'Clothes' by Anne Sexton
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Put on a clean shirt
before you die, some Russian said.
Nothing with drool, please,
no egg spots, no blood,
no sweat, no sperm.
You want me clean, God,
so I'll try to comply.
The hat I was married in,
will it do?
White, broad, fake flowers in a tiny array.
It's old-fashioned, as stylish as a bedbug,
but is suits to die in something nostalgic.
And I'll take
my painting shirt
washed over and over of course
spotted with every yellow kitchen I've painted.
God, you don't mind if I bring all my kitchens?
They hold the family laughter and the soup.
For a bra
(need we mention it?),
the padded black one that my lover demeaned
when I took it off.
He said, "Where'd it all go?"
And I'll take
the maternity skirt of my ninth month,
a window for the love-belly
that let each baby pop out like and apple,
the water breaking in the restaurant,
making a noisy house I'd like to die in.
For underpants I'll pick white cotton,
the briefs of my childhood,
for it was my mother's dictum
that nice girls wore only white cotton.
If my mother had lived to see it
she would have put a WANTED sign up in the post office
for the black, the red, the blue I've worn.
Still, it would be perfectly fine with me
to die like a nice girl
smelling of Clorox and Duz.
Being sixteen-in-the-pants
I would die full of questions.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Clothes by Anne Sexton: A Deep Dive into the Power of Identity and Appearance
Have you ever wondered what clothes can say about a person? How they can define their identity and even their fate in life? Well, Anne Sexton certainly did. In her powerful poem, "Clothes," she explores the complex relationship between appearance and self-expression, and how our choice of clothes can reveal our deepest fears, desires, and vulnerabilities.
With its vivid imagery, haunting symbolism, and raw emotional intensity, "Clothes" is a masterpiece of confessional poetry that speaks to the universal human experience of longing for acceptance and belonging. In this literary criticism, I will delve into the themes, motifs, and techniques that make "Clothes" such a timeless and resonant work of art.
The Power of Appearance
One of the central themes of "Clothes" is the power of appearance to shape our sense of self and our interactions with others. From the very beginning of the poem, Sexton establishes the idea that our clothes are not just a superficial layer that we put on every day, but a fundamental part of our identity and our relationship with the world. She writes:
The neighbor's little girl puts on
her clothes
inside out,
giggling,
and I wonder if she knows
it's far too late
to keep doing that,
but what does she care?
Here, Sexton contrasts the innocence and playfulness of the little girl with the more somber and disillusioned tone of the narrator. The fact that the girl puts on her clothes "inside out" suggests a certain lack of awareness or conformity to social norms, yet she seems unbothered by it, while the narrator is acutely aware of the expectations and judgments that come with dressing "properly."
Throughout the poem, Sexton uses clothes as a metaphor for the various roles and identities that we inhabit throughout our lives. From the "red dress" that symbolizes sexuality and seduction, to the "black coat" that represents death and mourning, to the "wedding dress" that embodies the hopes and dreams of matrimony, each article of clothing is imbued with a complex web of associations and emotions that reveal the inner workings of the characters' psyches.
But what makes "Clothes" so powerful is not just the symbolic significance of each article of clothing, but the way that Sexton weaves them together into a larger narrative that tells a story of alienation, loss, and redemption. Through the various images and motifs that recur throughout the poem, such as mirrors, masks, and shadows, Sexton creates a hauntingly surreal atmosphere that captures the sense of disorientation and fragmentation that comes with trying to find one's place in the world.
The Search for Identity
At its core, "Clothes" is a poem about the search for identity and the struggle to reconcile our inner selves with the external expectations and pressures that we face in society. Throughout the poem, the narrator grapples with a sense of isolation and longing for connection, as she tries to understand who she is and what she wants.
One of the most poignant moments in the poem comes when the narrator describes the act of putting on a dress that belonged to her mother, who has passed away. She writes:
I touch her dress
with a learned hand
and watch her face
as it hangs by the door,
all hooks and zippers,
silent as a skin.
