'Demon' by Anne Sexton
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A young man is afraid of his demon and puts his hand
over the demon's mouth sometimes...-- D. H. Lawrence
I mentioned my demon to a friend
and the friend swam in oil and came forth to me
greasy and cryptic
and said,
"I'm thinking of taking him out of hock.
I pawned him years ago."
Who would buy?
The pawned demon,
Yellowing with forgetfulness
and hand at his throat?
Take him out of hock, my friend,
but beware of the grief
that will fly into your mouth like a bird.
My demon,
too often undressed,
too often a crucifix I bring forth,
too often a dead daisy I give water to
too often the child I give birth to
and then abort, nameless, nameless...
earthless.
Oh demon within,
I am afraid and seldom put my hand up
to my mouth and stitch it up
covering you, smothering you
from the public voyeury eyes
of my typewriter keys.
If I should pawn you,
what bullion would they give for you,
what pennies, swimming in their copper kisses
what bird on its way to perishing?
No.
No.
I accept you,
you come with the dead who people my dreams,
who walk all over my desk
(as in Mother, cancer blossoming on her
Best & Co. tits--
waltzing with her tissue paper ghost)
the dead, who give sweets to the diabetic in me,
who give bolts to the seizure of roses
that sometimes fly in and out of me.
Yes.
Yes.
I accept you, demon.
I will not cover your mouth.
If it be man I love, apple laden and foul
or if it be woman I love, sick unto her blood
and its sugary gasses and tumbling branches.
Demon come forth,
even if it be God I call forth
standing like a carrion,
wanting to eat me,
starting at the lips and tongue.
And me wanting to glide into His spoils,
I take bread and wine,
and the demon farts and giggles,
at my letting God out of my mouth
anonymous woman
at the anonymous altar.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Demon by Anne Sexton: An Analysis of Madness and Poetry
Have you ever read a poem that made you feel like you were losing your mind? That's how I felt when I first read "The Demon" by Anne Sexton. This classic poem, first published in 1960, is a powerful exploration of madness and poetry that continues to resonate with readers today. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I'll take a deep dive into "The Demon," exploring themes, symbols, and language to understand how Sexton uses these elements to create a haunting and unforgettable poem.
Madness and Descent
"The Demon" is a poem about madness, and Sexton uses the narrative structure to take the reader on a journey into the depths of the protagonist's madness. The poem is divided into three sections, each one representing a different stage in the protagonist's descent into madness.
In the first section, the protagonist is still relatively stable. She is aware of the demon that is haunting her, but she is able to keep it at bay:
The demon has been my friend.
He has knocked on my door.
I have ignored him.
I have talked to him.
I have sent him away.
The demon has been my friend.
However, even at this early stage, the protagonist is aware that she is not entirely in control of the situation. The demon is a part of her, and she acknowledges that "he" could eventually take over.
The second section marks a turning point in the poem. The protagonist's language becomes more fragmented and chaotic, as she struggles to keep the demon under control:
And now he says I am sick.
I am sick of myself.
I am sick of him.
I am sick of the world.
I am sick of sick things.
The repetition of "I am sick" creates a sense of claustrophobia and desperation, as if the protagonist is trapped in her own mind. She is losing control, and the demon is starting to take over.
In the final section, the demon has fully taken control of the protagonist, and the poem descends into complete chaos:
The demon has won. He has eaten my heart. He has digested my eyes. He has taken my sex. The demon has won. Now I am his.
The language in this section is fragmented, with short, choppy sentences that convey a sense of frenzy and madness. The repetition of "the demon has won" drives home the idea that the protagonist has lost control of herself entirely.
Symbolism and Imagery
Sexton uses powerful symbols and imagery to convey the protagonist's descent into madness. One of the most striking images in the poem is that of the demon itself. The demon represents the protagonist's own madness, something that she cannot escape.
The demon has been my friend.
He has been abroad.
He has brushed his coat.
He has washed his face.
He has combed his hair.
He has sat me down.
He has looked me in the eye.
These descriptions of the demon's appearance are almost mundane, as if the demon is a real person that the protagonist knows. The demon is not some abstract force – it is intimately connected to the protagonist's own psyche.
Another powerful symbol in the poem is that of the "black telephone." The telephone represents the outside world, something that the protagonist is increasingly disconnected from as she descends into madness.
The black telephone's off at the root, The voices just can't worm through.
The fact that the telephone is "off at the root" suggests that the protagonist is intentionally cutting herself off from the world. She is retreating further and further into her own mind, until she is completely lost.
