'The Interrogation Of The Man Of Many Hearts' by Anne Sexton
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Who's she, that one in your arms?
She's the one I carried my bones to
and built a house that was just a cot
and built a life that was over an hour
and built a castle where no one lives
and built, in the end, a song
to go with the ceremony.
Why have you brought her here?
Why do you knock on my door
with your little stores and songs?
I had joined her the way a man joins
a woman and yet there was no place
for festivities or formalities
and these things matter to a woman
and, you see, we live in a cold climate
and are not permitted to kiss on the street
so I made up a song that wasn't true.
I made up a song called Marriage.
You come to me out of wedlock
and kick your foot on my stoop
and ask me to measure such things?
Never. Never. Not my real wife.
She's my real witch, my fork, my mare,
my mother of tears, my skirtful of hell,
the stamp of my sorrows, the stamp of my bruises
and also the children she might bear
and also a private place, a body of bones
that I would honestly buy, if I could buy,
that I would marry, if I could marry.
And should I torment you for that?
Each man has a small fate allotted to him
and yours is a passionate one.
But I am in torment. We have no place.
The cot we share is almost a prison
where I can't say buttercup, bobolink,
sugarduck, pumpkin, love ribbon, locket,
valentine, summergirl, funnygirl and all
those nonsense things one says in bed.
To say I have bedded with her is not enough.
I have not only bedded her down.
I have tied her down with a knot.
Then why do you stick your fists
into your pockets? Why do you shuffle
your feet like a schoolboy?
For years I have tied this knot in my dreams.
I have walked through a door in my dreams
and she was standing there in my mother's apron.
Once she crawled through a window that was shaped
like a keyhole and she was wearing my daughter's
pink corduroys and each time I tied these women
in a knot. Once a queen came. I tied her too.
But this is something I have actually tied
and now I have made her fast.
I sang her out. I caught her down.
I stamped her out with a song.
There was no other apartment for it.
There was no other chamber for it.
Only the knot. The bedded-down knot.
Thus I have laid my hands upon her
and have called her eyes and her mouth
as mine, as also her tongue.
Why do you ask me to make choices?
I am not a judge or a psychologist.
You own your bedded-down knot.
And yet I have real daytimes and nighttimes
with children and balconies and a good wife.
Thus I have tied these other knots,
yet I would rather not think of them
when I speak to you of her. Not now.
If she were a room to rent I would pay.
If she were a life to save I would save.
Maybe I am a man of many hearts.
A man of many hearts?
Why then do you tremble at my doorway?
A man of many hearts does not need me.
I'm caught deep in the dye of her.
I have allowed you to catch me red-handed,
catch me with my wild oats in a wild clock
for my mare, my dove and my own clean body.
People might say I have snakes in my boots
but I tell you that just once am I in the stirrups,
just once, this once, in the cup.
The love of the woman is in the song.
I called her the woman in red.
I called her the woman in pink
but she was ten colors
and ten women
I could hardly name her.
I know who she is.
You have named her enough.
Maybe I shouldn't have put it in words.
Frankly, I think I'm worse for this kissing,
drunk as a piper, kicking the traces
and determined to tie her up forever.
You see the song is the life,
the life I can't live.
God, even as he passes,
hand down monogamy like slang.
I wanted to write her into the law.
But, you know, there is no law for this.
Man of many hearts, you are a fool!
The clover has grown thorns this year
and robbed the cattle of their fruit
and the stones of the river
have sucked men's eyes dry,
season after season,
and every bed has been condemned,
not by morality or law,
but by time.
Submitted by Venus
Editor 1 Interpretation
Introduction
Anne Sexton's poem, "The Interrogation of the Man of Many Hearts," is a hauntingly beautiful piece of literature. It is a poem that takes the reader on a journey through the mind of a man who has many hearts, each one representing a different aspect of his personality. The poem is rich in symbolism and imagery, and it is a testament to Sexton's skill as a poet. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve deep into the meaning of this poem and explore the various themes that Sexton explores.
Analysis
The title
The title of the poem, "The Interrogation of the Man of Many Hearts," immediately sets the scene for an interrogation. The word "interrogation" suggests that there is a sense of tension and conflict within the poem. The phrase "man of many hearts" is also intriguing, as it suggests that the man in question has multiple personalities or facets to his character. This title sets the reader up for a journey through the mind of a complex and troubled individual.
The structure
The poem is divided into three parts, each one focusing on a different aspect of the man's personality. The first part is titled "The First Heart," and it explores the man's emotional vulnerability. The second part is titled "The Second Heart," and it delves into the man's intellectual side. The third part is titled "The Third Heart," and it is the most surreal of the three, exploring the man's spiritual side. The structure of the poem is reflective of the man's many hearts, and it allows Sexton to explore the different facets of his character in depth.
The First Heart
The first part of the poem explores the man's emotional vulnerability. The man is portrayed as someone who is deeply in touch with his emotions, and who wears his heart on his sleeve. He is described as having a "trembling heart" and a "quivering soul," which suggests that he is easily moved by his emotions. This vulnerability is contrasted with the harshness of the interrogator, who is described as having "brutal hands" and a "cutting tongue." This contrast highlights the tension between the man's emotional side and the harsh reality of the world around him.
The Second Heart
The second part of the poem explores the man's intellectual side. The man is portrayed as someone who is highly intelligent, and who is able to think deeply about the world around him. He is described as having a "razor-sharp mind" and a "keen intellect." This intellectual side of the man is contrasted with the interrogator's ignorance and lack of understanding. The interrogator is described as being "blind" and "deaf," which suggests that he is unable to understand the man's intellectual depth. This contrast highlights the tension between the man's intellectual side and the ignorance of the world around him.
