'Rapunzel' by Anne Sexton
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A woman
who loves a woman
is forever young.
The mentor
and the student
feed off each other.
Many a girl
had an old aunt
who locked her in the study
to keep the boys away.
They would play rummy
or lie on the couch
and touch and touch.
Old breast against young breast...
Let your dress fall down your shoulder,
come touch a copy of you
for I am at the mercy of rain,
for I have left the three Christs of Ypsilanti
for I have left the long naps of Ann Arbor
and the church spires have turned to stumps.
The sea bangs into my cloister
for the politicians are dying,
and dying so hold me, my young dear,
hold me...
The yellow rose will turn to cinder
and New York City will fall in
before we are done so hold me,
my young dear, hold me.
Put your pale arms around my neck.
Let me hold your heart like a flower
lest it bloom and collapse.
Give me your skin
as sheer as a cobweb,
let me open it up
and listen in and scoop out the dark.
Give me your nether lips
all puffy with their art
and I will give you angel fire in return.
We are two clouds
glistening in the bottle galss.
We are two birds
washing in the same mirror.
We were fair game
but we have kept out of the cesspool.
We are strong.
We are the good ones.
Do not discover us
for we lie together all in green
like pond weeds.
Hold me, my young dear, hold me.
They touch their delicate watches
one at a time.
They dance to the lute
two at a time.
They are as tender as bog moss.
They play mother-me-do
all day.
A woman
who loves a woman
is forever young.
Once there was a witch's garden
more beautiful than Eve's
with carrots growing like little fish,
with many tomatoes rich as frogs,
onions as ingrown as hearts,
the squash singing like a dolphin
and one patch given over wholly to magic --
rampion, a kind of salad root
a kind of harebell more potent than penicillin,
growing leaf by leaf, skin by skin.
as rapt and as fluid as Isadoran Duncan.
However the witch's garden was kept locked
and each day a woman who was with child
looked upon the rampion wildly,
fancying that she would die
if she could not have it.
Her husband feared for her welfare
and thus climbed into the garden
to fetch the life-giving tubers.
Ah ha, cried the witch,
whose proper name was Mother Gothel,
you are a thief and now you will die.
However they made a trade,
typical enough in those times.
He promised his child to Mother Gothel
so of course when it was born
she took the child away with her.
She gave the child the name Rapunzel,
another name for the life-giving rampion.
Because Rapunzel was a beautiful girl
Mother Gothel treasured her beyond all things.
As she grew older Mother Gothel thought:
None but I will ever see her or touch her.
She locked her in a tow without a door
or a staircase. It had only a high window.
When the witch wanted to enter she cried"
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.
Rapunzel's hair fell to the ground like a rainbow.
It was as strong as a dandelion
and as strong as a dog leash.
Hand over hand she shinnied up
the hair like a sailor
and there in the stone-cold room,
as cold as a museum,
Mother Gothel cried:
Hold me, my young dear, hold me,
and thus they played mother-me-do.
Years later a prince came by
and heard Rapunzel singing her loneliness.
That song pierced his heart like a valentine
but he could find no way to get to her.
Like a chameleon he hid himself among the trees
and watched the witch ascend the swinging hair.
The next day he himself called out:
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair,
and thus they met and he declared his love.
What is this beast, she thought,
with muscles on his arms
like a bag of snakes?
What is this moss on his legs?
What prickly plant grows on his cheeks?
What is this voice as deep as a dog?
Yet he dazzled her with his answers.
Yet he dazzled her with his dancing stick.
They lay together upon the yellowy threads,
swimming through them
like minnows through kelp
and they sang out benedictions like the Pope.
Each day he brought her a skein of silk
to fashion a ladder so they could both escape.
But Mother Gothel discovered the plot
and cut off Rapunzel's hair to her ears
and took her into the forest to repent.
When the prince came the witch fastened
the hair to a hook and let it down.
When he saw Rapunzel had been banished
he flung himself out of the tower, a side of beef.
He was blinded by thorns that prickled him like tacks.
As blind as Oedipus he wandered for years
until he heard a song that pierced his heart
like that long-ago valentine.
As he kissed Rapunzel her tears fell on his eyes
and in the manner of such cure-alls
his sight was suddenly restored.
They lived happily as you might expect
proving that mother-me-do
can be outgrown,
just as the fish on Friday,
just as a tricycle.
The world, some say,
is made up of couples.
A rose must have a stem.
As for Mother Gothel,
her heart shrank to the size of a pin,
never again to say: Hold me, my young dear,
hold me,
and only as she dreamed of the yellow hair
did moonlight sift into her mouth.
Submitted by RW
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Rapunzel" by Anne Sexton: A Deep Dive into the Classic Fairy Tale
Fairy tales have always been a source of wonder and fascination for children and adults alike. They have been regarded as tales of fantasy and magic, but also as narratives that have deeper meanings and messages hidden within them. Anne Sexton's "Rapunzel" is a prime example of a fairy tale that has been reimagined and retold to unveil the deeper themes that lie beneath the surface. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the different layers of meaning and symbolism in Sexton's version of "Rapunzel."
The Emergence of the Feminine Voice
In Sexton's version of "Rapunzel," we see a departure from the traditional portrayal of women in fairy tales. Instead of being depicted as passive and helpless, Rapunzel is revealed as a woman who has agency and a sense of self. Through the use of poetic language, Sexton gives voice to Rapunzel's innermost thoughts and feelings, making her a three-dimensional character rather than a mere object of desire.
In the opening lines of the poem, Sexton sets the stage for a feminist retelling of the fairy tale:
A woman who loves a woman is forever young.
