature of “phenomenon.” It can be described and explained, but never completely comprehended. Although she has stated that the reader should understand, she goes on to say, “When you see me passing/It ought to make you proud,” suggesting that she knows the questions will still remain. She can only remind us how we “ought” to respond. However, after explaining herself, she counsels the reader on how to feel, knowing that he will still be confused as to his feelings. The phenomenal woman is a force of nature here, moving through the reader’s world like a breeze, leaving only, “the click of my heels,/The bend of my hair,/the palm of my hand.” These are fleeting impressions here, tiny drops of style and character wafting off her figure as she moves past viewers, confident in her own purpose and appeal. The viewer is edified by these glimpses, but still cannot get at their interior meaning. Instead of understanding the phenomenon, they are left only with “the need of my care,” a desire for her attention that they still cannot explain to themselves. This is that same element of her power that causes men to stand or fall at her presence. Small details of her power, confidence, and beauty are enough to draw them to her. Throughout “Phenomenal Woman,” Maya Angelou breaks through conventional wisdom about the nature of beauty and the place of a woman in determining her own position in the world. This poem argues that every woman can be a phenomenal woman. It has nothing to do with the specific details in the poem, the hips or hair or lips or an individual. Rather, the power depends on the content of the woman’s core, and her ability to believe in all the strength available to her as a woman. Size and shape are meaningless in the face of joyful self-confidence. Angelou is trying to communicate to all women that they too can take pride in themselves, express that je ne sais quoi that draws the world to the poem’s speaker, and feel good about who they are as woman and individuals. Read More