'Her Kind' by Anne Sexton
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I have gone out, a possessed witch,
haunting the black air, braver at night;
dreaming evil, I have done my hitch
over the plain houses, light by light:
lonely thing, twelve-fingered, out of mind.
A woman like that is not a woman, quite.
I have been her kind.I have found the warm caves in the woods,
filled them with skillets, carvings, shelves,
closets, silks, innumerable goods;
fixed the suppers for the worms and the elves:
whining, rearranging the disaligned.
A woman like that is misunderstood.
I have been her kind.I have ridden in your cart, driver,
waved my nude arms at villages going by,
learning the last bright routes, survivor
where your flames still bite my thigh
and my ribs crack where your wheels wind.
A woman like that is not ashamed to die.
I have been her kind.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Her Kind" by Anne Sexton: A Poem of Feminine Power and Identity Struggle
Anne Sexton is one of the most celebrated confessional poets of the 20th century. Her work is known for its raw honesty, boldness, and autobiographical elements that explore the complexities of human existence. One of her most famous poems, "Her Kind," is a powerful depiction of feminine identity struggle and self-acceptance. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the themes, imagery, and stylistic elements of the poem and analyze how they contribute to its overall meaning.
Overview of the Poem
"Her Kind" was first published in Sexton's Pulitzer Prize-winning collection, "Live or Die," in 1966. The poem is written in free verse and consists of six stanzas, each of which has four lines. The title of the poem is significant, as it immediately sets the tone and the focus on the female protagonist. The poem's speaker is a woman who is struggling with her identity and her place in society. The poem explores themes of power, marginalization, isolation, and the struggle for self-acceptance.
Themes
One of the main themes of "Her Kind" is the struggle for power. The poem's speaker is a woman who has been marginalized and oppressed by society. She has been labeled as "witch" and "mad" by those who fear her power and her non-conformity. However, she refuses to be silenced or weakened by these labels. Instead, she embraces her power and her difference, declaring, "I have been her kind."
The poem also explores the theme of isolation. The speaker feels alone and disconnected from the world around her. She is aware of the social norms and expectations that she is expected to conform to but finds them suffocating and restrictive. She longs for a sense of belonging, but she knows that she cannot compromise her identity in order to fit in. Thus, she remains isolated and alone, but at the same time, she finds a sense of power and freedom in her isolation.
Another significant theme in the poem is the struggle for self-acceptance. The speaker is torn between her desire to be accepted by society and her need to embrace her true self. She has been conditioned to believe that her differences are flaws and that she should be ashamed of them. However, she realizes that these differences are what make her unique and powerful. She declares, "I have found the warm caves in the woods, filled them with skillets, carvings, shelves, closets, silks, innumerable goods."
Imagery
The imagery in "Her Kind" is rich and powerful. The poem is filled with vivid descriptions of the speaker's surroundings and her emotions. For example, in the second stanza, the speaker describes herself as "a woman with a busy heart / and a mouthful of teeth / that chewed and swallowed tongues." This imagery is both physical and metaphorical, as it suggests a woman who is constantly speaking and acting, but who is also consumed by her own thoughts and emotions.
The poem is also rich in nature imagery. The speaker finds solace in the natural world, and she describes herself as having "found the warm caves in the woods, / filled them with skillets, carvings, shelves, / closets, silks, innumerable goods." This imagery is both comforting and empowering, as it suggests that the speaker has found a safe haven in the natural world where she can be herself.
Stylistic Elements
Sexton's use of language and poetic devices is also significant in "Her Kind." The poem is written in free verse, which allows the speaker to express herself in a natural and unstructured way. The poem's syntax is also unconventional, as the lines are fragmented and disjointed. This creates a sense of dissonance and fragmentation that mirrors the speaker's own sense of isolation and disconnection from society.
The poem is also rich in metaphors and symbols. For example, the speaker's declaration that "I have been her kind" is a metaphor for all women who have been marginalized and oppressed by society. The use of the word "kind" suggests a sisterhood or a collective identity that transcends individual experience.
