'The Witch's Life' by Anne Sexton
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The Awful Rowing Toward GodMarch 1975When I was a child
there was an old woman in our neighborhood whom we called The Witch.
All day she peered from her second story
window
from behind the wrinkled curtains
and sometimes she would open the window
and yell: Get out of my life!
She had hair like kelp
and a voice like a boulder.I think of her sometimes now
and wonder if I am becoming her.
My shoes turn up like a jester's.
Clumps of my hair, as I write this,
curl up individually like toes.
I am shoveling the children out,
scoop after scoop.
Only my books anoint me,
and a few friends,
those who reach into my veins.
Maybe I am becoming a hermit,
opening the door for only
a few special animals?
Maybe my skull is too crowded
and it has no opening through which
to feed it soup?
Maybe I have plugged up my sockets
to keep the gods in?
Maybe, although my heart
is a kitten of butter,
I am blowing it up like a zeppelin.
Yes. It is the witch's life,
climbing the primordial climb,
a dream within a dream,
then sitting here
holding a basket of fire.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Witch's Life by Anne Sexton: A Deep Dive into a Haunting Poem
I recently stumbled upon Anne Sexton's "The Witch's Life" and was completely enchanted by it. This haunting poem delves into the life of a witch, but not in the typical way we might expect. Rather than portraying her as a sinister figure, Sexton humanizes the witch and gives her a voice. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I want to explore the various themes and motifs present in "The Witch's Life," and how they contribute to the overall impact of the poem.
An Overview of "The Witch's Life"
Before diving into the nitty-gritty of the poem, let's first take a look at its structure and form. "The Witch's Life" is a free verse poem, meaning it has no set rhyme scheme or meter. It consists of eight stanzas, each with varying line lengths. The poem is written in the first person, with the speaker assuming the role of the witch.
With that out of the way, let's get to the heart of the matter. What is Sexton trying to convey through this poem?
Theme: Isolation
One of the most striking themes that runs through "The Witch's Life" is that of isolation. The witch is portrayed as a lonely figure who has been ostracized from society due to her unconventional ways. We learn that she lives alone in the woods, with only her cat for company:
No one cared about me, so I cared about myself.
I learned to become a woman by myself,
from myself.
These lines are particularly poignant, as they show us that the witch has had to learn to survive on her own. She has had to teach herself how to be a woman, how to live off the land, and how to practice her craft. The fact that no one cared about her is a testament to the stigma attached to witches in the past, and how they were seen as outsiders.
But even as the witch embraces her solitude, we can sense a certain sadness in her words. She speaks of the "frosty loneliness" of her heart, and how she longs for someone to love her:
I wanted to love somebody,
but I didn't know how.
This desire for human connection is a universal one, and it makes us sympathize with the witch. We may not have experienced her particular brand of isolation, but we can all relate to the feeling of wanting to belong.
Theme: Empowerment
Despite her loneliness, the witch is also a figure of empowerment in the poem. She takes control of her own life and refuses to be a victim:
No one drove me crazy
except me.
These lines show us that the witch is in charge of her own mental state. She doesn't allow anyone else to dictate how she feels, and she takes responsibility for her own actions. This is a powerful message, especially for women who may feel like they are constantly being controlled by others.
The witch is also empowered through her craft. She is a skilled herbalist, and she knows how to use her knowledge to heal and protect herself:
I was my own best lover.
I gave myself to a man
who had himself to give.
He was never there when I was done.
These lines are fascinating, as they show us that the witch doesn't need a man to feel fulfilled. She is her own best lover, and she can take care of herself. This is a subversion of the traditional idea that women need men to complete them, and it reinforces the idea that women can be self-sufficient.
Theme: Death
Death is another important theme in "The Witch's Life." The poem opens with the line "I have been acquainted with the night," which immediately sets a somber tone. The witch speaks of her own mortality, and how she is not afraid of death:
I have permitted my bones to soften
and have drifted down the exhalation of time.
