'45 Mercy Street' by Anne Sexton
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In my dream,
drilling into the marrow
of my entire bone,
my real dream,
I'm walking up and down Beacon Hill
searching for a street sign --
namely MERCY STREET.
Not there.
I try the Back Bay.
Not there.
Not there.
And yet I know the number.
45 Mercy Street.
I know the stained-glass window
of the foyer,
the three flights of the house
with its parquet floors.
I know the furniture and
mother, grandmother, great-grandmother,
the servants.
I know the cupboard of Spode
the boat of ice, solid silver,
where the butter sits in neat squares
like strange giant's teeth
on the big mahogany table.
I know it well.
Not there.
Where did you go?
45 Mercy Street,
with great-grandmother
kneeling in her whale-bone corset
and praying gently but fiercely
to the wash basin,
at five A.M.
at noon
dozing in her wiggy rocker,
grandfather taking a nap in the pantry,
grandmother pushing the bell for the downstairs maid,
and Nana rocking Mother with an oversized flower
on her forehead to cover the curl
of when she was good and when she was...
And where she was begat
and in a generation
the third she will beget,
me,
with the stranger's seed blooming
into the flower called Horrid.
I walk in a yellow dress
and a white pocketbook stuffed with cigarettes,
enough pills, my wallet, my keys,
and being twenty-eight, or is it forty-five?
I walk. I walk.
I hold matches at street signs
for it is dark,
as dark as the leathery dead
and I have lost my green Ford,
my house in the suburbs,
two little kids
sucked up like pollen by the bee in me
and a husband
who has wiped off his eyes
in order not to see my inside out
and I am walking and looking
and this is no dream
just my oily life
where the people are alibis
and the street is unfindable for an
entire lifetime.
Pull the shades down --
I don't care!
Bolt the door, mercy,
erase the number,
rip down the street sign,
what can it matter,
what can it matter to this cheapskate
who wants to own the past
that went out on a dead ship
and left me only with paper?
Not there.
I open my pocketbook,
as women do,
and fish swim back and forth
between the dollars and the lipstick.
I pick them out,
one by one
and throw them at the street signs,
and shoot my pocketbook
into the Charles River.
Next I pull the dream off
and slam into the cement wall
of the clumsy calendar
I live in,
my life,
and its hauled up
notebooks.
Editor 1 Interpretation
45 Mercy Street: A Dark and Introspective Poem by Anne Sexton
When it comes to confessional poetry, Anne Sexton's name is often mentioned alongside Sylvia Plath and Robert Lowell. But while her poems share some similarities with those of her peers, Sexton's voice is distinct and unique. Her work is often marked by a raw and visceral honesty, as she writes about her struggles with mental illness, motherhood, and identity. One of her most famous poems, "45 Mercy Street," is a haunting and introspective piece that delves deep into the poet's psyche. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will examine the themes, imagery, and symbolism in this powerful poem.
Overview
"45 Mercy Street" is a poem about memory, loss, and the fragility of the human psyche. The title refers to the address where Sexton grew up, and the poem is a reflection on her childhood and family life. But it is not a sentimental or nostalgic piece; instead, Sexton approaches her past with a sense of detachment and clinical observation. She uses powerful imagery and symbolism to convey the sense of alienation and disconnection she feels from her own memories.
The poem is divided into six stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of Sexton's childhood. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, as she describes the house on Mercy Street as "a madhouse / painted by a lunatic." This sets up the idea that the speaker's memories are unstable and unreliable, and that the house itself is a symbol of madness and chaos.
In subsequent stanzas, Sexton explores different aspects of her childhood. She describes her father as a "drunkard," her mother as "a witch," and her brothers as "sly / as foxes." Each member of the family is depicted with a negative or ambiguous quality, suggesting that the speaker's childhood was marked by dysfunction and instability.
The final stanza is perhaps the most powerful and haunting part of the poem. Sexton describes a dream she had in which she returns to Mercy Street and finds "the same / father with white hair." This dream represents the speaker's desire to reconnect with her past and her family, but it is also a reminder of the impossibility of doing so. The final lines of the poem, "I am the ghost of the house / that was torn down," suggest that the speaker's memories have become detached from reality and that she is no longer able to connect with her past.
Themes
One of the central themes of "45 Mercy Street" is memory and its unreliability. Sexton suggests that memories are not objective, but are shaped by the emotions and biases of the individual. The house on Mercy Street, which is described as a "madhouse," is a symbol of the instability and unreliability of memory. Sexton's memories of her childhood are fragmented and disjointed, and she is unable to fully connect with them.
Another important theme is the idea of family dysfunction. The speaker's family is depicted as dysfunctional, with each member possessing negative or ambiguous qualities. This suggests that the speaker's childhood was marked by chaos and instability, and that her memories of her family are tainted by this dysfunction.
Finally, the poem explores the idea of identity and selfhood. The speaker is unable to fully connect with her past and her family, and is haunted by the sense of disconnection and alienation. This suggests that the speaker's sense of self is fragmented and incomplete, and that she is struggling to come to terms with her own identity.
Imagery and Symbolism
One of the most powerful aspects of "45 Mercy Street" is its use of imagery and symbolism. The house on Mercy Street is a central symbol in the poem, representing the speaker's childhood and her memories. The description of the house as a "madhouse / painted by a lunatic" suggests that the speaker's memories are unstable and unreliable. The house is also described as being "torn down," which suggests that the speaker's memories are no longer connected to reality.
Another important symbol is the dream of the father with white hair. This dream represents the speaker's desire to connect with her past and her family, but it is also a reminder of the impossibility of doing so. The father's white hair is particularly significant, as it suggests the passage of time and the impossibility of returning to the past.
