15 pages • 30 minutes read
Margaret Atwood[you fit into me]
Margaret AtwoodFiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1971A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
The Hook-and-Eye
Hook-and-eye closures are small pieces of metal that fasten together, connecting perfectly so that garments remain in place on the body. A singular hook or eye is useless on its own, meaning that they can only function properly when paired together. Atwood uses the image of a hook-and-eye closure to symbolize a romantic connection: two people that complete each other, feeling secure and fulfilled in their partnership.
The image of the hook-and-eye is also inherently sexual. The phrasing, “you fit into me” (Line 1), alludes to penetration as the hook is inserted into the eye. On a more literal level, hook-and-eye closures are commonly found on undergarments, namely corsets or bra clasps, adding a layer of intimacy to Stanza 1 with the allusion of dressing (or undressing) in only undergarments.
The hook-and-eye represents romantic compatibility, establishing that the speaker and their partner (the “you” within the poem) are a perfect match, two halves of one whole.
The Fish Hook
Atwood specifies that the hook is actually a fish hook, drastically changing its symbolic weight within the poem. Fish hooks are used to lure, catch, and inevitably kill prey. They are curved and sharp, purposefully difficult to escape despite their small size. The speaker compares their lover to a “fish hook” (Line 3), symbolizing the hidden danger that lurks behind the allure of love.
The word hook holds double meaning. During the initial stages of attraction, a person can be hooked by a potential partner’s charm and personality. However, after the turn in the poem, readers are all too aware that to be hooked here means to be trapped in a dangerous situation. The hook represents the fine line between passion and violence, and how love can seem tempting at first but quickly turn into torture.
However, the fish hook is not used for its intended purpose. Instead of carrying bait and waiting to capture something, the fish hook is used to intentionally harm another person, sinking into “an open eye” (Line 4). This final line complicates the symbol of the fish hook even further, implying that violence and outright torture within a romantic relationship is unnatural.
The Open Eye
The “open eye” (Line 4) is the most complex symbol within the entire poem. The eye is simultaneously a helpless victim, being pierced by the sharp fish hook, and a self-aware observer. The eye is soft and fleshy, but also “open” (Line 4), meaning that it sees the violence that is about to be inflicted before it happens. Atwood alludes to the idiom “having your eyes open” through this symbol, describing the speaker’s sudden understanding seconds before pain is inflicted upon them. The speaker aligns themselves with “the open eye” (Line 4), asserting that their eyes have finally been opened to the truth of their partner’s motivations and intentions. Atwood exposes how complicated the power dynamics can be within a seemingly healthy relationship, introducing the threat of violence into “[you fit into me]” as quickly as love.
The horrors of domestic abuse are not confined to heterosexual relationships. While the hook can be interpreted as a phallic symbol, the eye is more nuanced. Both the anus and vagina can be penetrated, so, by using simple and symbolic language, Atwood’s poem can be interpreted to encompass a variety of sexualities, and thus, has greater impact with contemporary audiences.
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