'The Fury Of Sunrises' by Anne Sexton

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The Death Notebooks1974Darknessas black as your eyelid,poketricks of stars,the yellow mouth,the smell of a stranger,dawn coming up,dark blue,no stars,the smell of a love,warmer nowas authenic as soap,wave after waveof lightnessand the birds in their chainsgoing mad with throat noises,the birds in their tracksyelling into their cheeks like clowns,lighter, lighter,the stars gone,the trees appearing in their green hoods,the house appearing across the way,the road and its sad macadam,the rock walls losing their cotton,lighter, lighter,letting the dog out and seeingfog lift by her legs,a gauze dance,lighter, lighter,yellow, blue at the tops of trees,more God, more God everywhere,lighter, lighter,more world everywhere,sheets bent back for people,the strange heads of loveand breakfast,that sacrament,lighter, yellower,like the yolk of eggs,the flies gathering at the windowpane,the dog inside whining for goodand the day commencing,not to die, not to die,as in the last day breaking,a final day digesting itself,lighter, lighter,the endless colors,the same old trees stepping toward me,the rock unpacking its crevices,breakfast like a dreamand the whole day to live through,steadfast, deep, interior.After the death,after the black of black,the lightness,-
not to die, not to die-that God begot.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Fury of Sunrises: A Masterpiece of Confessional Poetry

Anne Sexton's "The Fury of Sunrises" is a stunning example of confessional poetry that stands out for its raw emotional power, vivid imagery, and haunting themes of mental illness, trauma, and self-destruction. Written in the 1960s, at the height of the confessional poetry movement, Sexton's work broke new ground in terms of its frankness, honesty, and willingness to explore taboo subjects.

In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the key themes, motifs, and stylistic features of "The Fury of Sunrises," and discuss how Sexton's use of language, imagery, and structure contributes to its overall impact.

The Poem's Themes

At its core, "The Fury of Sunrises" is a poem about mental illness, specifically the experience of living with bipolar disorder. The poem is divided into two sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's condition. In the first section, "The Fury of Sunrises," the speaker describes the manic phase of her illness, which is characterized by intense energy, heightened creativity, and a sense of euphoria. However, this manic state is also tinged with dark undertones, as the speaker acknowledges the destructive impulses that can arise when she is in this state:

"I am a danger to my self if I let myself alone. That is why I turn to you, why I burn to you, why I cannot be alone."

The second section of the poem, "The Fury of Sunset," explores the depressive phase of the speaker's illness, which is characterized by despair, lethargy, and a sense of isolation. Here, the speaker describes the experience of being trapped in her own mind, unable to escape the pain and torment that her illness brings:

"I am locked in my own world and you are locked in yours. We are both tenants of the same old broken house."

Throughout the poem, Sexton uses vivid and often violent imagery to convey the intensity of the speaker's emotions. For example, in the first section, she compares her manic state to "a wildcat caught in a house" and "a kite that plunges and soars." In the second section, she compares her depression to "a dead phone" and "a wet blanket." These images serve to heighten the reader's sense of the speaker's emotional turmoil and create a visceral, almost physical response to the poem's themes.

Stylistic Features

One of the key stylistic features of "The Fury of Sunrises" is its use of free verse. Sexton eschews traditional poetic forms in favor of a looser, more fluid style that allows her to capture the spontaneity and unpredictability of the speaker's emotions. This approach also allows Sexton to experiment with a range of different poetic techniques, including repetition, alliteration, and enjambment.

Repetition is used throughout the poem to create a sense of rhythm and momentum. For example, the phrase "the fury of" is repeated six times in the first section, while the phrase "I am" is repeated seven times in the second section. This repetition serves to emphasize the intensity of the speaker's emotions and creates a sense of urgency and desperation.

Alliteration is also used to create a sense of musicality and texture. For example, in the first section, Sexton writes:

"the fury of the sun that pounds upon my skin like a drum"

Here, the repetition of the "f" and "s" sounds creates a sense of heat and intensity, mirroring the effect of the sun on the speaker's skin.

Enjambment is used throughout the poem to create a sense of continuity and flow. Many of the lines spill over into the next, creating a sense of momentum and energy. This technique also serves to emphasize the theme of bipolar disorder, as the poem itself is characterized by sudden shifts in tone and mood.

Interpretation

"The Fury of Sunrises" is a deeply personal and autobiographical poem that reflects Sexton's own struggles with mental illness. The poem is notable for its frankness and honesty, as Sexton does not shy away from depicting the darker aspects of her condition, such as the urge to self-destruct and the sense of isolation and despair that can accompany depression.

At the same time, the poem is also a celebration of the creative and spiritual potential of the manic state. The speaker describes the feeling of being "on fire with a vision" and the sense of transcendence that can come with heightened creativity. This tension between the positive and negative aspects of bipolar disorder is one of the poem's central themes, and reflects Sexton's own ambivalent feelings towards her condition.

Overall, "The Fury of Sunrises" is a powerful and haunting work of confessional poetry that continues to resonate with readers today. Through its vivid imagery, raw emotional power, and unconventional style, Sexton offers a deeply personal and insightful portrait of mental illness that is both harrowing and beautiful.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Fury of Sunrises: An Analysis of Anne Sexton's Classic Poetry

Anne Sexton was a poet who was known for her confessional style of writing. Her poems were often autobiographical and dealt with themes of mental illness, death, and sexuality. One of her most famous poems, The Fury of Sunrises, is a powerful and emotional piece that explores the complexities of love and loss.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the beauty of a sunrise, with its "pink and gold" hues and "the sun like a peach." However, this idyllic scene is quickly shattered by the speaker's admission that "I have been a woman madly in love with a man / who has left me." This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a raw and honest exploration of the pain and anger that comes with heartbreak.

The speaker goes on to describe the various ways in which she has tried to cope with her loss. She has "drunk coffee at dawn with nobody" and "walked the pavement with my shoes in my hand." These actions are symbolic of her attempts to fill the void left by her lover's absence. However, despite her efforts, she is still consumed by the pain of her loss.

The poem takes a darker turn as the speaker begins to express her anger towards her former lover. She describes him as a "thief" who has "stolen my days and nights." She also accuses him of being "a liar, a brute, a fool." These harsh words are a reflection of the speaker's intense emotions and her need to express them.

Despite her anger, the speaker still longs for her lover's return. She imagines him coming back to her "with a scuttle of dust" and "a whiff of a comet." This shows that, despite everything, she still holds onto the hope that they can be reunited.

The poem ends with the speaker acknowledging the futility of her longing. She knows that her lover is gone for good and that she must find a way to move on. She says, "I will forget him / in the tall grass / in sunlight." This final image is a powerful one, as it suggests that the speaker will find peace and healing in nature.

The Fury of Sunrises is a powerful and emotional poem that explores the complexities of love and loss. Anne Sexton's use of vivid imagery and raw emotion make this poem a classic of modern poetry. The poem is a reminder that, no matter how painful our experiences may be, we can find healing and hope in the beauty of the world around us.

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