Power
It goes almost without saying that one of the primary themes in this poem is the titular theme of power. Rich suggests that power is a complicated thing, because it can both destroy and create. Marie Curie, for example, possessed emotional, physical, and intellectual power, and yet the radiation she studied both gave her power and simultaneously destroyed it. Rich suggests that Curie battled the effects of radiation poisoning up until her dying breath. This power—a power of the body and mind—is what solidified Curie’s place in history, along with her studies of radiation. And yet, the radioactive materials that she worked with were powerful, too—powerful enough to literally destroy the body of their discoverer. In this way, the speaker concludes that power cannot be separated from vulnerability.
Sacrifice
This poem is essentially dedicated to Marie Curie’s incredible and brutal self-sacrifice. The speaker describes in graphic detail how Curie’s body began to break down after her work with radioactive material. Rich explains that her eyes had developed cataracts; that the skin on her fingertips had cracked; and that her hands were no longer able to grasp or hold the tools that make scientific research possible. Marie Curie sacrificed her body and mind for the sake of scientific knowledge, and this is one of the many reasons that she is revered today. For Curie, no scientific breakthrough was too dangerous—she dedicated her entire life to the study of radioactive material and paid a hefty price. Insofar as this poem is a call to action, it suggests that other women ought to follow her example, acknowledging their vulnerability and confronting danger in the struggle for political and social change.
Denial
While "Power" explores Marie Curie’s incredible strength, power, and capacity for self-sacrifice, she also suggests that Curie was in denial for the latter half of her life. The speaker describes how Curie’s body began to break down—a clear side effect of Curie’s in-depth work with radioactive elements. And yet, according to the speaker, she never once blamed her illnesses and physical fragility on the radioactivity. In fact, it seems she denied that her groundbreaking work was in any way connected to her physical ailments. In this way, it is clear that Marie Curie purposefully denied that her work was the source of her illness, for she wanted to be remembered for the pioneer that she was, rather than her pain and suffering at the conclusion of her life. Here, the poet seems to cast some judgement on Curie’s denial. Rather than denying that wounds and power may be intertwined, the poet suggests, we should embrace our wounds and the way they can actually contribute to power.
