'The Wifebeater' by Anne Sexton
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There will be mud on the carpet tonight
and blood in the gravy as well.
The wifebeater is out,
the childbeater is out
eating soil and drinking bullets from a cup.
He strides bback and forth
in front of my study window
chewing little red pieces of my heart.
His eyes flash like a birthday cake
and he makes bread out of rock.
Yesterday he was walking
like a man in the world.
He was upright and conservative
but somehow evasive, somehow contagious.
Yesterday he built me a country
and laid out a shadow where I could sleep
but today a coffin for the madonna and child,
today two women in baby clothes will be hamburg.
With a tongue like a razor he will kiss,
the mother, the child,
and we three will color the stars black
in memory of his mother
who kept him chained to the food tree
or turned him on and off like a water faucet
and made women through all these hazy years
the enemy with a heart of lies.
Tonight all the red dogs lie down in fear
and the wife and daughter knit into each other
until they are killed.
Submitted by Emily
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Wifebeater by Anne Sexton: A Haunting Tale of Domestic Violence
Anne Sexton was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet, known for her work on themes of mental illness, death, and motherhood. Her poem, The Wifebeater, is a powerful and haunting piece that explores the theme of domestic violence. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this classic poem.
The Text
Before we get into the analysis of the poem, let us first take a look at the text:
He wore his hat on the bed
with the canary singing in his mouth.
He'd kill her if he could
and he did that night.
Simple yet evocative, the poem consists of four short lines that pack a powerful punch. At first glance, it may seem like a simple description of a man who wears his hat on the bed while a canary sings in his mouth. But soon we realize that the hat on the bed is a sign of disrespect for the sacredness of the marriage bed. And the canary in his mouth is a symbol of the wife's voice, silenced and trapped by her husband.
The second two lines of the poem reveal the true horror of the situation. The man wants to kill his wife, and he does so that very night. The brevity and directness of the lines give them an almost unbearable weight.
The Theme
The theme of The Wifebeater is domestic violence. The poem explores the dynamics of an abusive relationship, where the husband is a violent and controlling figure who seeks to exert power over his wife. The wife, in turn, is trapped in a cycle of fear and submission, unable to escape her husband's abuse.
The poem offers a disturbing portrait of the way in which domestic violence can escalate to fatal levels. The husband's desire to kill his wife is presented as a natural progression of his abusive behavior. Sexton does not shy away from the brutal reality of domestic violence, and the poem serves as a powerful indictment of the social and cultural factors that allow such violence to continue unchecked.
The Imagery
Sexton uses powerful and evocative imagery to convey the horror of domestic violence. The hat on the bed is a symbol of disrespect and disregard for the sanctity of the marriage bed. The canary in the husband's mouth is a metaphor for the wife's voice, silenced and trapped in the abusive relationship. The bird's fragile and helpless nature emphasizes the vulnerability of the wife in the face of her husband's violence.
The phrase "He'd kill her if he could" is a chilling description of the husband's violent intentions. The use of the conditional tense suggests that the husband's desire to kill his wife is an ever-present threat. The fact that he does kill her that very night makes the poem all the more devastating.
The Structure
The Wifebeater is a short poem consisting of four lines. The brevity of the poem is part of its power. The short lines and lack of punctuation give the poem a sense of urgency and immediacy. There is no room for extraneous words or details. The poem cuts straight to the heart of the matter, conveying the horror of domestic violence in just a few words.
The Tone
The tone of The Wifebeater is one of horror and despair. There is no sense of hope or redemption in the poem. The husband's violence is presented as an inevitable and unstoppable force, and the wife is portrayed as a helpless victim. The poem is a stark reminder of the devastating toll that domestic violence can take on its victims.
Interpretation
The Wifebeater is a haunting and powerful poem that explores the theme of domestic violence. The poem offers a disturbing portrait of the dynamics of an abusive relationship, where the husband is a violent and controlling figure who seeks to exert power over his wife. The wife, in turn, is trapped in a cycle of fear and submission, unable to escape her husband's abuse.
The imagery used in the poem is powerful and evocative. The hat on the bed is a symbol of disrespect and disregard for the sanctity of the marriage bed. The canary in the husband's mouth is a metaphor for the wife's voice, silenced and trapped in the abusive relationship. The phrase "He'd kill her if he could" is a chilling description of the husband's violent intentions.
The structure of the poem is short and direct, conveying the horror of domestic violence in just a few words. The lack of punctuation and short lines give the poem a sense of urgency and immediacy.
The tone of the poem is one of horror and despair, with no sense of hope or redemption. The husband's violence is presented as an inevitable and unstoppable force, and the wife is portrayed as a helpless victim.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Wifebeater is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the theme of domestic violence. Anne Sexton's use of imagery, structure, and tone all contribute to the poem's devastating impact. The poem serves as a reminder of the devastating toll that domestic violence can take on its victims and the urgent need for action to prevent it. It is a work of great courage and compassion, and a testament to the power of poetry to bear witness to the darkest aspects of human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Wifebeater: A Poem of Domestic Violence and Its Consequences
Anne Sexton's poem, The Wifebeater, is a powerful and haunting portrayal of domestic violence and its devastating effects on women. Written in 1967, at a time when domestic violence was still largely ignored or dismissed as a private matter, the poem is a bold and unflinching critique of a society that condones and perpetuates violence against women.
The poem begins with a stark and brutal image: "He beats me like a rug." This simile immediately establishes the violent and dehumanizing nature of the abuse, reducing the speaker to an object to be beaten and discarded. The use of the present tense also suggests that the abuse is ongoing and unrelenting, a constant source of pain and fear.
As the poem unfolds, we learn more about the speaker's relationship with her abuser. She describes him as "a man who loves me," but this love is clearly twisted and distorted by his violence. He tells her that he beats her because he loves her, a classic abuser's justification that seeks to shift the blame onto the victim and deny responsibility for his actions.
The speaker also reveals that she has tried to leave her abuser, but has been unable to do so. She describes how he tracks her down and brings her back, using his physical strength and emotional manipulation to control her. This is a common pattern in abusive relationships, where the victim is trapped by a combination of fear, guilt, and a sense of helplessness.
The poem's title, The Wifebeater, is significant in several ways. It not only refers to the abuser's physical violence, but also to the cultural and social norms that enable and excuse such behavior. The term "wifebeater" is a colloquialism for a type of sleeveless undershirt, often worn by men who engage in domestic violence. By using this term as the title of her poem, Sexton draws attention to the way in which domestic violence is normalized and even celebrated in some circles.
The poem's final lines are perhaps the most powerful and poignant. The speaker declares that she is "a woman who loves," despite the abuse she has suffered. This statement is a testament to the resilience and strength of survivors of domestic violence, who are often portrayed as weak and passive. The speaker's love is not diminished by the violence she has endured, but rather strengthened by it, as she refuses to be defined by her abuser's actions.
In conclusion, The Wifebeater is a searing indictment of domestic violence and the societal structures that perpetuate it. Through her powerful imagery and unflinching honesty, Anne Sexton challenges us to confront the reality of domestic violence and to work towards a world where women are safe and free from harm. This poem is a timeless reminder of the importance of speaking out against violence and standing in solidarity with survivors.
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