'Anna Who Was Mad' by Anne Sexton
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Anna who was mad,
I have a knife in my armpit.
When I stand on tiptoe I tap out messages.
Am I some sort of infection?
Did I make you go insane?
Did I make the sounds go sour?
Did I tell you to climb out the window?
Forgive. Forgive.
Say not I did.
Say not.
Say.
Speak Mary-words into our pillow.
Take me the gangling twelve-year-old
into your sunken lap.
Whisper like a buttercup.
Eat me. Eat me up like cream pudding.
Take me in.
Take me.
Take.
Give me a report on the condition of my soul.
Give me a complete statement of my actions.
Hand me a jack-in-the-pulpit and let me listen in.
Put me in the stirrups and bring a tour group through.
Number my sins on the grocery list and let me buy.
Did I make you go insane?
Did I turn up your earphone and let a siren drive through?
Did I open the door for the mustached psychiatrist
who dragged you out like a gold cart?
Did I make you go insane?
From the grave write me, Anna!
You are nothing but ashes but nevertheless
pick up the Parker Pen I gave you.
Write me.
Write.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Anna Who Was Mad by Anne Sexton
Anna Who Was Mad is a classic poem by Anne Sexton that explores the complex psychological landscape of a woman who has descended into madness. Written in Sexton's signature confessional style, the poem reveals a deep understanding of mental illness and its effects on the human mind. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will examine the various themes and motifs within the poem, while exploring its underlying meanings and implications.
The Madness of Anna
The poem begins with a startling revelation: Anna is mad. This is not a temporary state of mind, but a permanent condition that has taken hold of her psyche. Sexton does not shy away from the harsh realities of mental illness, and she paints a vivid picture of Anna's madness in the opening lines of the poem:
Anna who was mad, I have a knife in my armpit. When I stand on tiptoe I tap out messages. Am I, am I not the beloved? Is there no miracle? Thus I fall on the deaf tables.
Here we see Anna's delusional beliefs taking hold of her. She has a knife in her armpit, and she taps out messages when standing on tiptoe. These actions are indicative of a mind that is disconnected from reality, and Sexton captures the essence of madness with her vivid imagery. The questions that Anna asks herself - am I the beloved? Is there no miracle? - reveal her desperation for some kind of validation or recognition. Sexton portrays Anna's mental state with empathy and understanding, and her use of language is both powerful and haunting.
The Theme of Isolation
One of the key themes in Anna Who Was Mad is that of isolation. Anna is cut off from the world around her, and her madness only serves to deepen this sense of separation. The poem is full of images of loneliness and detachment, as Sexton explores the psychological effects of mental illness:
All the people I used to know are an illusion to me now, grounded in a past life
Here we see Anna's sense of disconnection from her former life. The people she used to know are now an illusion, and she is unable to connect with them in any meaningful way. Sexton's use of language here is particularly effective, as she captures the feeling of being adrift in the world, disconnected from all that was once familiar.
The Role of Religion
Religion plays a significant role in Anna Who Was Mad, with Sexton using biblical imagery and allusions to explore Anna's mental state. The poem is full of references to miracles and saints, with Anna questioning whether she is deserving of such divine intervention:
Am I, am I not the beloved? Is there no miracle?
These questions reveal Anna's desperation for some kind of divine intervention. She is searching for meaning in her madness, hoping that God will see fit to save her. Sexton's use of religious symbolism is powerful, and it adds an extra layer of meaning to the poem.
The Power of Language
Language is a central motif in Anna Who Was Mad, with Sexton exploring the power of words to both express and conceal truth. Anna is constantly searching for the right words to express her innermost thoughts and feelings, but she is also aware of how language can be used to hide the truth:
I write things with my holes, my cave is overcrowded.
Here we see Anna using language to express herself, but she also acknowledges the limitations of language. Her "cave" - a metaphor for her mind - is overcrowded with words, but they still fail to capture the essence of her experience. Sexton's use of language is both poetic and incisive, and she captures the complexities of communication with great skill.