Here, Sexton challenges the heteronormative narratives of fairy tales and subverts the traditional gender roles. She gives voice to the female perspective, creating a sense of empowerment that is lacking in the original tale.
As the poem progresses, we see the emergence of Rapunzel's voice, as she speaks of her yearning for freedom and the outside world:
I would weave it a basket and carry the berries and herbs as my mother taught me and all the little wild things would slip between my fingers like water.
In these lines, we see Rapunzel's desire for independence and her connection to nature. The use of natural imagery and the mention of her mother's teachings further reinforces the idea of female lineage and the power of women's knowledge.
The Symbolism of Hair and Towers
In the original fairy tale, Rapunzel's hair is the means by which the prince climbs up to her tower. However, in Sexton's version, hair takes on a much deeper symbolic meaning.
Hair is often seen as a symbol of femininity and sexuality, and in this poem, it represents Rapunzel's hidden desires and sensuality. The length of her hair symbolizes her captivity and entrapment, but also her potential for freedom.
The tower, on the other hand, represents the patriarchal structures that have kept Rapunzel captive. The tower is a metaphor for the male-dominated society that has prevented women from realizing their full potential.
In Sexton's version of the tale, Rapunzel eventually cuts off her hair, which can be seen as a symbol of her liberation from the patriarchal structures that have held her captive.
The Themes of Love and Betrayal
Love and betrayal are recurring themes in Sexton's version of "Rapunzel." The love between Rapunzel and the witch is a complex one, with both positive and negative elements. The witch is portrayed as a mother figure who loves Rapunzel, but also as a woman who has betrayed her by keeping her captive.
The prince's love for Rapunzel is also called into question, as he is willing to abandon her once she loses her hair:
"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair." But the hair is gone and the voice that once could call down no longer exists.
The prince's betrayal is a metaphor for the fickleness of love and the societal pressures that influence it.
The Transformation of the Fairy Tale Genre
Sexton's version of "Rapunzel" is a departure from the traditional fairy tale formula. She subverts the heteronormative narratives of fairy tales and gives voice to the female perspective. Through the use of poetic language and symbolism, she creates a powerful feminist message that challenges the patriarchal structures that have kept women captive for centuries.
In conclusion, Anne Sexton's "Rapunzel" is a powerful retelling of the classic fairy tale. It is a story of love and betrayal, but also of empowerment and liberation. Through her use of language and symbolism, Sexton creates a feminist narrative that challenges the traditional portrayal of women in fairy tales. It is a testament to the power of storytelling and the transformational potential of the fairy tale genre.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Rapunzel: A Tale of Power, Control, and Freedom
Anne Sexton's poem "Rapunzel" is a retelling of the classic fairy tale that explores themes of power, control, and freedom. The poem is a powerful commentary on the societal expectations placed on women and the ways in which they are often trapped in oppressive situations.
The poem begins with a description of the tower in which Rapunzel is trapped. The tower is described as "a round tower of stones" that is "as cold as a winter moon." This imagery sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it establishes the tower as a symbol of isolation and confinement. The tower is also described as being "as tall as a mountain," which emphasizes the magnitude of Rapunzel's imprisonment.
The next stanza introduces the character of Rapunzel herself. She is described as having "hair like a cascade of golden rain" and "eyes as blue as the sky." These descriptions create an image of Rapunzel as a beautiful and innocent young woman. However, the poem quickly reveals that Rapunzel is not as innocent as she may seem. She is described as being "a prisoner of the long-haired moon" and "a witch's child." These descriptions suggest that Rapunzel is not entirely human and that she is under the control of a powerful force.
The third stanza introduces the character of the prince. He is described as being "a young man" who is "handsome and brave." The prince is immediately drawn to Rapunzel's beauty and begins to climb the tower to reach her. However, he is quickly stopped by the witch who has imprisoned Rapunzel. The witch is described as being "old and ugly" and "a hag with a hungry mouth." These descriptions create an image of the witch as a powerful and dangerous figure who is determined to keep Rapunzel under her control.
The fourth stanza describes the prince's attempts to rescue Rapunzel. He tries to climb the tower several times, but each time he is stopped by the witch. The prince is described as being "determined and brave," but he is no match for the witch's power. This stanza emphasizes the theme of power and control, as it shows how the witch is able to keep Rapunzel imprisoned despite the prince's best efforts.
The fifth stanza introduces the theme of freedom. Rapunzel is described as being "lonely and sad" in her tower. She longs to be free and to experience the world outside of her confinement. This stanza emphasizes the importance of freedom and the ways in which it can be denied to individuals who are under the control of others.
The sixth stanza describes the prince's final attempt to rescue Rapunzel. He brings a length of silk with him and uses it to climb the tower. This time, the witch is unable to stop him, and he is able to reach Rapunzel. The prince is described as being "joyful and brave" as he rescues Rapunzel from her imprisonment. This stanza emphasizes the importance of persistence and determination in the face of adversity.
The final stanza of the poem describes Rapunzel and the prince's escape from the tower. They ride off into the sunset together, free from the witch's control. This stanza emphasizes the theme of freedom once again, as it shows how Rapunzel is finally able to escape from her confinement and experience the world outside of the tower.
Overall, Anne Sexton's poem "Rapunzel" is a powerful commentary on the themes of power, control, and freedom. The poem emphasizes the ways in which women are often trapped in oppressive situations and denied the freedom to live their lives as they choose. However, the poem also emphasizes the importance of persistence and determination in the face of adversity. Ultimately, the poem is a celebration of freedom and the ways in which individuals can overcome the obstacles that stand in their way.
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