The speaker's family members are also depicted with symbolic qualities. The father is described as a "drunkard," which suggests that he is unable to control his impulses and emotions. The mother is described as a "witch," which suggests that she has a negative or dangerous influence on the family. The brothers are described as being "sly / as foxes," which suggests that they are cunning and untrustworthy.
Interpretation
"45 Mercy Street" is a dark and introspective poem that explores the fragility of memory and the complexities of family dysfunction. The poem is marked by a sense of disconnection and alienation, as the speaker struggles to come to terms with her past and her identity.
One possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a critique of the traditional family structure. The dysfunction and instability of the speaker's family suggests that the traditional nuclear family is not always a healthy or stable environment. The poem suggests that the speaker's memories are tainted by this dysfunction and that her sense of self is fragmented as a result.
Another interpretation is that the poem is a reflection on the limitations of memory and the power of the subconscious. The dream of the father with white hair suggests that the speaker's desire to reconnect with her past is driven by unconscious impulses and desires. The poem suggests that memories are not objective, but are shaped by the emotions and biases of the individual.
Finally, the poem can be seen as a reflection on the difficulties of coming to terms with one's own identity. The speaker's sense of disconnection and alienation suggests that she is struggling to come to terms with her own identity and to form a coherent sense of self.
Conclusion
"45 Mercy Street" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the fragility of memory, the complexities of family dysfunction, and the difficulties of forming a coherent sense of self. Sexton's use of imagery and symbolism is particularly effective, as it conveys the sense of disconnection and alienation that the speaker feels. The poem is a testament to Sexton's skill as a poet and her ability to capture the complexities of the human experience in her work.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
45 Mercy Street: A Poem of Despair and Hope
Anne Sexton’s poem, “45 Mercy Street,” is a haunting and powerful work that explores themes of despair, loss, and hope. Written in 1967, the poem is a reflection on the poet’s own struggles with mental illness and her attempts to find meaning and purpose in a world that often seems cruel and indifferent. In this analysis, we will explore the various elements of the poem, including its structure, imagery, and language, to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.
Structure
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each with six lines. The first stanza sets the scene, describing the poet’s childhood home on Mercy Street. The second stanza focuses on the poet’s struggles with mental illness and her attempts to find solace in religion. The third stanza offers a glimmer of hope, as the poet reflects on the beauty and wonder of the natural world.
The use of three stanzas is significant, as it reflects the traditional structure of a sonnet. However, the poem does not follow the strict rhyme scheme or meter of a sonnet, which gives it a more free-form and organic feel. This structure allows the poet to explore her themes in a more fluid and natural way, without being constrained by the rigid rules of traditional poetry.
Imagery
The imagery in the poem is vivid and evocative, painting a picture of a world that is both beautiful and terrifying. The first stanza describes the poet’s childhood home, with its “white and green shudders” and “porch where the willow stood.” This imagery is peaceful and idyllic, suggesting a sense of safety and security.
However, this sense of safety is quickly shattered in the second stanza, as the poet describes her struggles with mental illness. She compares her mind to a “blackboard” that is “scratched with secrets,” and describes the “darkness” that surrounds her. This imagery is bleak and unsettling, suggesting a sense of despair and hopelessness.
The third stanza offers a contrast to the darkness of the second stanza, as the poet reflects on the beauty of the natural world. She describes the “blue and gold” of the sky, the “green and gold” of the trees, and the “silver” of the river. This imagery is peaceful and uplifting, suggesting a sense of hope and renewal.
Language
The language in the poem is simple and direct, yet powerful and evocative. The use of repetition, particularly in the second stanza, creates a sense of rhythm and momentum that propels the poem forward. The repetition of the phrase “I am” emphasizes the poet’s sense of identity and self-awareness, while the repetition of the word “darkness” underscores the sense of despair and hopelessness that pervades the poem.
The use of metaphor and simile is also significant, as it allows the poet to convey complex emotions and ideas in a more accessible way. The comparison of the poet’s mind to a “blackboard” and the use of the phrase “scratched with secrets” suggests a sense of vulnerability and exposure. The comparison of the poet’s struggles with mental illness to a “war” emphasizes the sense of struggle and conflict that she is experiencing.
Themes
The themes of the poem are complex and multifaceted, reflecting the poet’s own struggles with mental illness and her attempts to find meaning and purpose in a world that often seems cruel and indifferent. One of the central themes of the poem is the idea of identity and self-awareness. The repetition of the phrase “I am” emphasizes the poet’s sense of self, even in the midst of her struggles.
Another theme of the poem is the idea of despair and hopelessness. The imagery in the second stanza is bleak and unsettling, suggesting a sense of darkness and despair. However, the third stanza offers a glimmer of hope, as the poet reflects on the beauty and wonder of the natural world. This suggests that even in the midst of darkness and despair, there is still beauty and hope to be found.
Finally, the poem explores the idea of religion and spirituality. The poet describes her attempts to find solace in religion, but ultimately suggests that true meaning and purpose can only be found in the natural world. This suggests a rejection of traditional religious beliefs in favor of a more personal and individualistic spirituality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Anne Sexton’s poem “45 Mercy Street” is a powerful and haunting work that explores themes of identity, despair, and hope. The use of vivid imagery, simple yet powerful language, and a free-form structure allows the poet to convey complex emotions and ideas in a way that is accessible and relatable. Ultimately, the poem suggests that even in the midst of darkness and despair, there is still beauty and hope to be found, and that true meaning and purpose can only be found within ourselves.
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