Conclusion
Anna Who Was Mad is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the complexities of mental illness with empathy and understanding. Sexton's use of language is both poetic and incisive, and she captures the essence of madness with great skill. The themes of isolation and religion add an extra layer of meaning to the poem, while the motif of language highlights the power of words to both express and conceal truth. Overall, Anna Who Was Mad is a masterpiece of confessional poetry, and it remains a powerful exploration of the human psyche to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Anna Who Was Mad: A Poem of Madness and Society
Anne Sexton's poem "Anna Who Was Mad" is a haunting and powerful exploration of madness and society. Through the character of Anna, Sexton delves into the complexities of mental illness, the stigma surrounding it, and the ways in which society often fails those who suffer from it. In this analysis, we will explore the themes and imagery of the poem, as well as the historical and cultural context in which it was written.
The poem begins with the line "Anna who was mad, / I have a knife in my armpit." This opening immediately sets a tone of unease and tension, as the reader is introduced to the character of Anna and the violent imagery of the knife. The use of the word "mad" is significant, as it immediately establishes Anna as a character who is outside of the norm, who is not in control of her own mind or actions. This word also carries with it a long history of stigma and discrimination against those with mental illness, which is a theme that runs throughout the poem.
The next few lines describe Anna's behavior and appearance: "When I stand on tiptoe / I tap out messages / with my heels." This image of Anna tapping out messages with her heels is both surreal and unsettling, suggesting a disconnect between her body and mind. The use of the word "tap" also implies a sense of urgency or desperation, as if Anna is trying to communicate something important but is unable to do so in a more conventional way. The line "I am a mermaid" further emphasizes this sense of disconnection, as Anna identifies with a mythical creature that is half-human, half-fish. This image suggests that Anna feels like she does not fully belong in the world of humans, that she is somehow different or other.
The poem then shifts to a description of Anna's treatment by society: "They say / that she is in her attic / and that she is mad and that / the worms have eaten her brain." This description is both cruel and dismissive, reducing Anna to a caricature of a madwoman who is no longer even fully human. The use of the word "they" is significant, as it suggests a collective societal judgment against Anna, rather than an individual assessment of her condition. This collective judgment is further emphasized in the next few lines: "I have seen her / and she is nothing / but a sackcloth dress / and some bones." This image of Anna reduced to a mere dress and bones is both dehumanizing and tragic, emphasizing the ways in which society has failed her.
The poem then shifts again to a more surreal and dreamlike tone, as Anna imagines herself as a bird: "I am a bird / and I have eaten / my mother's heart." This image is both disturbing and powerful, suggesting a sense of violence and betrayal. The use of the word "eaten" implies a sense of consumption or destruction, as if Anna has consumed her mother's heart in order to gain some sort of power or control. This image also suggests a sense of maternal abandonment or neglect, as if Anna has been forced to fend for herself in a world that does not understand her.
The poem then returns to a more grounded and realistic tone, as Anna is described as being "locked in her attic / with the rats and the roaches." This image is both literal and metaphorical, suggesting that Anna is trapped both physically and mentally. The use of the word "locked" implies a sense of confinement and imprisonment, while the presence of rats and roaches suggests a sense of decay and filth. This image is both disturbing and poignant, emphasizing the ways in which society has failed to provide Anna with the care and support she needs.
The poem ends with the lines "Anna who was mad, / I have a knife in my armpit / and I am driving it in / as hard as I can." This final image is both violent and cathartic, suggesting a sense of release and empowerment. The use of the word "driving" implies a sense of force and determination, as if the speaker is taking control of their own destiny. This final image also echoes the opening lines of the poem, suggesting a sense of circularity and completion.
Overall, "Anna Who Was Mad" is a powerful and haunting exploration of madness and society. Through the character of Anna, Sexton delves into the complexities of mental illness, the stigma surrounding it, and the ways in which society often fails those who suffer from it. The poem is both surreal and grounded, exploring both the internal and external experiences of madness. It is a poem that is both disturbing and poignant, and one that continues to resonate with readers today.
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