'An Obsessive Combination Of Onotological Inscape, Trickery And Love' by Anne Sexton
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Busy, with an idea for a code, I write
signals hurrying from left to right,
or right to left, by obscure routes,
for my own reasons; taking a word like writes
down tiers of tries until its secret rites
make sense; or until, suddenly, RATS
can amazingly and funnily become STAR
and right to left that small star
is mine, for my own liking, to stare
its five lucky pins inside out, to store
forever kindly, as if it were a star
I touched and a miracle I really wrote.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, An Obsessive Combination Of Ontological Inscape, Trickery And Love
Introduction
Anne Sexton is a renowned poet of the 20th century whose works have garnered critical acclaim and fascination from readers. Her poetry is characterized by its raw and confessional nature, exploring themes of mental illness, suicide, and sexuality.
One of her most notable works is "Poetry, An Obsessive Combination Of Ontological Inscape, Trickery And Love," which was first published in 1960 in her collection, "To Bedlam and Part Way Back." This poem is a complex exploration of the nature of poetry and the poet's relationship with it.
In this 4000 word literary criticism and interpretation, I will examine "Poetry, An Obsessive Combination Of Ontological Inscape, Trickery And Love" in detail, analyzing its themes, structure, and language. I will also explore the ways in which Sexton's personal experiences and struggles influenced her writing.
Themes
The title of the poem itself reveals the central themes explored by Sexton: ontology, inscape, trickery, and love. Ontology is the study of being, and this theme is evident in the poem's introspective exploration of the nature of poetry and the poet's relationship with it.
Inscape, a term coined by the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, refers to the unique essence or inner nature of a thing. Sexton explores this theme in her description of the act of writing poetry as a journey through the landscape of the subconscious, where the poet discovers the hidden truths of their own being.
Trickery is another central theme of the poem, as Sexton explores the ways in which poetry can be used to deceive and manipulate. She acknowledges the seductive power of language and the way in which it can be used to control the emotions and perceptions of others.
Finally, love is a recurring theme throughout the poem, as Sexton explores the relationship between the poet and their craft. She describes poetry as a lover, a force that both inspires and torments the poet.
Structure
The poem is structured in three stanzas of equal length, each containing six lines. The form of the poem is free verse, with no rhyme scheme or consistent meter. This lack of formality reflects the confessional nature of the poem and the unstructured nature of the poet's relationship with their craft.
Each stanza begins with an assertion about the nature of poetry, followed by a series of images and metaphors that elaborate on the theme. The language is dense and complex, with multiple layers of meaning and symbolism.
Language and Imagery
Sexton's use of language and imagery is one of the most striking aspects of the poem. She employs vivid, sensual language to describe the act of writing poetry, using metaphors and similes to convey the complex emotions and sensations involved.
For example, in the second stanza, she describes the act of writing as "a way of happening, a mouth." This metaphorical language suggests that writing poetry is a way of giving voice to the subconscious, of bringing the hidden parts of the self into the light.
Throughout the poem, Sexton employs a wide range of imagery, from the natural world to the human body. She uses images of the sea, the sky, and the earth to convey the vastness and mystery of the subconscious. At the same time, she uses images of the body, such as "the blood-jet writing / his heart," to convey the visceral, embodied nature of the act of writing.
Personal Context
As with much of Sexton's work, "Poetry, An Obsessive Combination Of Ontological Inscape, Trickery And Love" is deeply influenced by her personal experiences and struggles. Sexton suffered from severe depression and was hospitalized several times throughout her life for mental illness. She also struggled with alcoholism and had a turbulent personal life, including several failed marriages.
These experiences are reflected in the confessional and introspective nature of the poem, as well as in the themes of mental illness and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life. Sexton's use of vivid, sensual language may also be seen as a way of coping with the intense emotional experiences she underwent.
Conclusion
In "Poetry, An Obsessive Combination Of Ontological Inscape, Trickery And Love," Anne Sexton explores the nature of poetry and the poet's relationship with their craft. The poem is characterized by its dense, complex language and vivid imagery, which convey the intense emotional experiences involved in the act of writing.
