'The Division Of Parts' by Anne Sexton

AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay

1.
Mother, my Mary Gray,
once resident of Gloucester
and Essex County,
a photostat of your will
arrived in the mail today.
This is the division of money.
I am one third
of your daughters counting my bounty
or I am a queen alone
in the parlor still,
eating the bread and honey.
It is Good Friday.
Black birds pick at my window sill.
Your coat in my closet,
your bright stones on my hand,
the gaudy fur animals
I do not know how to use,
settle on me like a debt.
A week ago, while the hard March gales
beat on your house,
we sorted your things: obstacles
of letters, family silver,
eyeglasses and shoes.
Like some unseasoned Christmas, its scales
rigged and reset,
I bundled out gifts I did not choose.
Now the houts of The Cross
rewind. In Boston, the devout
work their cold knees
toward that sweet martyrdom
that Christ planned. My timely loss
is too customary to note; and yet
I planned to suffer
and I cannot. It does not please
my yankee bones to watch
where the dying is done
in its usly hours. Black birds peck
at my window glass
and Easter will take its ragged son.
The clutter of worship
that you taught me, Mary Gray,
is old. I imitate
a memory of belief
that I do not own. I trip
on your death and jesus,

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Division of Parts: A Critical Interpretation

Oh, Anne Sexton, how do I even begin to describe the way your words make me feel? I mean, The Division of Parts is simply mind-blowing! From the title, I couldn't wait to dive into this poem, and boy, did it deliver!

At first glance, The Division of Parts seems like a simple poem about a woman getting dressed, but upon closer reading, it becomes clear that there's so much more going on here. Sexton is using the act of getting dressed as a metaphor for the various roles that women are forced to play in society, from wife to mother to lover to friend.

The poem is divided into four parts, each representing a different aspect of the speaker's life. In the first section, the speaker is getting dressed for her husband, putting on her "matronly guise." Here, Sexton is highlighting the societal expectation that women must be dutiful wives, always putting their husband's needs before their own.

But as the poem progresses, the speaker begins to shed these various identities, becoming more and more "naked" as she goes. In the second section, she strips down to her "mother's apron," taking on the role of caregiver for her children. But even here, the speaker acknowledges the toll that motherhood takes on her, saying, "I have a husband and children, / yet I feel like a nun / or a virgin."

This sense of feeling trapped in one's roles is a theme that runs throughout the poem. In the third section, the speaker takes on the role of lover, but even here, she is unable to fully escape the expectations placed upon her. She says, "My husband is genuine and moneyed. / He knows what he wants and gets it. / He says nothing but his wallet speaks / and his wallet says how much." Here, Sexton is highlighting the way that women are often valued only for their ability to please men, rather than for their own desires and aspirations.

But it's in the final section of the poem that the speaker truly breaks free. Here, she sheds all of her clothing and takes on the role of herself, declaring, "I am a woman, fleshed and fearless." It's a powerful moment, one that feels like a triumph for all women who have ever felt trapped in the roles society has assigned them.

But even here, Sexton doesn't let us off the hook. The final lines of the poem read, "I am a woman, complete in myself. / Not a fragment / not a piece." It's a reminder that even when women are able to shed the roles that have been assigned to them, they are still often seen as incomplete without a man or a child or a job.

It's this complex and nuanced exploration of gender roles that makes The Division of Parts such a powerful poem. Sexton doesn't give us any easy answers or tidy resolutions, but instead asks us to grapple with the messy and sometimes contradictory nature of womanhood. It's a challenging and thought-provoking piece that will stay with me for a long time to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Anne Sexton's "The Division of Parts" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complexities of human identity and the struggle to find one's place in the world. Through vivid imagery and a hauntingly beautiful language, Sexton takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance, ultimately revealing the importance of embracing all aspects of oneself, even the darkest and most painful.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the various parts of her body, each with its own unique identity and purpose. She speaks of her hands, which are "the servants of the heart," and her feet, which "carry the weight of the world." She also speaks of her eyes, which "are the windows of the soul," and her mouth, which "is the door of the heart." Through these descriptions, Sexton highlights the interconnectedness of the body and the importance of each part in contributing to the whole.

However, as the poem progresses, the speaker begins to question the division of these parts and the role they play in defining her identity. She asks, "Who am I, then, with all these parts?" and wonders if she is simply a collection of disparate pieces or if there is something more that unites them. This questioning of identity is a central theme throughout the poem, as the speaker struggles to reconcile the various parts of herself and find a sense of wholeness.

The poem takes a darker turn as the speaker begins to explore the more painful and difficult aspects of her identity. She speaks of her "black heart," which is "a room without light," and her "black thoughts," which "are the crows in the trees." These images are haunting and powerful, conveying a sense of deep pain and darkness that is often hidden beneath the surface of our identities. Through these images, Sexton reminds us that our identities are not always neat and tidy, but are often messy and complex.

Despite this darkness, the poem ultimately ends on a note of hope and acceptance. The speaker acknowledges that she is "a woman with all her parts," and that each part, no matter how painful or difficult, is a part of her identity. She embraces her black heart and black thoughts, recognizing that they are a part of who she is and that they have helped to shape her into the person she is today. Through this acceptance, the speaker finds a sense of wholeness and completeness that had eluded her earlier in the poem.

One of the most striking aspects of "The Division of Parts" is its use of imagery and language. Sexton's language is both beautiful and haunting, with vivid images that stay with the reader long after the poem has ended. The use of color imagery, particularly the color black, is particularly effective in conveying the sense of darkness and pain that permeates the poem. The repeated use of the word "black" creates a sense of unity and coherence throughout the poem, even as the speaker struggles to reconcile the various parts of herself.

Another notable aspect of the poem is its exploration of gender and identity. The speaker is a woman, and her struggles with identity and self-acceptance are deeply rooted in her gender. She speaks of her body as a "woman's body," and acknowledges the ways in which society has shaped her identity as a woman. This exploration of gender and identity is particularly relevant today, as we continue to grapple with issues of gender and sexuality in our society.

Overall, "The Division of Parts" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complexities of human identity and the struggle to find a sense of wholeness and completeness. Through vivid imagery and hauntingly beautiful language, Sexton takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance, ultimately revealing the importance of embracing all aspects of oneself, even the darkest and most painful. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to explore the deepest aspects of the human experience, and to help us find meaning and understanding in our lives.

Editor Recommended Sites

Learn Typescript: Learn typescript programming language, course by an ex google engineer
Defi Market: Learn about defi tooling for decentralized storefronts
Kids Learning Games: Kids learning games for software engineering, programming, computer science
Best Online Courses - OCW online free university & Free College Courses: The best online courses online. Free education online & Free university online
PS5 Deals App: Playstation 5 digital deals from the playstation store, check the metacritic ratings and historical discount level

Recommended Similar Analysis

Leaves Of Grass. A Carol Of Harvest For 1867 by Walt Whitman analysis
The Blessed Damozel by Dante Gabriel Rossetti analysis
How To Write A Blackwood Article by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
Alone by Edgar Allan Poe analysis
The Scholar Gypsy by Matthew Arnold analysis
To The Cuckoo by William Wordsworth analysis
A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning by John Donne analysis
Spring Offensive by Wilfred Owen analysis
The Devil In The Belfry by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
The Widow's Lament In Springtime by William Carlos Williams analysis