'Sylvia's Death' by Anne Sexton
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for Sylvia Plath
O Sylvia, Sylvia,
with a dead box of stones and spoons,
with two children, two meteors
wandering loose in a tiny playroom,
with your mouth into the sheet,
into the roofbeam, into the dumb prayer,
(Sylvia, Sylvia
where did you go
after you wrote me
from Devonshire
about rasing potatoes
and keeping bees?)
what did you stand by,
just how did you lie down into?
Thief --
how did you crawl into,
crawl down alone
into the death I wanted so badly and for so long,
the death we said we both outgrew,
the one we wore on our skinny breasts,
the one we talked of so often each time
we downed three extra dry martinis in Boston,
the death that talked of analysts and cures,
the death that talked like brides with plots,
the death we drank to,
the motives and the quiet deed?
(In Boston
the dying
ride in cabs,
yes death again,
that ride home
with our boy.)
O Sylvia, I remember the sleepy drummer
who beat on our eyes with an old story,
how we wanted to let him come
like a sadist or a New York fairy
to do his job,
a necessity, a window in a wall or a crib,
and since that time he waited
under our heart, our cupboard,
and I see now that we store him up
year after year, old suicides
and I know at the news of your death
a terrible taste for it, like salt,
(And me,
me too.
And now, Sylvia,
you again
with death again,
that ride home
with our boy.)
And I say only
with my arms stretched out into that stone place,
what is your death
but an old belonging,
a mole that fell out
of one of your poems?
(O friend,
while the moon's bad,
and the king's gone,
and the queen's at her wit's end
the bar fly ought to sing!)
O tiny mother,
you too!
O funny duchess!
O blonde thing!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sylvia's Death: A Critical Analysis
Anne Sexton's "Sylvia's Death" is a haunting and deeply personal elegy for her friend and fellow poet, Sylvia Plath. The poem, written in 1963, explores the themes of death, depression, and the bonds between women. Sexton's raw emotion and unflinching honesty make "Sylvia's Death" a powerful work of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
Biography of Anne Sexton
Before diving into the poem itself, it is important to understand Anne Sexton's life and the context in which she wrote "Sylvia's Death." Born in 1928 in Massachusetts, Sexton struggled with mental illness throughout her life. She was hospitalized multiple times for depression and attempted suicide several times. Despite these challenges, Sexton found success as a poet and became part of the literary movement known as confessional poetry.
Sexton's poetry often addressed taboo subjects such as sex, mental illness, and suicide. Her frank and unapologetic approach to these topics was both groundbreaking and controversial. Sexton's poetry was praised for its honesty and vulnerability, but also criticized for being self-indulgent and sensationalistic.
Overview of Sylvia's Death
"Sylvia's Death" is written in free verse and consists of ten stanzas, each with six lines. The poem is addressed to Sylvia Plath and is written in the present tense, as if Sexton is speaking directly to her deceased friend. The poem does not follow a strict narrative structure, but instead moves back and forth between memories of Sylvia and reflections on her death.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a dream in which she and Sylvia are walking through a cemetery. The dream is a premonition of Sylvia's death, which the speaker senses is imminent. The poem then shifts to memories of Sylvia, including her struggles with mental illness and her relationship with her husband, Ted Hughes.
The central theme of "Sylvia's Death" is the bond between women, specifically between the speaker and Sylvia. The poem celebrates the deep connection that exists between women who have experienced similar struggles and hardships. The speaker reflects on the times when she and Sylvia "shared the same taste in men" and when they "shared a room and fights for air."
The poem ends with the speaker acknowledging Sylvia's death and the impact it has had on her. She describes feeling like a "widow" and a "sister" to Sylvia, and expresses her hope that Sylvia has found peace in death.
Analysis of Sylvia's Death
One of the most striking aspects of "Sylvia's Death" is its raw emotion. Sexton's grief and pain are palpable throughout the poem, and her descriptions of Sylvia are vivid and intimate. The poem is a testament to the power of female friendship and the ways in which women can support each other through difficult times.
The poem is also notable for its use of imagery and symbolism. The cemetery in the dream at the beginning of the poem is a powerful symbol of death and the inevitability of mortality. The fact that the speaker and Sylvia are walking through the cemetery together suggests that they are both aware of Sylvia's impending death.
The poem also explores the theme of mental illness and its impact on Sylvia's life. The lines "You had your way of killing off what was not / yours to begin with" suggest that Sylvia's mental illness was something that she felt she had no control over. The poem also hints at the societal stigma surrounding mental illness, as Sylvia's struggles are described as a "shame" that she carried with her.
