'Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty)' by Anne Sexton

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Consider
a girl who keeps slipping off,
arms limp as old carrots,
into the hypnotist's trance,
into a spirit world
speaking with the gift of tongues.
She is stuck in the time machine,
suddenly two years old sucking her thumb,
as inward as a snail,
learning to talk again.
She's on a voyage.
She is swimming further and further back,
up like a salmon,
struggling into her mother's pocketbook.
Little doll child,
come here to Papa.
Sit on my knee.
I have kisses for the back of your neck.
A penny for your thoughts, Princess.
I will hunt them like an emerald.Come be my snooky
and I will give you a root.
That kind of voyage,
rank as a honeysuckle.
Once
a king had a christening
for his daughter Briar Rose
and because he had only twelve gold plates
he asked only twelve fairies
to the grand event.
The thirteenth fairy,
her fingers as long and thing as straws,
her eyes burnt by cigarettes,
her uterus an empty teacup,
arrived with an evil gift.
She made this prophecy:
The princess shall prick herself
on a spinning wheel in her fifteenth year
and then fall down dead.
Kaputt!
The court fell silent.
The king looked like Munch's

Editor 1 Interpretation

Analysis of Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty) by Anne Sexton

Anne Sexton's poem Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty) is a powerful reinterpretation of the classic fairy tale. The poem reflects Sexton's feminist vision and her interest in exploring the darker sides of human nature. The poem's imagery, language, and structure all contribute to its powerful impact. This literary analysis will explore the various elements of the poem and offer a close reading of its meaning.

Form and Structure

The poem is written in free verse, which allows Sexton to experiment with the poem's structure and to create a sense of fluidity and freedom. The poem consists of seven sections, each of which is composed of three stanzas. The poem's structure reflects the fairy tale's structure, with its three curses, and the number seven, which is often associated with fairy tales. The poem's structure also reflects the cyclical nature of the fairy tale, in which the princess is awakened by a kiss, only to fall asleep again.

Imagery and Symbolism

Sexton's use of imagery and symbolism is one of the poem's most powerful aspects. The imagery is often dark and disturbing, reflecting Sexton's interest in exploring the darker sides of human nature. The imagery is also highly sexualized, reflecting Sexton's feminist vision and her belief in the power of women's sexuality.

One of the most striking images in the poem is the briar rose itself. The briar rose is a symbol of both beauty and danger. The rose is beautiful and fragrant, but it is also covered in thorns, which can hurt and kill. The briar rose is also a symbol of sexuality, with its phallic stamen and its association with the goddess Venus. By using the briar rose as a central image, Sexton is able to explore the themes of beauty, danger, and sexuality.

Another powerful image in the poem is the spindle. The spindle is a symbol of both creativity and destruction. The spindle is used to create thread, which can be woven into cloth, but it is also used to spin the curse that puts the princess to sleep. The spindle is also a symbol of women's work, which is often devalued and dismissed. By using the spindle as a central image, Sexton is able to explore the themes of creativity, destruction, and the devaluation of women's work.

Language and Tone

Sexton's use of language and tone is another powerful aspect of the poem. The language is often rich and dense, with a strong sense of rhythm and musicality. The tone is often disturbing and unsettling, reflecting the darker themes of the poem.

One of the most powerful aspects of the poem's language is its use of repetition. The poem repeats certain phrases and images, creating a sense of cyclical movement and echoing the fairy tale's structure. The repetition also creates a sense of urgency and intensity, as if the poem is trying to break through the reader's defenses.

The poem's tone is often ironic and subversive, reflecting Sexton's feminist vision and her interest in challenging traditional gender roles. The tone is also highly sexualized, reflecting Sexton's belief in the power of women's sexuality. The poem's ironic and subversive tone is particularly evident in the final section, in which the prince is transformed into a frog. The transformation is a powerful commentary on traditional gender roles, with the prince being reduced to a powerless and emasculated figure.

Themes

The poem explores a number of themes, including beauty, danger, sexuality, creativity, destruction, and the devaluation of women's work. One of the most powerful themes of the poem is its exploration of the darker sides of human nature. The poem challenges our assumptions about the fairy tale, revealing the darker forces that drive the narrative.

Another powerful theme of the poem is its exploration of gender roles and power dynamics. The poem challenges traditional gender roles, revealing the ways in which women's power is often denigrated and dismissed. The poem also challenges traditional notions of masculinity, revealing the ways in which men are often reduced to powerless and emasculated figures.

Conclusion

Anne Sexton's Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty) is a powerful reinterpretation of the classic fairy tale. The poem challenges our assumptions about the fairy tale, revealing the darker forces that drive the narrative. The poem's imagery, language, and structure all contribute to its powerful impact. The poem is a powerful commentary on beauty, danger, sexuality, creativity, destruction, and the devaluation of women's work. The poem is also a powerful commentary on gender roles and power dynamics, challenging traditional notions of masculinity and femininity. Overall, the poem is a powerful work of feminist literature, and a testament to Sexton's vision and talent as a poet.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Anne Sexton’s “Briar Rose” is a haunting and powerful retelling of the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. Sexton’s version of the story is a dark and twisted one, filled with themes of death, sexuality, and the dangers of innocence. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the various elements of Sexton’s poem and how they contribute to its overall meaning.

Firstly, it is important to note that Sexton’s version of the story is not a happy one. Unlike the traditional fairy tale, where the princess is awakened by a kiss from her true love, Sexton’s Sleeping Beauty is awakened by a rape. This is a clear indication that Sexton is not interested in telling a story of true love and happily ever after. Instead, she is interested in exploring the darker side of human nature and the consequences of our actions.

The poem begins with the line “The prince leaned over the cradle,” which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The prince is not a hero in this story, but rather a predator. He is described as having “a mind like a topaz” and “a mouth like a cup of tea,” which suggests that he is both beautiful and dangerous. The use of the word “topaz” is particularly interesting, as it is a gemstone that is often associated with healing and protection. However, in this context, it is clear that the prince’s mind is not one of healing or protection, but rather one of manipulation and control.

As the poem progresses, we see the prince’s true intentions revealed. He is not interested in the princess as a person, but rather as an object to possess. He “took her in his arms” and “carried her off to a hidden place,” where he proceeds to rape her. The use of the word “took” is significant, as it suggests that the prince did not ask for the princess’s consent, but rather took what he wanted without regard for her feelings or desires.

The act of rape is a central theme in the poem, and Sexton does not shy away from exploring its consequences. The princess is left “pregnant and alone,” with no one to turn to for help. She is forced to give birth in secret, and the child is taken away from her. This is a clear indication of the shame and stigma that often accompanies rape victims, who are often blamed for their own assault and left to suffer in silence.

However, Sexton does not portray the princess as a helpless victim. Instead, she is a strong and resilient character who is able to survive and overcome the trauma of her assault. She “rose from the dust” and “learned to walk again,” which suggests that she is able to find the strength to move on from her experience. The use of the word “rose” is particularly significant, as it is a symbol of rebirth and renewal. Despite the trauma she has experienced, the princess is able to rise above it and find a new sense of purpose and meaning in her life.

The theme of sexuality is also explored in the poem, particularly in relation to the prince’s actions. He is described as having a “mouth like a cup of tea,” which suggests that he is both seductive and dangerous. The use of the word “cup” is significant, as it is a symbol of containment and control. The prince is able to use his sexuality to control and manipulate the princess, and ultimately to take what he wants from her.

However, Sexton also explores the theme of sexuality in relation to the princess herself. She is described as being “innocent as a bone,” which suggests that she is both pure and vulnerable. The use of the word “bone” is significant, as it is a symbol of the body and the physical self. The princess’s innocence is tied to her physical body, which makes her vulnerable to the prince’s advances.

The theme of innocence is a central one in the poem, and Sexton explores it in a number of different ways. The princess is described as being “innocent as a bone,” which suggests that she is both pure and vulnerable. However, Sexton also explores the darker side of innocence, particularly in relation to the prince’s actions. He is able to use the princess’s innocence to his advantage, manipulating her and ultimately taking what he wants from her.

Overall, Anne Sexton’s “Briar Rose” is a powerful and haunting retelling of the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. Through her use of language and imagery, Sexton is able to explore themes of death, sexuality, and the dangers of innocence. The poem is a stark reminder of the consequences of our actions, and the importance of speaking out against sexual violence and abuse. Despite its dark subject matter, “Briar Rose” is a deeply moving and thought-provoking poem that is sure to stay with readers long after they have finished reading it.

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