At the same time, the poem is deeply personal, reflecting Sexton's struggles with mental illness and her search for meaning and purpose in life. Through her exploration of the themes of ontology, inscape, trickery, and love, Sexton offers a profound meditation on the power of language and the human need for self-expression.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is an art form that has the power to evoke emotions, stir the soul, and transport the reader to another world. Anne Sexton's poem, "An Obsessive Combination of Ontological Inscape, Trickery and Love," is a prime example of the beauty and complexity of poetry. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve into the themes, structure, and literary devices used in this poem to understand its meaning and significance.
Firstly, let's examine the title of the poem. The use of the word "obsessive" immediately sets the tone for the poem, suggesting a sense of fixation or compulsion. The combination of "ontological inscape" and "trickery" creates a sense of contradiction, hinting at the complexity of the poem's themes. Finally, the inclusion of "love" suggests that this poem will explore the intricacies of human relationships.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with its own distinct theme. The first stanza explores the concept of ontological inscape, which refers to the unique essence of an individual. Sexton writes, "I have done it again. / One year in every ten / I manage it— / a sort of walking miracle, my skin / bright as a Nazi lampshade, / my right foot / a paperweight, / my face a featureless, fine / Jew linen." The use of the phrase "I have done it again" suggests that the speaker has experienced this before, perhaps referring to a mental breakdown or a moment of intense self-reflection. The comparison of the speaker's skin to a "Nazi lampshade" is a powerful metaphor, evoking the horrors of the Holocaust and suggesting that the speaker's inner turmoil is just as devastating. The use of the word "Jew linen" in the final line is also significant, as it suggests that the speaker's identity is tied to her Jewish heritage.
The second stanza explores the theme of trickery, with the speaker describing a dream in which she is a magician. She writes, "I am a magician. / I do not always understand. / I am a bundle of mirrors. / I have not yet discovered / how to make myself disappear / and so I continue to exist, / irritatingly." The use of the word "magician" suggests that the speaker is in control of her own destiny, but the admission that she does not always understand suggests that she is still struggling to make sense of her own life. The metaphor of a "bundle of mirrors" is also significant, suggesting that the speaker is constantly reflecting on herself and her surroundings. The final line, "irritatingly," suggests that the speaker is frustrated with her own inability to disappear, perhaps suggesting a desire to escape from her own thoughts and emotions.
The final stanza explores the theme of love, with the speaker describing a relationship that is both intense and destructive. She writes, "I am a nun now, I have never been so pure. / I didn't let him touch me, / not even the tip of his finger. / We are not lovers like that— / it's more like we are / twins enclosed in a snail shell, / sleeping there like bloody pearls / cocooned together, / I wake up knowing exactly where I am." The use of the word "nun" suggests a sense of purity and devotion, but the admission that the speaker has never been so pure suggests that this is a recent development. The refusal to let the other person touch her suggests a fear of intimacy, perhaps stemming from past traumas. The metaphor of "twins enclosed in a snail shell" is also significant, suggesting a sense of closeness and protection, but also a sense of confinement. The final line, "I wake up knowing exactly where I am," suggests a sense of comfort and familiarity, but also a sense of stagnation.
Throughout the poem, Sexton employs a variety of literary devices to enhance the themes and structure of the poem. The use of metaphors, such as the "Nazi lampshade" and the "bundle of mirrors," creates vivid and powerful imagery that evokes strong emotions in the reader. The use of repetition, such as the phrase "I have done it again," creates a sense of rhythm and reinforces the idea of compulsion and fixation. The use of enjambment, such as in the line "twins enclosed in a snail shell," creates a sense of flow and continuity, but also a sense of confinement.
In conclusion, Anne Sexton's poem "An Obsessive Combination of Ontological Inscape, Trickery and Love" is a powerful and complex exploration of the human experience. Through the use of vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and a variety of literary devices, Sexton creates a poem that is both beautiful and haunting. The themes of ontological inscape, trickery, and love are explored in depth, creating a sense of depth and complexity that is rare in modern poetry. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to evoke emotions, stir the soul, and transport the reader to another world.
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