Blog Post #1

When you read and understand the story of Naomi and Ruth it is so much easier to relay it back to the idea of the mother and the maternal. Ruth looked upon Naomi as a mother figure and companion after the death of her husband. Naomi wanted to just go back to Bethlehem and grieve her loss of husband and children but Clifton wrote as if Naomi could not. Naomi could not completely grieve because Ruth swore to follow Naomi. So as I think about the discussion leading question as presented in class,
"Clifton is known for biblical references in her poetry. How do you interpret Naomi's relationship with Ruth? Why do you think she chose to portray Ruth and Naomi's relationship in this manner?"
My answer and response would be that Naomi and Ruth have built a relationship as not only Mother-In-Law but Mother to a woman who lived with her husband and his mom without her mom present. Also these two women lean on each other at a most difficult time. Both have suffered lost, Naomi's more extreme than that of Ruth. That idea goes on into my answer to the second question. It seems as Clifton tried to portray Naomi as just wanting to be left alone to grieve and feel her pain of lost in peace and that peace meaning by herself. Clifton writes,
"she clings to me
like a shadow
when all that i wish
is to sit alone
longing for my husband,
my sons."

This line made me believe that she believes Naomi just wanted to be alone away from Ruth. Another few stanzas she writes,
"i am leading her
to boaz country.
he will find her beautiful
and place her ampng
his concubines.
jehovah willing
i can grieve in peace."

I guess this poem shows Motherhood and the Maternal in several different ways for me; the hurt and pain associated with loss of a child and the impact and grief a mother faces no matter what. She had Ruth their to lean on and she wasn't alone and yet she could not get over the pain of losing her husband and her sons. I believe Clifton chose to portray Motherhood in this way to give a better understanding of loss and grief and pain. She makes alot of biblical references in many of her poems but so she most likely saw Naomi as a woman filled with so much grief about loss.

Here is a link about the story of Naomi and Ruth on youtube. It's only 10 minutes and just gives a kind of opening perspective of the relationship of Ruth and Naomi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaMljtnOxYM