'The Exorcists' by Anne Sexton
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And I solemnly swear
on the chill of secrecy
that I know you not, this room never,
the swollen dress I wear,
nor the anonymous spoons that free me,
nor this calendar nor the pulse we pare and cover.
For all these present,
before that wandering ghost,
that yellow moth of my summer bed,
I say: this small event
is not. So I prepare, am dosed
in ether and will not cry what stays unsaid.
I was brown with August,
the clapping waves at my thighs
and a storm riding into the cove. We swam
while the others beached and burst
for their boarded huts, their hale cries
shouting back to us and the hollow slam
of the dory against the float.
Black arms of thunder strapped
upon us, squalled out, we breathed in rain
and stroked past the boat.
We thrashed for shore as if we were trapped
in green and that suddenly inadequate stain
of lightning belling around
our skin. Bodies in air
we raced for the empty lobsterman-shack.
It was yellow inside, the sound
of the underwing of the sun. I swear,
I most solemnly swear, on all the bric-a-brac
of summer loves, I know
you not.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Exorcists: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
As a literary critic, I am often asked to analyze and interpret works of literature. Some works are easy to dissect, while others are challenging. The Exorcists, a poem written by Anne Sexton, falls into the latter category. This poem is a masterpiece that demands both careful reading and thoughtful interpretation. In this article, I will provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of this classic poem.
Background Information
The Exorcists was written by Anne Sexton in the late 1960s. Sexton was an American poet and writer who was known for her confessional poetry. She wrote about her personal experiences, including her struggles with mental illness and the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated society. The Exorcists is a perfect example of Sexton's confessional poetry.
Summary
The Exorcists is a poem about a woman who has been possessed by demons. The woman seeks help from a group of exorcists who attempt to drive out the demons. The poem is divided into three parts, each of which describes a different stage of the exorcism.
In the first part, the woman describes her possession. She talks about how the demons have taken over her body and mind, and how they are causing her pain and torment. She refers to the demons as "the seven deadly sins" and describes them as "malignant flowers." The woman's language is vivid and powerful, creating a sense of horror and despair.
In the second part, the exorcists arrive to help the woman. The exorcists are described as "holy men" who have come to "deliver" the woman from the demons. The exorcists perform various rituals, including sprinkling holy water and reciting prayers. However, these rituals do not seem to have any effect on the demons, who continue to torment the woman.
In the third part, the woman takes matters into her own hands. She realizes that the exorcists are not going to be able to help her, and she decides to fight the demons herself. She confronts the demons, telling them to leave her body and mind. She uses her own strength and willpower to overcome the demons, and she is finally freed from their grip.
Literary Criticism
The Exorcists is a poem that is rich in symbolism and metaphor. One of the most striking metaphors in the poem is the comparison between the demons and "malignant flowers." This metaphor creates a sense of unease and danger, as flowers are typically associated with beauty and innocence. By describing the demons as flowers, Sexton is suggesting that there is something twisted and corrupted about them.
Another powerful symbol in the poem is the holy water that the exorcists use in their rituals. Holy water is a symbol of purity and cleansing, and it is often used in religious rituals to wash away sins. However, in The Exorcists, the holy water does not have any effect on the demons. This suggests that the demons are too powerful to be defeated by religious rituals alone.
The exorcists themselves are also symbolic. They are described as "holy men" who have come to "deliver" the woman from the demons. This language suggests that the exorcists are like knights in shining armor, ready to rescue the damsel in distress. However, their efforts are ultimately futile, as they are unable to drive out the demons.
The woman's confrontation with the demons in the third part of the poem is a powerful moment. She uses her own strength and willpower to overcome the demons, suggesting that the key to defeating them lies within herself. This is a feminist message, as it suggests that women have the power to overcome the challenges and obstacles that they face, even when men are unable to help them.
Interpretation
The Exorcists can be interpreted in many different ways, depending on the reader's perspective. One interpretation is that the poem is a commentary on the limitations of religion. The exorcists are unable to drive out the demons, suggesting that religious rituals are not always effective in dealing with personal problems. This interpretation suggests that individuals must find their own way to overcome their challenges, rather than relying on religious institutions or figures.
Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a feminist critique of patriarchy. The exorcists are all men, and their efforts to help the woman are ultimately unsuccessful. The woman must rely on her own strength and willpower to overcome the demons. This interpretation suggests that women are capable of taking control of their own lives, even when men are unable or unwilling to help them.
A third interpretation of the poem is that it is a metaphor for mental illness. The demons could represent the woman's own inner demons, the struggles and challenges that she faces within herself. The exorcists could represent the various therapists and doctors who try to help her, but ultimately fail. The woman's confrontation with the demons represents her own journey towards healing and recovery.
Conclusion
The Exorcists is a complex and powerful poem that demands careful reading and thoughtful interpretation. It is a feminist work that challenges traditional narratives of heroism and rescue, and it is a commentary on the limitations of religion and the power of the individual to overcome personal challenges. The poem's vivid language and striking imagery create a sense of horror and despair, but also a sense of hope and empowerment. It is a timeless work of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Exorcists: A Hauntingly Beautiful Poem by Anne Sexton
Anne Sexton, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, is known for her confessional style of writing. Her poems often deal with themes of mental illness, death, and the human condition. One of her most hauntingly beautiful poems is The Exorcists, which was published in her collection of poems titled Transformations in 1971.
The Exorcists is a retelling of the classic fairy tale, The Frog Prince. However, Sexton's version is far from the traditional story. In her poem, the princess is not a beautiful and innocent young girl, but a troubled and disturbed woman who is haunted by her past. The frog prince is not a charming and handsome prince, but a grotesque and terrifying creature who represents the darkness within the princess.
The poem begins with the princess describing her torment:
"I have been tormented by the image of the frog for weeks on end. My skin crawls at the thought of him and yet I cannot look away."
The frog represents the princess's inner demons, the things that she cannot escape from. She is haunted by her past, by the things she has done and the things that have been done to her. The frog is a physical manifestation of her pain and her guilt.
The princess seeks help from the exorcists, who are described as "men of God." However, they are unable to help her. They try to exorcise the frog from her mind, but they are unsuccessful. The princess is left alone with her tormentor.
The poem then takes a dark turn. The princess begins to embrace the frog, to accept him as a part of herself. She realizes that she cannot escape from him, that he is a part of who she is. She says:
"I have come to love the frog, to embrace him as a part of myself. He is my darkness, my pain, my guilt and my shame."
The princess's acceptance of the frog is a powerful moment in the poem. It represents her acceptance of herself, of all the things that she has done and all the things that have been done to her. She realizes that she cannot change the past, but she can learn to live with it.
The poem ends with the princess and the frog living together in harmony. The frog is no longer a tormentor, but a companion. The princess says:
"I am no longer tormented by the frog. He is my friend, my confidant, my constant companion."
The Exorcists is a powerful poem that deals with themes of acceptance, self-discovery, and the human condition. Sexton's use of the fairy tale as a metaphor for the princess's inner demons is masterful. The poem is both haunting and beautiful, and it leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
Sexton's confessional style of writing is evident in The Exorcists. The poem is deeply personal and reflects the author's own struggles with mental illness and self-acceptance. Sexton suffered from depression and bipolar disorder, and her poetry often reflects the pain and darkness that she experienced.
In conclusion, The Exorcists is a hauntingly beautiful poem that deals with themes of acceptance, self-discovery, and the human condition. Sexton's use of the fairy tale as a metaphor for the princess's inner demons is masterful, and her confessional style of writing adds a personal touch to the poem. The Exorcists is a powerful reminder that we cannot escape from our past, but we can learn to live with it.
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