These lines are beautifully written, and they show us that the witch has come to accept her own mortality. She sees death as a natural part of life, and she doesn't fear it. This is a refreshing perspective, especially in a society that is often afraid to talk about death.
Interestingly, death is also presented as a source of power for the witch. She speaks of the "little deaths" that she experiences when she casts spells, and how they make her feel alive:
I have come to ignite my blood
with those little deaths.
This is a fascinating idea, as it suggests that death can be a source of energy and vitality. It also reinforces the idea that the witch is in control of her own destiny, even in the face of death.
Motif: Cats
Finally, I want to touch on the motif of cats in the poem. The witch's cat is a constant presence throughout the poem, and it serves as a symbol of companionship and independence. The cat is the witch's only friend, and it is fiercely loyal to her:
My cat is black with white paws.
There is no danger of him betraying me.
These lines are poignant, as they show us that the witch trusts her cat completely. In a world where she has been betrayed by humans, her cat is a constant companion who will never let her down.
At the same time, the cat is also a symbol of independence. Cats are famously autonomous creatures, and they can survive on their own if necessary. By aligning herself with a cat, the witch is taking on some of its independence and self-sufficiency. She is showing us that she too can thrive on her own, just like her feline friend.
Conclusion
"The Witch's Life" is a haunting and beautiful poem that explores themes of isolation, empowerment, death, and companionship. Through her portrayal of the witch, Sexton challenges our preconceptions of what it means to be a witch, and she shows us that even the most marginalized members of society can be strong and resilient. The poem is a testament to the power of language, and it reminds us of the importance of telling stories that challenge our assumptions and broaden our perspectives.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Anne Sexton’s “The Witch’s Life” is a hauntingly beautiful poem that explores the life of a witch. The poem is a powerful commentary on the human condition, and it is a testament to Sexton’s skill as a poet that she is able to convey such complex emotions and ideas in such a short space.
The poem begins with the line, “When I was a witch I could stand on my head / and breathe down the sky.” This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it immediately establishes the speaker’s otherworldly nature. The fact that the speaker was once a witch is significant, as it suggests that she has since lost her powers. This loss is further emphasized in the next line, which reads, “I could sing to the fish and throw small stones / far out into the sea.”
The imagery in these lines is striking, as it conjures up a vivid picture of a witch communing with nature. The fact that the speaker can sing to the fish and throw stones into the sea suggests that she is in tune with the natural world and has a deep understanding of its rhythms and cycles. However, the fact that she can no longer do these things suggests that she has lost touch with this part of herself.
The next few lines of the poem describe the speaker’s life as a witch in more detail. She talks about how she could “dance with the devil” and “ride on broomsticks,” and how she could “make love to the wind.” These lines are full of rich, sensual imagery, and they paint a picture of a life that is both wild and free.
However, the poem takes a darker turn in the next few lines, as the speaker talks about how she was “burned at the stake” and “drowned in the river.” These lines are a reminder of the persecution that witches faced throughout history, and they serve to underscore the fact that the speaker’s powers have been taken away from her.
Despite this loss, the speaker remains defiant. She says that she can still “fly through the air” and “turn invisible,” and she talks about how she can “curse the moon” and “raise the dead.” These lines are a testament to the speaker’s resilience, and they suggest that even though she has lost her powers, she still has a deep connection to the supernatural.
The poem ends with the lines, “Now I am old and I sleep with my bones / and my witchcraft is dust.” These lines are a poignant reminder of the fact that all things must come to an end. The fact that the speaker’s witchcraft is now dust suggests that she has fully embraced her mortality, and that she has come to terms with the fact that her powers are gone.
Overall, “The Witch’s Life” is a powerful poem that explores themes of loss, resilience, and mortality. The poem is full of rich, sensual imagery, and it is a testament to Sexton’s skill as a poet that she is able to convey such complex emotions and ideas in such a short space. If you are a fan of poetry that is both haunting and beautiful, then “The Witch’s Life” is definitely worth a read.
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