Language and Poetic Techniques
"The Demon" is a masterclass in the use of language and poetic techniques. Sexton employs a range of techniques to create a sense of madness and chaos in the poem.
One of the most striking aspects of the language in the poem is the repetition. Phrases like "the demon has been my friend" and "the demon has won" are repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of circularity and inevitability. The repetition also reinforces the idea that the demon is intimately connected to the protagonist's own psyche.
Sexton also uses a range of poetic techniques to create a sense of disorientation and chaos. The poem is full of enjambment, with lines bleeding into one another to create a sense of fragmentation.
And now he says I am sick. I am sick of myself. I am sick of him. I am sick of the world. I am sick of sick things.
This use of enjambment creates a sense of breathlessness and desperation, as if the protagonist is struggling to keep up with her own thoughts.
Conclusion
"The Demon" is a powerful and haunting poem that continues to captivate readers today. Sexton uses narrative structure, symbolism, and language to create a vivid portrait of madness and descent. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to explore the darkest corners of the human psyche.
As I reflect on this poem, I'm struck by the way it continues to resonate with readers today. In a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable, "The Demon" speaks to our deepest fears and anxieties. It reminds us that we are all capable of descending into madness, and that we must work to keep our demons at bay.
In the end, "The Demon" is a poem that demands to be read and re-read. It is a work of art that speaks to the very essence of what it means to be human.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Anne Sexton’s poem “Demon” is a haunting and powerful piece of literature that explores the darker aspects of the human psyche. The poem is a deeply personal reflection on the author’s own struggles with mental illness, addiction, and self-destructive behavior. Through vivid imagery and raw emotion, Sexton creates a portrait of a tortured soul grappling with inner demons.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing a “demon” that has taken up residence inside her. The demon is described as a “small thing” that has grown larger over time, feeding on the speaker’s pain and suffering. The demon is a metaphor for the speaker’s own self-destructive tendencies, which have taken on a life of their own.
Sexton’s use of metaphor is particularly effective in this poem. The demon is not a literal creature, but rather a symbol for the speaker’s inner turmoil. This allows the reader to connect with the poem on a deeper level, as we all have our own inner demons that we struggle with.
The speaker describes the demon as “a black cloud” that follows her everywhere she goes. This image is particularly powerful, as it conveys the sense of suffocating darkness that the speaker feels. The demon is not just a nuisance, but a constant presence that threatens to consume her.
The demon is also described as a “thief” that steals the speaker’s joy and happiness. This is a common theme in Sexton’s work, as she often explores the idea of happiness as something that is elusive and fleeting. The demon represents the speaker’s inability to find happiness, and the way in which her own self-destructive tendencies are preventing her from living a fulfilling life.
The poem takes a darker turn as the speaker describes the ways in which the demon has taken control of her life. She describes how the demon “makes me lie down / in a black shroud / and promises to keep me / warm.” This image is particularly chilling, as it suggests that the speaker has given up on life and is content to be consumed by her own darkness.
The demon is also described as a “doctor” who prescribes drugs and alcohol to the speaker. This is a clear reference to Sexton’s own struggles with addiction, which she was open about throughout her life. The demon represents the way in which addiction can take on a life of its own, and how it can become a destructive force that is difficult to overcome.
Despite the darkness of the poem, there is a sense of hope that runs throughout. The speaker acknowledges that the demon is a part of her, but she also recognizes that she has the power to overcome it. She says, “I have learned to wear many faces / like dresses – home face, / office face, street face, hostess face, / with all their conforming smiles / like a fixed portrait smile.” This suggests that the speaker is able to put on a façade in order to navigate the world, but that she is also aware of the ways in which this façade is limiting her.
The poem ends with the speaker acknowledging that the demon is a part of her, but that she is also more than just her inner demons. She says, “I am a light sleeper, / but the light cannot be seen / under the blanket fastened with a silver pin / that the demon does not know.” This final image is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the speaker is able to keep a part of herself hidden from the demon. This suggests that there is a part of her that is still pure and untouched by the darkness that surrounds her.
In conclusion, Anne Sexton’s poem “Demon” is a powerful exploration of the darker aspects of the human psyche. Through vivid imagery and raw emotion, Sexton creates a portrait of a tortured soul grappling with inner demons. The poem is a deeply personal reflection on the author’s own struggles with mental illness, addiction, and self-destructive behavior. Despite the darkness of the poem, there is a sense of hope that runs throughout, as the speaker acknowledges that she has the power to overcome her inner demons. This is a poem that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled with their own inner darkness, and it is a testament to Sexton’s skill as a poet that she is able to convey such complex emotions with such clarity and power.
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