'Buying The Whore' by Anne Sexton
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You are the roast beef I have purchased
and I stuff you with my very own onion.
You are a boat I have rented by the hour
and I steer you with my rage until you run aground.
You are a glass that I have paid to shatter
and I swallow the pieces down with my spit.
You are the grate I warm my trembling hands on,
searing the flesh until it's nice and juicy.
You stink like my Mama under your bra
and I vomit into your hand like a jackpot
its cold hard quarters.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Buying The Whore: A Critical Analysis
Anne Sexton's "Buying The Whore" is a powerful poem that explores themes of power, control, and sexuality. Through the use of vivid imagery, potent symbolism, and striking language, the poet takes the reader on a journey into the mind of a man who is seeking to control and dominate a woman through the exchange of money for sex. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we will analyze the poem in detail, looking at its themes, structure, and language, and unpacking the many layers of meaning contained within it.
Background
First published in 1972, "Buying The Whore" was part of Sexton's collection of poems entitled "Transformations." This collection was based on the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, which Sexton reimagined in her own unique, often subversive way, exploring issues of gender, power, and desire. In "Buying The Whore," Sexton takes the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood and turns it on its head, creating a provocative and challenging work that forces the reader to confront uncomfortable truths about the nature of power and sexuality.
Themes
At its core, "Buying The Whore" is a poem about power and control. The man in the poem seeks to control the woman he is paying for sex, using money as a means to exert his dominance over her. The poem is also about sex and sexuality, exploring the ways in which desire can be distorted and warped by power dynamics. Additionally, the poem touches on themes of gender, with the man embodying toxic masculinity and the woman representing the objectification and commodification of the female body. Finally, the poem is about language and the ways in which words can be used to manipulate and deceive, as the man in the poem uses his words to try and justify his actions and rationalize his behavior.
Structure
"Buying The Whore" is a relatively short poem, consisting of just three stanzas. However, each stanza is packed with meaning, and the poem is carefully constructed to create a sense of tension and unease. The first stanza sets the scene, with the man approaching the woman and offering her money for sex. The second stanza is the longest, and it is where most of the action takes place. In this stanza, the man attempts to justify and rationalize his behavior, while the woman remains largely silent. The final stanza is short but powerful, with the woman finally speaking and rejecting the man's attempts to control her.
Language
One of the most striking things about "Buying The Whore" is the language that Sexton uses. The poem is full of vivid, often shocking imagery, and the language is often raw and confrontational. For example, in the first stanza, Sexton writes:
I have come to you like a fat priest to the suicide underneath the bridge.
These lines are designed to shock the reader and create a sense of unease. The comparison of the man to a "fat priest" is particularly striking, as it suggests that he is a figure of authority and power. The reference to the "suicide underneath the bridge" is also significant, as it implies that the woman is in a vulnerable and precarious position.
Throughout the poem, Sexton uses animal imagery to explore the power dynamics between the man and the woman. For example, in the second stanza, she writes:
I have come to you like a wolf to a table and I have shown you my teeth in a way that should frighten you but it does not.
Here, the man is compared to a wolf, a symbol of predatory behavior and aggression. The reference to the teeth is particularly significant, as it suggests that the man is using his words as a weapon to intimidate and control the woman.
Finally, the language in the final stanza is particularly powerful. The woman speaks for the first time, and her words are a forceful rejection of the man's attempts to control her:
I am not a whore. I am Little Red Riding Hood and I am not afraid.
Here, the woman reclaims her identity and asserts her agency, refusing to be defined by the man's attempts to commodify her. The reference to Little Red Riding Hood is particularly significant, as it subverts the traditional fairy tale narrative and gives the woman agency and power.
Interpretation
"Buying The Whore" is a challenging and provocative poem that raises important questions about power, control, and sexuality. At its core, the poem is a critique of the ways in which men use money and power to control women and commodify their bodies. The man in the poem represents toxic masculinity, using his words and his money to try and exert his dominance over the woman. The woman, meanwhile, represents the objectification and commodification of the female body, with the man treating her as a commodity to be bought and sold.
