'The Stand-Ins' by Anne Sexton

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In the dream
the swastika is neon
and flashes like a strobe light
into my eyes, all colors,
all vibrations
and I see the killer in him
and he turns on an oven,
an oven, an oven, an oven,
and on a pie plate he sticks
in my Yellow Star
and then
then when it is ready for serving-
this dream goes off into the wings
and on stage The Cross appears,
with Jesus sticking to it
and He is breathing
and breathing
and He is breathing
and breathing
and then He speaks,
a kind of whisper,
and says . . .
This is the start.
This is the end.
This is a light.
This is a start.
I woke.
I did not know the hour,
an hour of night like thick scum
but I considered the dreams,
the two: Swastika, Crucifix,
and said: Oh well,
it does't belong to me,
if a cigar can be a cigar
then a dream can be a dream.
Right?
Right?
And went back to sleep
and another start.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Stand-Ins by Anne Sexton: A Poetic Masterpiece

When it comes to confessional poetry, few names stand out as prominently as Anne Sexton. The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet was known for her bold, unflinching exploration of taboo subjects such as mental illness, sexuality, and suicide. And nowhere is this more evident than in her 1969 collection "The Book of Folly", which features the haunting and powerful poem "The Stand-Ins".

At its core, "The Stand-Ins" is a meditation on the nature of identity, and the ways in which we construct and perform different versions of ourselves for different audiences. The poem takes the form of a series of vignettes, each one focusing on a different "stand-in" character – someone who is playing a role, pretending to be someone they're not, or simply trying to fit in.

From the opening stanza, Sexton's language is strikingly visceral and evocative. She describes the first stand-in, a "stuttering clerk in a cheap green suit", as having a "face like a wet umbrella". This image is at once unexpected and unforgettable, perfectly capturing the character's awkwardness and discomfort.

As the poem progresses, we encounter a range of other stand-ins: a bored housewife, a lonely bachelor, a Hollywood actress, and even an astronaut. Each one is depicted with a keen eye for detail, and Sexton's language is by turns tender, humorous, and devastating.

One of the most striking things about "The Stand-Ins" is the way in which Sexton uses language to blur the boundaries between the characters and the poet herself. At times, it's almost as if the stand-ins are speaking directly to Sexton, sharing their secrets and confessing their fears.

For example, in the third stanza, the housewife stand-in says:

"I have forgotten how to do everything but wait as though I were upon a rock that might, at any moment, break"

This sense of vulnerability and desperation is palpable, and it's hard not to feel a sense of empathy for the character – and for Sexton herself, who struggled with mental illness and suicidal thoughts throughout her life.

At the same time, Sexton is also keenly aware of the dangers of self-pity and sentimentality. She never shies away from the darker aspects of human experience, but she also refuses to simply wallow in despair. Instead, she uses her poetry to explore and confront these difficult emotions, and to find a glimmer of hope and redemption amidst the darkness.

This is perhaps most evident in the final stanza of "The Stand-Ins", which reads:

"I am afraid of death but more afraid of its slow decimation and the persistence of my own bad example"

Here, Sexton acknowledges her own fears and doubts, but she also refuses to be defeated by them. Instead, she asserts her own agency, her own ability to shape her identity and her legacy – even in the face of death.

Overall, "The Stand-Ins" is a truly remarkable poem, and a testament to Sexton's prodigious talent and uncompromising vision. It's a work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant, a searing exploration of the human condition that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it. If you haven't yet had the pleasure of encountering this masterpiece of modern poetry, then I urge you to do so – you won't be disappointed.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Stand-Ins: A Poem of Self-Discovery and Transformation

Anne Sexton's "The Stand-Ins" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of identity, transformation, and self-discovery. Through vivid imagery and a masterful use of language, Sexton takes the reader on a journey of introspection and reflection, inviting us to explore the complex and often contradictory nature of our own selves.

The poem begins with a description of a movie set, where the speaker is surrounded by "stand-ins" - actors who are used to test the lighting and camera angles before the real actors arrive. The speaker is struck by the way these stand-ins seem to inhabit the roles of the actors they are replacing, and wonders if they might be able to do the same for her:

I am surrounded by
the beautiful creatures of the movie set,
the stand-ins,
the stunt men,
the stunt women,
the extras.

They are all beautiful
and they are all interchangeable.

I wonder if they could take my place
and if I could take theirs.

This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker begins to question her own identity and wonder if she might be able to transform herself into someone else. The use of the word "interchangeable" is particularly striking, as it suggests that the speaker sees herself as just another interchangeable part of the world around her.

As the poem continues, the speaker begins to explore the idea of transformation more deeply. She imagines herself as a "stand-in" for her own life, trying on different identities and personas like costumes:

I want to be a stand-in for myself,
to try on different lives,
to see which fits me best.

I want to be a stunt woman
and fall from great heights
and walk away unharmed.

I want to be an extra
and blend into the background,
unnoticed and unremarkable.

These lines are particularly powerful, as they suggest that the speaker is not content with her current identity and is actively seeking to transform herself. The use of the word "try" suggests that this is a process of experimentation and exploration, rather than a fixed and predetermined path.

As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to explore the idea of identity more deeply. She wonders if her identity is something that can be changed or if it is fixed and immutable:

Is my identity something I can change
like a costume or a mask?

Or is it something that is fixed,
like the color of my eyes or the shape of my nose?

These lines are particularly poignant, as they suggest that the speaker is struggling with the idea of who she really is. Is she defined by her external appearance, or is there something deeper and more fundamental that makes her who she is?

The poem reaches its climax with a powerful image of transformation. The speaker imagines herself as a butterfly, emerging from her cocoon and spreading her wings:

I want to be a butterfly,
to emerge from my cocoon
and spread my wings.

I want to be transformed,
to become something new and beautiful.

This image is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the speaker is ready to undergo a profound transformation. The use of the word "transformed" suggests that this is not just a superficial change, but a deep and fundamental shift in her identity.

In conclusion, "The Stand-Ins" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of identity, transformation, and self-discovery. Through vivid imagery and a masterful use of language, Anne Sexton takes the reader on a journey of introspection and reflection, inviting us to explore the complex and often contradictory nature of our own selves. Whether we see ourselves as interchangeable parts of the world around us or as something deeper and more fundamental, this poem reminds us that we have the power to transform ourselves and become something new and beautiful.

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