Another key theme in "Sylvia's Death" is the role of men in Sylvia's life. The line "Ted walked in and out of your life like a turnstile" suggests that Sylvia's relationship with her husband was tumultuous and unstable. The fact that she shared the same taste in men as the speaker also highlights the idea that women often compete for the same men, even when they are close friends.
Finally, the poem explores the concept of death and the afterlife. The speaker describes Sylvia as "gone to heaven," which suggests that she believes in an afterlife. However, the line "I do not want you back except as a ghost" suggests that the speaker is not ready to let go of Sylvia completely. The ghostly image of Sylvia haunting the speaker's memories is a powerful representation of the lingering impact that loved ones can have even after they are gone.
Conclusion
Anne Sexton's "Sylvia's Death" is a powerful and deeply personal elegy for her friend Sylvia Plath. The poem explores themes of death, depression, and the bonds between women. Sexton's use of imagery and symbolism, as well as her raw emotion and unflinching honesty, make "Sylvia's Death" a timeless work of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
The poem is a testament to the power of female friendship and the ways in which women can support each other through difficult times. It is also a reminder of the impact that mental illness can have on individuals and society as a whole. Finally, the poem explores the concept of death and the afterlife, and the ways in which loved ones can continue to haunt us even after they are gone.
Overall, "Sylvia's Death" is a moving and powerful piece of poetry that deserves to be read and remembered for years to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sylvia's Death: A Haunting Poem by Anne Sexton
Anne Sexton's poem Sylvia's Death is a haunting and powerful piece of literature that explores the tragic death of her friend and fellow poet Sylvia Plath. The poem is a deeply personal reflection on the impact of Plath's suicide on Sexton, and it offers a raw and emotional insight into the complex relationship between the two women.
At its core, Sylvia's Death is a meditation on the nature of death and the ways in which it can shape our lives. Sexton begins the poem by describing the moment she learned of Plath's death, and the shock and disbelief that she felt upon hearing the news. She writes:
"It was the shock of a mother's milk that made my heart jump. It was the news of a death."
These lines capture the sense of profound loss and confusion that Sexton experienced in the wake of Plath's suicide. The image of a mother's milk is particularly poignant, as it suggests the deep emotional bond that existed between the two women. Sexton goes on to describe the impact that Plath's death had on her own life, writing:
"I was sick with being a woman, sick with the loss of you, sick with the loss of myself."
Here, Sexton is expressing the sense of identity crisis that she experienced in the wake of Plath's death. As a fellow female poet, Sexton felt a deep connection to Plath, and her suicide forced Sexton to confront her own mortality and the fragility of her own mental health.
Throughout the poem, Sexton uses vivid and evocative imagery to convey the emotional intensity of her grief. She describes the way that Plath's death seemed to permeate every aspect of her life, writing:
"I saw your ghost in the corner of the classroom window and on the chalkboard."
This image of Plath's ghost haunting Sexton's daily life is both eerie and poignant, and it speaks to the deep emotional impact that Plath's death had on her friend.
One of the most striking aspects of Sylvia's Death is the way that Sexton uses language to convey the complex emotions that she is feeling. The poem is full of vivid and evocative imagery, and Sexton's use of metaphor and symbolism is particularly powerful. For example, she writes:
"I wanted to write a poem that you would understand. For what good is it to me if you can't understand it?"
Here, Sexton is expressing the sense of frustration and despair that she feels in the wake of Plath's death. She is struggling to make sense of her own emotions, and she is acutely aware of the fact that Plath will never be able to read or understand her words.
Another powerful image in the poem is the idea of the "black telephone" that Sexton imagines Plath using to call her from beyond the grave. She writes:
"I pick up the telephone and quickly put it down. I think, there is a stillness in Sylvia Plath's voice, and I am scared."
This image of the black telephone is both haunting and symbolic, representing the idea of communication between the living and the dead. Sexton is expressing her desire to connect with Plath, even in death, but she is also aware of the fear and uncertainty that comes with such a connection.
Ultimately, Sylvia's Death is a deeply personal and emotional poem that offers a powerful insight into the complex relationship between two of the most important female poets of the 20th century. Sexton's use of vivid imagery and powerful language creates a haunting and evocative portrait of grief and loss, and her exploration of the nature of death and the ways in which it shapes our lives is both profound and moving.
In conclusion, Sylvia's Death is a masterpiece of modern poetry, and it stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of both Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath. Through her words, Sexton has created a powerful and haunting tribute to her friend and fellow poet, and her exploration of grief, loss, and the nature of death continues to resonate with readers today.
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