Dysfunctional Heart

Decoding Margaret Atwood’s ‘Faulty Heart’

A heart’s jagged beat emotions tangled, torn apart life’s fractured rhythm

Poets often use the heart as a symbol of feelings, and this metaphor is grounded in the biological complexity of the human heart. The heart is not merely a metaphorical representation but a vital organ that plays a central role in our circulatory system. It is responsible for pumping blood, which carries oxygen and nutrients to every part of the body, supporting various physiological functions.

When a heart is not functioning properly, it becomes more than just a medical issue; it can profoundly impact one’s emotional and psychological well-being. Margaret Atwood’s poem, “The Woman Who Could Not Live With Her Faulty Heart,” takes a poignant dive into the tangible aspects of her heart’s dysfunction, reflecting the intricate connection between physical and emotional health.

The Woman Who Could Not Live With Her Faulty Heart Margaret Atwood

I do not mean the symbol of love, a candy shape to decorate cakes with, the heart that is supposed to belong or break;

I mean this lump of muscle that contracts like a flayed biceps, purple-blue, with its skin of suet, its skin of gristle, this isolate, this caved hermit, unshelled turtle, this one lungful of blood, no happy plateful.

All hearts float in their own deep oceans of no light, wetblack and glimmering, their four mouths gulping like fish. Hearts are said to pound: this is to be expected, the heart’s regular struggle against being drowned.

But most hearts say, I want, I want, I want, I want. My heart is more duplicitous, though to twin as I once thought. It says, I want, I don’t want, I want, and then a pause. It forces me to listen,

and at night it is the infra-red third eye that remains open while the other two are sleeping but refuses to say what it has seen.

It is a constant pestering in my ears, a caught moth, limping drum, a child’s fist beating itself against the bedsprings: I want, I don’t want. How can one live with such a heart?

Long ago I gave up singing to it, it will never be satisfied or lulled. One night I will say to it: Heart, be still, and it will.

~Source: Selected Poems II (1976–1986) by Margaret Atwood, 1987

Atwood’s vivid descriptions of her heart, such as a “flayed biceps” and “purple-blue,” allude to the physiological reality of a malfunctioning heart, possibly experiencing conditions like arrhythmia or inadequate blood supply. The metaphorical listening through an imaginary stethoscope becomes a powerful way to convey her attempt to understand and cope with the physical irregularities of her heart.

In the poem, the heart’s uncertainty and duplicitous nature can be linked to the physiological condition of arrhythmia, where the heart’s rhythm deviates from the normal pattern. The constant struggle described in the lines “I want, I don’t want, I want” may mirror the irregular beating associated with certain heart conditions. Arrhythmias can indeed cause physical sensations of irregular heartbeats or palpitations, contributing to the emotional turmoil described in the poem. Atwood’s plea for her heart to “be still” echoes the desire for relief from both the physical and emotional turmoil caused by a malfunctioning heart.

In the broader context, the poem reflects the intricate interplay between emotions and physiological health. Scientifically, research has shown a strong connection between emotional stress and heart health. Chronic stress and emotional turmoil can contribute to heart problems, creating a reciprocal relationship between the physical and emotional aspects of the heart’s functionality.

So, the idea of a dysfunctional heart might just go beyond metaphor — it delves into the fascinating intersection of biology and emotion, offering a unique lens through which to explore the complexity of human connections. The emotional rollercoaster often depicted by the poets might just mirror the physiological rollercoaster experienced by those with heart conditions, highlighting the intricate dance between the heart’s physical and metaphorical dimensions.

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