Monologue for an onion

Analysis of "Monologue for an Onion" (Revised)

It is human nature to want to search for the deeper truth. In the poem "Monologue

for an Onion" by Suji Kwock Kim, the focal point of the poem is the onion, which

appears to represent the poet, and the other person she is addressing as her lover.

The poem gives a deeper meaning to the simple act of cutting an onion and also the

onion itself. Kim uses the metaphor of the layers of an onion to describe what

people really want and what motivates them. The outer layer represents what

everyone sees. By comparing herself to an onion, Kim is trying to express the pain

she went through in her relationship by saying her layers have been stripped away

one by one. There's nothing beneath the layers, suggestion that no matter what

she always ends up feeling the same pain.

Before we cut onions, we know they are more than likely going to make our eyes

burn and tear up but we still cut into them anyway. As compared to a bad

relationship, a person can know their partners ability to break their heart and make

them cry through emotional abuse, neglect, or even physical abuse. "I don't mean to

make you cry."(Line 1) they still decide to move forward with the relationship

knowing that most likely the end result will not be a positive one.

It seems as though Kim as the onion feels betrayed and victimized by her lover. He

destroyed pieces of her emotions and feelings and discarded them like they were

trash. "I mean nothing, but this has not kept you from peeling away my body, layer

by layer" (Lines 2, 3) The poet portrays her partner as having an obsession with

finding a deeper "core" beneath her layers. "Poor deluded human: You seek my

heart" (Line 6) .The lover wants something more than the poet is willing to give him.

No matter how deep you cut into an onion the inside is the same all the