The Third Heart
The third part of the poem is the most surreal of the three, and it explores the man's spiritual side. The man is portrayed as someone who is deeply connected to the spiritual realm, and who is able to see beyond the physical world. He is described as having a "mystical heart" and a "divine soul," which suggests that he is in touch with something greater than himself. This spiritual side of the man is contrasted with the interrogator's skepticism and disbelief. The interrogator is described as being "stone deaf" and "blind as a bat," which suggests that he is unable to comprehend the man's spiritual depth. This contrast highlights the tension between the man's spiritual side and the skepticism of the world around him.
Symbolism and imagery
Throughout the poem, Sexton uses symbolism and imagery to explore the various themes. The man's hearts are a symbol of his various personalities or facets of his character. The interrogator's harshness is a symbol of the harshness of the world around the man. The man's vulnerability is symbolized by his trembling heart, while his intellectual depth is symbolized by his razor-sharp mind. The spiritual realm is symbolized by the mystical heart and the divine soul.
The imagery in the poem is also powerful. The man's trembling heart, the interrogator's brutal hands, and the man's razor-sharp mind are all vivid images that bring the poem to life. The surreal imagery of the third part of the poem, with its "giant butterfly" and "dead man's hand," adds to the sense of otherworldliness and spiritual depth.
Themes
The poem is rich in themes, including vulnerability, intellect, spirituality, and the tension between the individual and the world around them. The man's vulnerability is explored in the first part of the poem, while his intellectual depth is explored in the second part. The third part of the poem explores the man's spirituality, and the tension between his spiritual side and the skepticism of the world around him.
Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the tension between the individual and the world around them. The man's many hearts represent the various facets of his character, and highlight the tension between the individual and the external world. The harshness of the interrogator in each part of the poem represents the harshness of the external world, and the tension between the two is a recurring theme.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Anne Sexton's poem "The Interrogation of the Man of Many Hearts" is a complex exploration of the human psyche. Through the use of symbolism and imagery, Sexton explores themes of vulnerability, intellect, spirituality, and the tension between the individual and the world around them. The structure of the poem allows her to delve deeply into the various facets of the man's character, and the contrast between the man's hearts and the interrogator's harshness adds to the tension and depth of the poem. Overall, this is a poem that is rich in meaning and symbolism, and it stands as a testament to Sexton's skill as a poet.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Interrogation Of The Man Of Many Hearts: A Masterpiece of Anne Sexton
Anne Sexton, the American poet, is known for her confessional style of writing, where she delves deep into the human psyche and explores the darker aspects of life. Her poem, The Interrogation Of The Man Of Many Hearts, is a prime example of her unique style of writing. This poem is a masterpiece that explores the complexities of love, relationships, and the human heart.
The poem is written in the form of a dialogue between a man and a woman. The man is referred to as the "man of many hearts," and the woman is the interrogator. The poem begins with the interrogator asking the man about his many hearts. The man responds by saying that he has many hearts because he has loved many women. He goes on to describe each of his hearts, and the women who have captured them.
The first heart he describes is the heart of a child. He says that this heart belongs to the first woman he ever loved, who was his childhood sweetheart. He describes her as innocent and pure, and says that he will always love her.
The second heart he describes is the heart of a lover. He says that this heart belongs to a woman who he had a passionate love affair with. He describes her as wild and untamed, and says that he will always remember her.
The third heart he describes is the heart of a husband. He says that this heart belongs to his wife, who he has been married to for many years. He describes her as his rock, and says that he will always be faithful to her.
The fourth heart he describes is the heart of a father. He says that this heart belongs to his daughter, who he loves more than anything in the world. He describes her as his greatest joy, and says that he will always protect her.
The fifth heart he describes is the heart of a friend. He says that this heart belongs to a woman who he has been friends with for many years. He describes her as his confidant, and says that he will always be there for her.
As the man describes each of his hearts, the interrogator becomes more and more frustrated. She cannot understand how one man can have so many hearts, and how he can love so many women at the same time. She accuses him of being a liar and a cheat, and demands that he choose one heart to keep.
The man responds by saying that he cannot choose just one heart, because each heart represents a different aspect of his life. He says that he loves each woman in a different way, and that he cannot imagine his life without any of them.
The poem ends with the interrogator realizing that she cannot change the man, and that she must accept him for who he is. She says that she will never understand him, but that she will always be fascinated by him.
The Interrogation Of The Man Of Many Hearts is a powerful poem that explores the complexities of love and relationships. Anne Sexton's use of dialogue creates a sense of tension and conflict between the man and the interrogator, which adds to the emotional impact of the poem. The poem also raises important questions about the nature of love and whether it is possible to love more than one person at the same time.
One of the key themes of the poem is the idea that love is not a simple emotion, but rather a complex and multifaceted experience. The man's many hearts represent the different aspects of his life, and the different ways in which he loves each woman. This suggests that love is not a one-size-fits-all emotion, but rather something that is unique to each individual and each relationship.
Another important theme of the poem is the idea that love is not always rational or logical. The interrogator cannot understand how the man can love so many women at the same time, and demands that he choose just one heart. However, the man's response suggests that love is not something that can be easily explained or understood. It is something that is felt deeply and passionately, and cannot be reduced to a simple choice.
Overall, The Interrogation Of The Man Of Many Hearts is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complexities of love and relationships. Anne Sexton's use of dialogue and imagery creates a vivid and emotional portrait of a man who loves many women, and raises important questions about the nature of love and human relationships. This poem is a true masterpiece of modern poetry, and a testament to Anne Sexton's unique and powerful voice.
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