The Power of Female Unity

“Bitch Moon” is primarily a poem about a “pack” of women (Line 7) who come together to fight an evil in their midst. In the opening stanza, the women are unified by their shared experiences. Additionally, those specific experiences are born from their shared vulnerability and powerlessness. There is a sense of desolation in these moments, because it is a union that would not exist if they had more agency in their own lives. Silent understanding, though not worthless, is not a justifiable reward for the price they have paid. However, this understanding and solidarity soon becomes a source of strength. It’s not until an innocent person enters the scene that the women are able to come together in an act of violent heroism. The implication is that none of them felt themselves individually worthy of rescue, but they were able to...