“Box Room: Stanza 2”

Content

The speaker describes the room in more detail in this stanza, noticing everything from the old wallpaper to the untouched objects like embarrassing school photographs.
The room is preserved as though the boyfriend might return, symbolising the mother’s unwillingness to let go of his childhood.

Past and Present: The preserved room symbolises the past that the boyfriend’s mother clings on to, while the speaker represents the present.
Identity: The objects in the room, like old school pictures, hint at the boyfriend’s past identity, contrasting with the person he is in the speaker’s present.

The tone in this stanza remains introspective as the speaker observes the room in detail, while also developing a sense of longing and nostalgia as she reflects on the untouched, preserved nature of the room.

The embarrassing school photographs serve as a symbolism for past growth and development, highlighting the differences between past and present.
The preserved room is the physical representation of a mother’s inability to move on from her son’s childhood, symbolising the past that threatens to encroach on the speaker’s present relationship with her boyfriend.

The use of detailed descriptive language provides a vivid picture of the room, immersing readers fully in the speaker’s observations.
This verse maintains the irregular structure of the poem mirroring the speaker’s fluctuating thoughts and feelings.

The writer’s detailed description of the preserved room engages readers, enabling them to effectively imagine the room and its nostalgic atmosphere.
The evocation of past memories through sight and touch enhances the emotional depth of the poem, adding layers to the internal conflict experienced by the speaker.
Symbols such as the old photographs create a sense of tension between the past and the present, accentuating the speaker’s feelings of insecurity and jealousy.