The repetition of the phrase "I have been her kind" throughout the poem is also significant. It reinforces the idea that the speaker is not alone in her struggle, and that there is a collective power in the experiences of all women who have been marginalized and oppressed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Her Kind" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the complexities of feminine identity struggle and self-acceptance. Sexton's use of vivid imagery, unconventional syntax, and rich metaphorical language creates a sense of isolation and disconnection that mirrors the speaker's own sense of marginalization. However, the poem's message is ultimately empowering, as it celebrates the power and uniqueness of the female identity and suggests that there is a collective strength in the experiences of all women who have been marginalized and oppressed. "Her Kind" is a timeless masterpiece of confessional poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Her Kind: A Poem of Rebellion and Self-Discovery
Anne Sexton's "Her Kind" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores themes of identity, rebellion, and self-discovery. Written in 1960, the poem is a reflection of the author's own struggles with mental illness and societal expectations, as well as a commentary on the role of women in a patriarchal society. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, imagery, and symbolism.
The Poem
I have gone out, a possessed witch, haunting the black air, braver at night; dreaming evil, I have done my hitch over the plain houses, light by light: lonely thing, twelve-fingered, out of mind. A woman like that is not a woman, quite. I have been her kind.
I have found the warm caves in the woods, filled them with skillets, carvings, shelves, closets, silks, innumerable goods; fixed the suppers for the worms and the elves: whining, rearranging the disaligned. A woman like that is misunderstood. I have been her kind.
I have ridden in your cart, driver, waved my nude arms at villages going by, learning the last bright routes, survivor where your flames still bite my thigh and my ribs crack where your wheels wind. A woman like that is not ashamed to die. I have been her kind.
Analysis
Themes
The poem explores several themes, including identity, rebellion, and self-discovery. The speaker of the poem is a woman who has gone "out, a possessed witch," and is "haunting the black air." She is described as "lonely thing, twelve-fingered, out of mind," and is portrayed as an outsider, someone who does not fit into society's expectations of what a woman should be. The poem is a reflection of the author's own struggles with mental illness and societal expectations, as well as a commentary on the role of women in a patriarchal society.
Imagery
The imagery in the poem is powerful and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the speaker's experiences. The opening lines of the poem, "I have gone out, a possessed witch, / haunting the black air, braver at night," create a sense of mystery and foreboding. The speaker is portrayed as a witch, someone who is feared and misunderstood by society. The use of the word "possessed" suggests that the speaker is not in control of her own actions, that she is being driven by some external force.
The second stanza of the poem is filled with images of domesticity, as the speaker describes how she has "found the warm caves in the woods, / filled them with skillets, carvings, shelves, / closets, silks, innumerable goods." This imagery is juxtaposed with the image of the speaker "whining, rearranging the disaligned," suggesting that she is not content with her domestic role, that she is rebelling against the expectations placed upon her.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as the speaker describes how she has "ridden in your cart, driver, / waved my nude arms at villages going by, / learning the last bright routes, survivor / where your flames still bite my thigh / and my ribs crack where your wheels wind." This imagery is both violent and sexual, suggesting that the speaker has been both physically and emotionally abused by society. The use of the word "survivor" suggests that the speaker has overcome these challenges, that she has emerged stronger and more resilient.
Symbolism
The poem is filled with symbolism, much of it related to the image of the witch. The witch is a symbol of rebellion and non-conformity, someone who is feared and misunderstood by society. The use of the word "possessed" suggests that the speaker is not in control of her own actions, that she is being driven by some external force. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for mental illness, which is often seen as a form of possession.
The image of the warm caves in the woods is also symbolic, representing a place of safety and refuge for the speaker. The use of the word "caves" suggests that the speaker is hiding from society, that she is seeking shelter from the outside world.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most symbolic, as the speaker describes how she has "ridden in your cart, driver, / waved my nude arms at villages going by." This image is both sexual and violent, suggesting that the speaker has been both physically and emotionally abused by society. The use of the word "survivor" suggests that the speaker has overcome these challenges, that she has emerged stronger and more resilient.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Her Kind" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores themes of identity, rebellion, and self-discovery. The imagery and symbolism in the poem are both vivid and powerful, painting a picture of a woman who is struggling to find her place in a patriarchal society. The poem is a reflection of the author's own struggles with mental illness and societal expectations, as well as a commentary on the role of women in society. Overall, "Her Kind" is a timeless work of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.
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