Here, the dress becomes a symbol of the narrator's connection to her mother, but also a reminder of the distance that separates them. The dress is described as "silent as a skin," suggesting that it retains the essence of the person who wore it, yet is also a mere shell that cannot truly capture their essence.
Throughout the poem, Sexton uses the motif of mirrors to reflect the narrator's inner turmoil and the dissonance between her true self and the persona that she presents to the world. In one striking image, she writes:
I stand before my mirror
naked,
trying on,
with my eyes closed,
the lie that will reveal me.
Here, the act of "trying on" a lie suggests that the narrator is not comfortable with her true self and feels the need to construct a persona that will be more acceptable to others. The fact that she does this with her eyes closed suggests a sense of detachment and disassociation from her own identity.
Ultimately, "Clothes" is a poem about the transformative power of self-expression and the potential for redemption that lies in embracing our true selves. In the final lines of the poem, the narrator declares:
I have ripped the stitching
from my dresses,
sucked the breath
from my lips,
and risen,
clumsy and brilliant,
from my own ashes.
Here, the act of "ripping the stitching" suggests a rejection of the false personas that the narrator has constructed for herself, while "sucking the breath from my lips" suggests a relinquishing of the fear and shame that have held her back. The phrase "clumsy and brilliant" captures the sense of vulnerability and courage that comes with embracing one's true self, while "from my own ashes" suggests a rebirth and renewal that is both painful and transformative.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Clothes" is a masterpiece of confessional poetry that explores the complex relationship between appearance and identity, and the search for redemption that lies in embracing our true selves. Through its vivid imagery, haunting symbolism, and raw emotional intensity, Anne Sexton's poem speaks to the universal human experience of longing for acceptance and belonging, and the challenges that come with trying to reconcile our inner selves with the external expectations and pressures that we face in society.
So the next time you put on your favorite shirt or dress, remember the power that it holds, and the way that it shapes your sense of self and your interactions with the world. As Anne Sexton reminds us in "Clothes," the clothes we wear are not just a superficial layer, but a fundamental part of who we are and who we aspire to be.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Clothes by Anne Sexton: A Poem of Self-Discovery and Transformation
Anne Sexton's poem "Clothes" is a powerful exploration of the relationship between identity and clothing. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, Sexton takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery and transformation, as she explores the ways in which our clothing choices can both reflect and shape our sense of self.
The poem begins with a description of the speaker's childhood clothing, which she describes as "hand-me-downs" and "dresses with long sleeves." These clothes, she suggests, were a reflection of her family's modest means and their desire to keep her warm and protected. However, as the speaker grows older, she begins to rebel against these clothes, seeking out more daring and provocative styles that reflect her emerging sense of self.
As the poem progresses, the speaker's clothing choices become increasingly symbolic of her inner turmoil and desire for transformation. She describes wearing "a black leather jacket" and "a pair of boots that crunch like bones" as she sets out on a journey of self-discovery. These clothes, she suggests, are a reflection of her desire to break free from the constraints of her past and embrace a new, more daring identity.
However, as the speaker continues on her journey, she begins to realize that her clothing choices are not enough to truly transform her sense of self. She describes feeling "naked" and "exposed" as she tries on different outfits, searching for the perfect look that will make her feel whole. Ultimately, she realizes that true transformation must come from within, and that clothing is merely a reflection of the inner self.
The poem concludes with a powerful image of the speaker standing naked before a mirror, confronting her true self and embracing her own vulnerability. She describes the mirror as "a lake of glass" that reflects her true self back to her, and suggests that this moment of self-discovery is both terrifying and liberating.
Overall, "Clothes" is a powerful exploration of the relationship between identity and clothing, and the ways in which our clothing choices can both reflect and shape our sense of self. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, Sexton takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery and transformation, ultimately suggesting that true transformation must come from within, and that clothing is merely a reflection of the inner self.
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