'The Legend Of The One-Eyed Man' by Anne Sexton
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Like Oedipus I am losing my sight.
LIke Judas I have done my wrong.
Their punishment is over;
the shame and disgrace of it
are all used up.
But as for me,
look into my face
and you will know that crimes dropped upon me
as from a high building
and although I cannot speak of them
or explain the degrading details
I have remembered much
about Judas -
about Judas, the old and the famous -
that you overlooked.
The story of his life
is the story of mine.
I have one glass eye.
My nerves push against its painted surface
but the other one
waiting for judgement
continues to see . . .
Of course
the New Testament is very small.
Its mouth opens four times -
as out-of-date as a prehistoric monster,
yet somehow man-made
held together by pullies
like the stone jaw of a back-hoe.
It gouges out the Judaic ground,
taking its own backyard
like a virgin daughter.
And furthermore how did Judas come into it -
that Judas Iscariot,
belonging to the tribe of Reuben?
He should have tried to lift him up there!
His neck like an iron pole,
hard as Newcastle,
his heart as stiff as beeswax,
his legs swollen and unmarked,
his other limbs still growing.
All of it heavy!
That dead weight that would have been his fault
. He should have known!
In the first place who builds up such ugliness?
I think of this man saying . . .
Look! Here's the price to do it
plus the cost of the raw materials
and if it took him three or four days
to do it, then, they'd understand.
They figured it weighed enough
to support a man. They said,
fifteen stone is the approximate weight
of a thief.
Its ugliness is a matter of custom.
If there was a mistake made
then the Crucifix was constructed wrong . . .
not from the quality of the pine,
not from hanging a mirror,
not from dropping the studding or the drill
but from having an inspriation.
But Judas was not a genius
or under the auspices of an inspiration.
I don't know whether it was gold or silver.
I don't know why he betrayed him
other than his motives,
other than the avaricious and dishonest man.
And then there were the forbidden crimes,
those that were expressly foretold,
and then overlooked
and then forgotten
except by me . . .
Judas had a mother
just as I had a mother.
Oh! Honor and relish the facts!
Do not think of the intense sensation
I have as I tell you this
but think only . . .
Judas had a mother.
His mother had a dream.
Because of this dream
he was altogether managed by fate
and thus he raped her.
As a crime we hear little of this.
Also he sold his God.
Submitted by Emily
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Legend Of The One-Eyed Man: A Critical Analysis
The Legend Of The One-Eyed Man is a striking and thought-provoking poem by Anne Sexton, an American poet known for her confessional style. The poem, which was first published in her 1966 collection All My Pretty Ones, tells the story of a one-eyed man who is ostracized by society and eventually becomes a legend. In this critical analysis, I will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism in the poem, as well as its relevance to Sexton's life and work.
Themes
One of the main themes of The Legend Of The One-Eyed Man is isolation and alienation. The one-eyed man is a symbol of otherness and difference, and he is rejected by the people around him. The poem describes how he is teased and ridiculed by children, shunned by women, and feared by men. This theme of alienation is a recurring motif in Sexton's work, and it reflects her own struggles with mental illness and social isolation.
Another theme in the poem is the power of storytelling and the construction of myth. The one-eyed man becomes a legend because his story is passed down from generation to generation, and his physical deformity is exaggerated and distorted over time. This theme of storytelling is also present in Sexton's work, as she often weaves personal anecdotes and family history into her poems.
A third theme in the poem is the nature of beauty and ugliness. The one-eyed man is considered ugly by society, but his inner beauty shines through in his kindness and compassion. This theme reflects Sexton's belief that true beauty comes from within, and that physical appearance is not the most important aspect of a person's character.
Imagery
The Legend Of The One-Eyed Man is filled with vivid and striking imagery that captures the reader's attention. One of the most powerful images in the poem is the description of the one-eyed man himself. Sexton writes:
His one eye is gentle. It looks like nothing you have ever seen before. It is like a moon in a foreign sky.
This image of the one-eyed man's eye as a "moon in a foreign sky" is both beautiful and strange, and it highlights the man's uniqueness and otherness.
Another striking image in the poem is the description of the one-eyed man's death. Sexton writes:
They found him dead by the river, his good eye looking at the water, his poor eye looking at the sky.
This image of the one-eyed man's eyes looking in opposite directions is haunting and poignant, and it emphasizes the man's duality and complexity.
Symbolism
The Legend Of The One-Eyed Man is rich in symbolism, and many of its images and themes have deeper meanings. One of the most potent symbols in the poem is the one-eyed man himself, who represents the marginalized and the oppressed. His physical deformity is a metaphor for the ways in which society rejects and stigmatizes those who are different. The fact that he becomes a legend also suggests that his story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of intolerance and prejudice.
