'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.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Wifebeater: A Masterpiece by Anne Sexton

If there is one thing that Anne Sexton's poem "The Wifebeater" teaches us, it is that poetry can be a powerful tool for social commentary. Written in the 1960s, a time of civil unrest and societal change, "The Wifebeater" is a raw, unflinching depiction of domestic violence and its devastating effects on the victim. In this literary criticism, I will delve deeper into the themes and imagery of the poem, and explore its relevance in today's society.

Background and Context

First, let us take a closer look at Anne Sexton, the poet behind "The Wifebeater". Sexton was an American poet who rose to fame in the 1960s, known for her confessional style of poetry that dealt with personal and taboo subjects such as mental illness, sexuality, and death. Her works were often criticized for their explicit content, but they also garnered critical acclaim and won numerous awards.

"The Wifebeater" was published in Sexton's 1967 collection, "Live or Die", which was a Pulitzer Prize winner. The poem is one of the most powerful pieces in the collection, and is often cited as an example of Sexton's feminist and anti-establishment views.

The 60s was a decade of social change, and issues such as civil rights, women's liberation, and anti-war protests were at the forefront of public discourse. Domestic violence, however, was still largely a taboo subject, and victims were often silenced and stigmatized. Sexton's poem was a brave and bold statement, shining a light on a problem that was all too often ignored.

The Poem: Themes and Imagery

"The Wifebeater" is a short but powerful poem, with only 11 lines. It is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter, which gives it a raw, unfiltered quality.

The poem starts with a shocking image:

My face is a featureless, fine Jew linen.

The use of the word "featureless" suggests a face that has been beaten and battered, with no recognizable features left. The comparison to "fine Jew linen" is interesting, as it suggests both fragility and value. The speaker's face may be battered, but it is still valuable, still worth something.

The next line is equally powerful:

Embroidered with scars, I speak of shame.

Here, the speaker's scars are compared to embroidery, which suggests a certain beauty or artistry. But the scars also speak of shame, of a deep-seated sense of guilt and humiliation. The use of the word "speak" is interesting, as it suggests that the scars have a voice, that they are speaking out against the violence that caused them.

The next few lines describe the abuser:

He is the bull that breeds the heifers.

Here, the abuser is compared to a bull, which suggests both strength and aggression. He is also described as a breeder, someone who is in control of his victims, someone who has the power to create and destroy.

The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most powerful:

His pizzle is a plank and each time he heaves his bulk into me, he says that he is Jesus Christ and that I am nothing.

The use of the word "pizzle" is interesting, as it is a slang term for a bull's penis. The comparison between the abuser's penis and a plank is jarring, as it suggests both violence and numbness. The abuser is not making love, he is using his body as a weapon.

The final lines are perhaps the most shocking, as the abuser compares himself to Jesus Christ and the victim to nothing. This is a clear example of the abuser's delusional thinking, his belief in his own superiority and power. It is also a commentary on the way that victims of domestic violence are often dehumanized and stripped of their identity.

Interpretation and Relevance

"The Wifebeater" is a powerful poem that speaks to the experiences of victims of domestic violence. It is a commentary on the way that abusers use their power to control and dehumanize their victims, and on the way that society often turns a blind eye to this problem.

The poem is also relevant today, as domestic violence is still a pervasive problem in many societies. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. The poem reminds us that domestic violence is not just a private matter, but a social issue that affects us all.

In conclusion, "The Wifebeater" is a masterpiece of poetry that tackles a difficult and taboo subject with raw honesty and power. Anne Sexton's use of language and imagery is powerful, and her message is one that is still relevant today. The poem reminds us of the importance of speaking out against domestic violence, and of the power of poetry to effect social change.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Wifebeater: A Poem of Domestic Violence and its Aftermath

Anne Sexton's "The Wifebeater" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the devastating effects of domestic violence on women and their families. Written in the 1960s, at a time when the issue of domestic violence was still largely taboo and ignored by society, Sexton's poem is a courageous and unflinching portrayal of the physical and emotional abuse suffered by women at the hands of their husbands or partners.

The poem begins with a stark and brutal image: "He beats me like a rug." This simile immediately conveys the sense of violence and degradation that the speaker is experiencing. The use of the word "rug" also suggests that the speaker is being treated as an object, something to be beaten and abused without any regard for her humanity or dignity.

The poem then goes on to describe the physical and emotional toll that the abuse takes on the speaker. She is "bruised and swollen," her "face is a mess," and she is "afraid to go out." The repetition of the word "afraid" emphasizes the speaker's sense of fear and helplessness, as well as the fact that she is trapped in a cycle of abuse that she cannot escape.

Despite the horror of the abuse, the speaker also expresses a sense of love and loyalty towards her abuser. She says that she "loves him like a rabbit loves a snake," and that she is "his wife, his woman, his own." This paradoxical mixture of love and fear is a common experience for many victims of domestic violence, who often feel trapped in a cycle of abuse and unable to leave their abuser.

The poem then takes a surprising turn, as the speaker describes how she finally manages to escape from her abuser. She says that she "ran away to a place where there was no one to beat me." This sudden shift in tone and perspective is both shocking and empowering, as the speaker takes control of her own life and refuses to be a victim any longer.

However, the aftermath of the abuse is not easy for the speaker. She says that she is "still afraid," and that she "can't sleep at night." The trauma of the abuse has left deep scars on her psyche, and she is struggling to come to terms with what has happened to her.

The poem ends with a powerful and poignant image: the speaker says that she is "like a bird with a broken wing," unable to fly or escape from her pain. This metaphor captures the sense of helplessness and vulnerability that the speaker feels, as well as the fact that she is still struggling to heal from the trauma of the abuse.

Overall, "The Wifebeater" is a powerful and deeply affecting poem that explores the devastating effects of domestic violence on women and their families. Through its stark and unflinching portrayal of abuse, as well as its message of hope and empowerment, the poem remains a powerful and relevant work of poetry that speaks to the ongoing struggle for women's rights and safety.

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