However, the poem is also about resistance and agency. The woman in the poem may initially appear to be powerless and vulnerable, but she ultimately rejects the man's attempts to control her and reclaims her agency. By asserting her identity as Little Red Riding Hood, she subverts the traditional narrative and takes control of her own story.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Buying The Whore" is a powerful and challenging poem that explores important themes of power, control, and sexuality. Through its use of vivid imagery, potent symbolism, and striking language, the poem forces the reader to confront uncomfortable truths about gender, power, and desire. Ultimately, the poem is a call to action, urging us to resist the toxic dynamics of power and control and to embrace agency and empowerment.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Buying The Whore: A Deep Dive into Anne Sexton's Classic Poem
Anne Sexton's poem "Buying The Whore" is a powerful and provocative piece of literature that explores themes of power, control, and sexuality. Written in 1961, the poem is a reflection on the complex relationship between men and women, and the ways in which society often reinforces gender roles and stereotypes.
At its core, "Buying The Whore" is a poem about prostitution. The speaker of the poem is a man who has hired a prostitute for the night, and the poem explores his thoughts and feelings as he engages in this transaction. Throughout the poem, Sexton uses vivid imagery and powerful language to convey the complex emotions and desires that are at play in this encounter.
One of the most striking aspects of "Buying The Whore" is the way in which Sexton portrays the prostitute. Rather than depicting her as a victim or a passive object of desire, Sexton gives her agency and power. The prostitute is described as "a queen" and "a goddess," and the speaker is clearly in awe of her. This is a significant departure from the way in which prostitutes are often portrayed in literature, where they are reduced to mere objects of male desire.
At the same time, however, Sexton does not shy away from the darker aspects of prostitution. The speaker is acutely aware of the power dynamic at play in this encounter, and he is constantly trying to assert his dominance over the prostitute. He describes her as "a toy" and "a thing," and he is clearly using her for his own pleasure. This tension between desire and power is a central theme of the poem, and it is what gives it its emotional depth and complexity.
Another important aspect of "Buying The Whore" is the way in which it explores the relationship between men and women. The poem is a commentary on the ways in which society often reinforces gender roles and stereotypes, and how these roles can be both limiting and damaging. The speaker is clearly a product of his environment, and he is trapped in a cycle of desire and domination that he cannot escape.
At the same time, however, Sexton suggests that there is a way out of this cycle. The prostitute represents a kind of liberation for the speaker, a way of breaking free from the constraints of society and exploring his own desires. By giving the prostitute agency and power, Sexton is suggesting that women have the ability to challenge and subvert traditional gender roles, and that men have the ability to learn from them.
In terms of form and structure, "Buying The Whore" is a free verse poem that is divided into three stanzas. Each stanza is composed of short, fragmented lines that give the poem a sense of urgency and intensity. The language is raw and visceral, and Sexton uses a variety of poetic techniques to create a sense of tension and unease.
One of the most effective techniques that Sexton uses in the poem is repetition. Throughout the poem, she repeats certain phrases and images, such as "the whore," "the bed," and "the money." This repetition creates a sense of rhythm and momentum, and it also emphasizes the central themes of the poem.
Another important technique that Sexton uses is imagery. The poem is filled with vivid and often disturbing images, such as "the whore's black eyes," "the bed's white belly," and "the money's green face." These images create a sense of atmosphere and mood, and they also help to convey the complex emotions and desires that are at play in the poem.
In conclusion, "Buying The Whore" is a powerful and provocative poem that explores themes of power, control, and sexuality. Through its vivid imagery and raw language, the poem challenges traditional gender roles and stereotypes, and it suggests that there is a way out of the cycle of desire and domination that often characterizes male-female relationships. While the poem is certainly not for everyone, it is a testament to Sexton's skill as a poet and her ability to tackle difficult and controversial subjects with honesty and sensitivity.
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