'The Evil Seekers' by Anne Sexton
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We are born with luck
which is to say with gold in our mouth.
As new and smooth as a grape,
as pure as a pond in Alaska,
as good as the stem of a green bean--
we are born and that ought to be enough,
we ought to be able to carry on from that
but one must learn about evil,
learn what is subhuman,
learn how the blood pops out like a scream,
one must see the night
before one can realize the day,
one must listen hard to the animal within,
one must walk like a sleepwalker
on the edge of a roof,
one must throw some part of her body
into the devil's mouth.
Odd stuff, you'd say.
But I'd say
you must die a little,
have a book of matches go off in your hand,
see your best friend copying your exam,
visit an Indian reservation and see
their plastic feathers,
the dead dream.
One must be a prisoner just once to hear
the lock twist into his gut.
After all that
one is free to grasp at the trees, the stones,
the sky, the birds that make sense out of air.
But even in a telephone booth
evil can seep out of the receiver
and we must cover it with a mattress,
and then tear it from its roots
and bury it,
bury it.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Evil Seekers: A Critical Analysis
Anne Sexton's poem, The Evil Seekers, is a hauntingly beautiful work of art that explores the themes of good and evil, innocence and corruption, and the human tendency to seek out the darker aspects of life. In this literary criticism, we will delve into the intricacies of The Evil Seekers, examining the poem's structure, language, and imagery to uncover the deeper meanings hidden within.
Overview
The Evil Seekers is a 36-line poem that is divided into three stanzas. Each stanza consists of 12 lines, and the poem is written in free verse. The poem's structure is significant because it emphasizes the repetition of certain phrases and ideas, creating a sense of pattern and continuity that helps to unify the poem as a whole. The repetition of certain images and ideas throughout the poem suggests that Anne Sexton is exploring a central theme that is important to her.
Language and Imagery
The language and imagery used in The Evil Seekers are particularly striking. Sexton uses vivid, sensory descriptions to create a powerful and unsettling atmosphere, drawing the reader into the world she has created. For example, in the first stanza, she writes:
They sit on broomsticks and fly by the light of the moon, these witches who long ago lost their gingerbread and their wonder.
The image of witches flying on broomsticks is one that is deeply ingrained in our cultural consciousness, and Sexton uses it here to create a sense of unease and foreboding. The witches are described as having lost their "gingerbread and their wonder," which suggests that they have become jaded and disillusioned, perhaps even evil. This idea of loss is repeated throughout the poem, as Sexton explores the ways in which innocence and goodness can be corrupted over time.
Another particularly striking image in the poem is that of the "glassy sea." Sexton writes:
But we, who seek only glassy seas, see only ourselves, and our own small selves at that.
This image of the sea as a reflective surface, which reflects only ourselves, is a powerful metaphor for the way in which we can become so consumed by our own desires and ambitions that we lose sight of what is truly important. The idea of the "glassy sea" is repeated throughout the poem, suggesting that it is a central metaphor that Anne Sexton is exploring.
Theme
The theme of The Evil Seekers is complex and multifaceted, but at its core, it is an exploration of the ways in which humans are drawn to darkness and corruption. Sexton uses the metaphor of the witches to represent this darkness and corruption, and she suggests that it is something that is all around us, waiting to be found.
The idea of loss is also central to the poem, as Sexton explores the ways in which innocence and goodness can be corrupted over time. She suggests that we are all susceptible to this corruption, and that it is something that we must actively guard against if we are to maintain our goodness and purity.
Finally, the poem is about the human desire for meaning and purpose. Sexton suggests that we are all searching for something, whether it is love, power, or some other form of fulfillment. But she also suggests that this search can be dangerous, leading us down dark paths and causing us to lose sight of what is truly important.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Evil Seekers is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the darker aspects of human nature. Through its striking imagery and vivid language, Anne Sexton creates a sense of foreboding and unease that draws the reader into the world she has created. The poem's central themes of darkness, corruption, and loss are explored in detail, and Sexton leaves us with a profound sense of the dangers that lurk within us all. Overall, The Evil Seekers is a masterful work of art that deserves to be read and studied by anyone who seeks to understand the depths of the human soul.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Evil Seekers: A Dark and Haunting Poem by Anne Sexton
Anne Sexton is a poet who is known for her dark and haunting works. Her poem, The Evil Seekers, is no exception. This poem is a chilling exploration of the human psyche and the darkness that lies within us all.
The poem begins with the line, "We are the evil seekers." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It suggests that the speaker and those she is addressing are actively seeking out evil. This is a disturbing thought, but it is one that is explored throughout the poem.
The next few lines of the poem describe the evil that the speaker and her companions are seeking. They are looking for "the blackest of black" and "the darkest of dark." These descriptions are ominous and suggest that the evil they are seeking is something truly terrible.
As the poem continues, the speaker describes the lengths that she and her companions will go to in order to find this evil. They will "crawl on our bellies" and "climb the highest mountain" in order to find it. This suggests that the evil they are seeking is not something that is easily found. It is something that requires great effort and sacrifice.
The poem then takes a turn as the speaker describes the evil that they have found. She says that it is "a black hole" and "a bottomless pit." These descriptions suggest that the evil they have found is something that is all-consuming. It is something that can never be filled or satisfied.
The speaker then goes on to describe the effects that this evil has on those who seek it. She says that it "eats us alive" and "drives us mad." This suggests that the evil they have found is not something that can be controlled. It is something that takes over and destroys those who seek it.
The poem ends with the line, "We are the evil seekers." This line is a powerful conclusion to the poem. It suggests that the speaker and her companions are not just seeking evil, but that they are the embodiment of evil itself.
Overall, The Evil Seekers is a chilling and haunting poem that explores the darkness that lies within us all. It suggests that the search for evil is a dangerous and destructive one, and that those who seek it are doomed to be consumed by it. Anne Sexton's use of vivid imagery and powerful language make this poem a truly unforgettable work of art.
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