Mary Oliver and Kelly Sue DeConnick are both renowned authors, however, they are identified by dissimilar styles. Maxine Kumin referred to Mary Oliver as an “indefatigable guide to the natural world,” in the Women’s Review of Books(Giese). Kelly Sue DeConnick is known for her strong feministic beliefs and how she expresses those beliefs through her comics. Although these two women have varied writing forms, in some of their works similar concepts are discussed. In Mary Oliver’s “The Journey” and Kelly Sue DeConnick’s “Bitch Planet” self-discovery is the theme. The only difference in these two works is the form the authors’ chose to write in. Even though the same topic is being discussed, the message of self-discovery is weaker in Kelly Sue DeConnick’s “Bitch Planet” than in Mary Oliver’s “The Journey” because of the authors’ choice of medium.

The first element that is distinct between the two works is the mood. The mood of Mary Oliver’s “The Journey” is hopeful, relatable, and optimistic. The reader is aware of this mood from the first line of the poem, “One day you finally knew…”(Oliver, 92). Oliver’s use of the word ‘you’ in the first line causes a deeper connection to form with the reader. The reader then feels as if the rest of the poem was written specifically for them to read. Other than the use of ‘you’, the first line is also full of hope. By writing, “finally knew…”(92). it gives the allusion that whomever Oliver is referring to resolved a dilemma in their life. Therefore, it means that the reader will be able to resolve whatever struggles they are facing. The reader feels elements of hope, relatability, and optimism just by reading the first line of the poem. The conciseness of the poem lines gives the reader the opportunity to consider exactly what each line is saying and what each represents to themselves. 

Kelly Sue DeConnick’s “Bitch Planet” however, creates a much different mood. This comic has a mood of aggression and sympathy. The aggression is obvious from the first line as well, “I can’t see you, but I feel you… Judging me”(DeConnick, 176). If the aggression was not clear enough with just the sentence, the cartoon’s stance and clenched fists made it obvious. The mood of sympathy sets in shortly after, once the men begin judging her. It is not the words that they say that prove they are judging her, it is the expressions on their faces that cause the reader to pity the main character, Penelope. The mood of sympathy becomes more prevalent during Penelope’s ‘flashbacks.’ When the reader gets the insight into why Penelope is the way she is they begin feeling even more sympathy towards her. The aggression that Penelope continues to show throughout the comic, however, causes the reader to not be able to relate as well. 

In “The Journey” by Mary Oliver whom and what she is referring to is unclear, but that factor strengthens her point. Throughout the entire poem, all the lines are vague, so there is no way for the reader to decide exactly what struggles Oliver is referring to. One might assume that this vagueness would weaken her argument, but it opens her work up to the readers’ interpretation. The use of vague language and giving readers the opportunity to interpret the poem strengthens the overall theme of self-discovery. Although what Oliver is discussing in her work is unclear, the theme of self-discovery is blatant. While reading along with the poem the audience can decide what they want each struggle to be. What voices are shouting, “’Mend my life!’”(Oliver, 92). and for what reasons. Overall, the reader can decide what this poem represents to them.

In Kelly Sue DeConnick’s “Bitch Planet” it is clear exactly who the main character is and what struggles she faces. The switching back and forth from the present time to the past gives the reader a clear idea of why Penelope is the way she is. This comic portrays the theme of self-discovery through Penelope because at the end of the story she says, “I ain’t broke…. And you bastards ain’t never gonna break me”(DeConnick, 199). This statement makes it clear to the reader that Penelope had come to peace with herself and decided that she did not need to change herself to be happy. Overall, this comic is empowering reading about how Penelope is lead to self-discovery, however, little is left for the readers’ interpretation. Since this work is specifically about one character it makes it more difficult for the reader to picture themselves on the path the self-discovery. Each struggle is illustrated, so unless the reader had experienced similar situations relating to this work would be difficult.

Another element that weakens “Bitch Planet” by Kelly Sue DeConnick’s message for self-discovery is the illustrations. The story line by itself narrows down the possibility for interpretation by the reader, but the illustrations narrow it even more. Since the reader has a visual of who the main character is, it is almost impossible for the reader to relate to her. The only way that the reader would be able to relate is if they shared characteristics with the main character and could themselves as her.

Though both authors wrote about overcoming struggles and the path to self-discovery, Mary Oliver’s message of self-discovery is much stronger because of her choice of medium. Poetry gives the reader more of an opportunity to interpret the works meaning, while comics are extremely specific. It was even said about Kelly Sue DeConnick that, “This allegedly feminist rhetoric is less about the collective eradication of oppression and more about individual women and their individual successes”(Savigny & Warner, 19). Mary Oliver’s work is focused on being able to be interpreted while Kelly Sue DeConnick’s work is more focused on the feministic theme. These works prove that the same theme can be used to prove dissimilar points.