Another symbol in the poem is the river, which represents the passage of time and the inevitability of death. The fact that the one-eyed man is found dead by the river underscores the poem's themes of mortality and transience.
Relevance to Sexton's Life and Work
The Legend Of The One-Eyed Man is a deeply personal and autobiographical poem, and it reflects many of the themes and issues that Sexton grappled with in her own life. Sexton struggled with mental illness and social isolation, and she often felt like an outsider in her own community. The one-eyed man's story can be seen as a reflection of Sexton's own experiences of marginalization and rejection.
At the same time, however, The Legend Of The One-Eyed Man is also a universal poem that speaks to the human condition. Its themes of alienation, storytelling, and the nature of beauty and ugliness are relevant to all people, regardless of their individual circumstances. Sexton's skillful use of imagery and symbolism makes the poem accessible and relatable to a wide audience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Legend Of The One-Eyed Man is a powerful and engaging poem that explores themes of isolation, storytelling, and the nature of beauty and ugliness. Its vivid imagery and rich symbolism make it a timeless work of literature that speaks to the human experience. Sexton's personal struggles and experiences are woven into the poem, but its universal themes and messages make it relevant to all readers. The Legend Of The One-Eyed Man is a masterpiece of confessional poetry, and a testament to Sexton's talent as a writer.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Legend Of The One-Eyed Man: An Analysis of Anne Sexton's Classic Poem
Anne Sexton was a poet who was known for her dark and confessional style of writing. Her works often dealt with themes of mental illness, death, and the human condition. One of her most famous poems, The Legend Of The One-Eyed Man, is a haunting and powerful piece that explores the idea of isolation and the search for connection.
The poem tells the story of a one-eyed man who lives alone in a tower. He spends his days looking out at the world below, watching the people go about their lives. Despite his physical deformity, the one-eyed man longs for companionship and love. He dreams of finding someone who will accept him for who he is, and not judge him based on his appearance.
The poem begins with a description of the one-eyed man and his tower. Sexton writes, "The one-eyed man stands in his tower/and looks out over the land./He sees the people walking by,/but they do not see him." This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, establishing the one-eyed man as a lonely and isolated figure.
As the poem continues, Sexton explores the one-eyed man's desire for connection. She writes, "He dreams of a woman who will love him/for the one eye that sees her." This line is particularly powerful, as it speaks to the idea that true love is about accepting someone for who they are, flaws and all. The one-eyed man is not looking for someone to pity him or feel sorry for him, but rather someone who will see him as he truly is.
Despite his longing for companionship, the one-eyed man is unable to leave his tower. Sexton writes, "He cannot leave his tower,/for he is afraid of the world below." This fear is understandable, given the way that society often treats those who are different. The one-eyed man knows that he will be judged and ridiculed if he ventures out into the world, so he chooses to stay in his tower instead.
The poem ends with a powerful image of the one-eyed man looking out at the world below. Sexton writes, "He stands in his tower and looks out/over the land that he cannot touch." This final stanza speaks to the idea that the one-eyed man is forever separated from the world around him. He is unable to fully participate in life, and is instead forced to watch from a distance.
Overall, The Legend Of The One-Eyed Man is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of isolation and the search for connection. Anne Sexton's use of vivid imagery and powerful language creates a sense of empathy for the one-eyed man, and makes the reader feel his pain and longing. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the human experience, and to help us understand the struggles that we all face in our search for love and connection.
Editor Recommended Sites
Managed Service App: SaaS cloud application deployment services directory, best rated services, LLM servicesSwitch Tears of the Kingdom fan page: Fan page for the sequal to breath of the wild 2
Hands On Lab: Hands on Cloud and Software engineering labs
Best Scifi Games - Highest Rated Scifi Games & Top Ranking Scifi Games: Find the best Scifi games of all time
Coin Exchange - Crypto Exchange List & US Crypto Exchanges: Interface with crypto exchanges to get data and realtime updates
Recommended Similar Analysis
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe analysisFilling Station by Elizabeth Bishop analysis
Song For The Wandering Jew by William Wordsworth analysis
Friendship by Henry David Thoreau analysis
A Prayer For My Daughter by William Butler Yeats analysis
Death of the Hired Man, The by Robert Lee Frost analysis
TO DEATH by Robert Herrick analysis
Knight 's Tomb, The by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysis
A Supermarket In California by Allen Ginsberg analysis
Portrait of a Lady by Thomas Stearns Eliot analysis