'The Breast' by Anne Sexton

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This is the key to it.
This is the key to everything.
Preciously.I am worse than the gamekeeper's children
picking for dust and bread.
Here I am drumming up perfume.Let me go down on your carpet,
your straw mattress -- whatever's at hand
because the child in me is dying, dying.It is not that I am cattle to be eaten.
It is not that I am some sort of street.
But your hands found me like an architect.Jugful of milk! It was yours years ago
when I lived in the valley of my bones,
bones dumb in the swamp. Little playthings.A xylophone maybe with skin
stretched over it awkwardly.
Only later did it become something real.Later I measured my size against movie stars.
I didn't measure up. Something between
my shoulders was there. But never enough.Sure, there was a meadow,
but no yound men singing the truth.
Nothing to tell truth by.Ignorant of men I lay next to my sisters
and rising out of the ashes I cried

Editor 1 Interpretation

"The Breast" by Anne Sexton: A Critical Interpretation

Anne Sexton's "The Breast" is a poignant and evocative poem that explores the complex relationship between the poet and her body. The poem delves deep into the psyche of a woman struggling to come to terms with her own sexuality, and her anxiety over the physical changes her body undergoes. In this essay, I will examine the themes, language, and structure of the poem, and analyze how they contribute to the overall meaning of the work.

Themes

One of the most prominent themes of the poem is the idea of the body as a source of shame and anxiety. Sexton describes her body as a "sob story," a "miserable bag of fat," and a "gristle now," highlighting her negative feelings towards her own physicality. She also conveys a sense of vulnerability, with lines like "I shall never forgive you / for the hurt you caused me," indicating a deep sense of betrayal by her own body.

Another theme that emerges in the poem is the idea of the breast as a symbol of femininity and sexuality. Sexton writes, "you were never a friend / to dress me up in white lace / or a sweet talker / or a jeweler of fine wines," suggesting that the breast is not something to be celebrated or admired, but rather a burden that must be endured.

Finally, the poem also touches on the theme of mortality, with references to death and decay scattered throughout. Sexton writes, "you are going to die / that is what you do / you die," underscoring the inevitability of the body's decline and eventual demise.

Language

Sexton's use of language in "The Breast" is strikingly raw and emotive, with vivid imagery and intense metaphors that convey the depth of her feelings. She describes her breast as a "dumbbell / on my skinny neck," a "sack of doorknobs," and a "cancerous jewel," using these metaphors to convey both the heaviness and the deformity of her body.

The poem also features a number of visceral and graphic descriptions, such as "you were an albatross hanging from my neck, / a plaster volcano," and "you were a blister of rage, / a malignant growth." These descriptions serve to underscore the speaker's anger and frustration, as well as her sense of powerlessness.

Finally, Sexton's use of repetition and alliteration is particularly effective in building a sense of momentum and urgency. Lines like "you were a mistake, a fluke" and "you were never a friend" hammer home the speaker's sense of betrayal and rejection, while creating a sense of rhythm that propels the poem forward.

Structure

The structure of "The Breast" is relatively simple, with three stanzas of varying lengths. The first stanza introduces the breast as a source of shame and anxiety, while the second explores its symbolic significance as a marker of femininity and sexuality. The final stanza concludes with a sense of finality and resignation, as the speaker acknowledges the inevitability of her own mortality.

One interesting aspect of the poem's structure is the way in which Sexton uses enjambment to create a sense of tension and uncertainty. Lines like "you were a mistake, a fluke, / a slapstick dream," and "you were never a friend / to dress me up in white lace" run on without pause, suggesting a sense of unease and discomfort that permeates the speaker's relationship with her own body.

Interpretation

At its core, "The Breast" is a deeply personal and autobiographical poem, reflecting Sexton's own struggles with body image and mental illness. However, it also speaks to broader cultural issues surrounding the female body, particularly the ways in which women are conditioned to feel shame and disgust towards their own physicality.

The breast, in particular, has long been a symbol of both sexuality and maternity, and women's relationship with their own breasts is often fraught with anxiety and ambivalence. Sexton's poem can be seen as a powerful critique of this cultural baggage, as she rejects the idea that the breast is something to be celebrated or appreciated.

However, the poem is also notable for its ambiguity and complexity. While the speaker clearly feels a sense of anger and frustration towards her own body, there are also moments of tenderness and affection. Lines like "I have loved you" and "I shall miss you" suggest a sense of loss and mourning, underscoring the complexity of the speaker's emotions.

Ultimately, "The Breast" is a deeply moving and insightful poem that offers a powerful meditation on the human body and its relationship to identity, sexuality, and mortality. Sexton's use of vivid imagery, raw language, and complex structure create a work that is both emotionally engaging and intellectually challenging, and that continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry The Breast: A Poem of Feminine Power and Vulnerability

Anne Sexton's "Poetry The Breast" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the complex relationship between femininity, sexuality, and creativity. Written in Sexton's signature confessional style, the poem is a raw and honest exploration of the poet's own experiences with breast cancer and the ways in which her illness has affected her sense of self and her relationship with her body.

At its core, "Poetry The Breast" is a meditation on the power and vulnerability of the female body. The poem begins with a vivid and sensual description of the speaker's breasts, which are portrayed as both a source of pleasure and a symbol of femininity:

"My breasts are like two jellyfish on the sand. They are the opposite of sag. They are the opposite of young girl's breasts."

Here, Sexton uses vivid and unexpected imagery to capture the unique qualities of the female body. The jellyfish metaphor is particularly striking, as it suggests both the fluidity and the fragility of the speaker's breasts. At the same time, the contrast between the "opposite of sag" and the "opposite of young girl's breasts" highlights the tension between the speaker's desire to maintain her youthful beauty and her acceptance of the natural aging process.

As the poem progresses, however, the tone shifts from one of celebration to one of fear and uncertainty. The speaker reveals that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and that her breasts have become a source of pain and anxiety:

"But now my breasts are locked up safe and my nipples are two frowning enemies that will not speak to me."

Here, Sexton uses powerful and evocative language to convey the speaker's sense of isolation and despair. The image of the "locked up safe" breasts suggests a sense of confinement and imprisonment, while the personification of the nipples as "frowning enemies" emphasizes the speaker's sense of alienation from her own body.

Despite this sense of fear and uncertainty, however, the poem ultimately celebrates the power of creativity and the resilience of the human spirit. The speaker declares that she will continue to write poetry, even in the face of illness and adversity:

"But I will write until that day when I hear the sudden cry and I understand that I am dying."

Here, Sexton uses the act of writing as a symbol of the speaker's determination to find meaning and purpose in the face of mortality. The sudden cry that the speaker hears is a reminder of the fragility of life, but it is also a call to action, a reminder that every moment is precious and that every word counts.

In many ways, "Poetry The Breast" can be seen as a feminist poem, one that celebrates the power and resilience of the female body and the creative spirit. By exploring the complex relationship between femininity, sexuality, and creativity, Sexton challenges traditional notions of gender and identity, and invites the reader to embrace a more expansive and inclusive vision of what it means to be human.

Overall, "Poetry The Breast" is a powerful and evocative poem that speaks to the universal human experience of love, loss, and mortality. Through its vivid imagery, raw emotion, and powerful language, the poem invites the reader to confront their own fears and anxieties, and to find hope and inspiration in the face of adversity. Whether read as a meditation on the power of the female body, a celebration of the creative spirit, or a reminder of the fragility of life, "Poetry The Breast" is a poem that speaks to the heart and soul of every reader.

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