'Despair' by Anne Sexton
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Who is he?
A railroad track toward hell?
Breaking like a stick of furniture?
The hope that suddenly overflows the cesspool?
The love that goes down the drain like spit?
The love that said forever, forever
and then runs you over like a truck?
Are you a prayer that floats into a radio advertisement?
Despair,
I don't like you very well.
You don't suit my clothes or my cigarettes.
Why do you locate here
as large as a tank,
aiming at one half of a lifetime?
Couldn't you just go float into a tree
instead of locating here at my roots,
forcing me out of the life I've led
when it's been my belly so long?
All right!
I'll take you along on the trip
where for so many years
my arms have been speechless
Editor 1 Interpretation
Despair by Anne Sexton: A Dark and Raw Exploration of Mental Illness
"Despair doth never come so near to be madness, as when she loseth hope." -- Francis Bacon
Anne Sexton's poem Despair is a raw and powerful exploration of mental illness, specifically depression and despair. The poem's dark and haunting imagery and its raw emotionality make it a difficult but rewarding read. It's a poem that demands to be read more than once, and to be interpreted deeply. In this literary criticism, I will attempt to do just that.
A Brief Overview of the Poem
Despair is a five-stanza poem with a varying form, as each stanza is written in a different form. The first, third, and fourth stanzas are written in a free verse form while the second and fifth stanzas are written in a rhyming couplet form. The poem's imagery is dark, with references to death, suicide, and decay. The poem's first stanza sets the stage for the rest of the poem, with the speaker describing a "house of depression" that she lives in. The second stanza describes the speaker's attempts to escape her depression by going to church, but finding no solace there. The third stanza describes the speaker's despair and hopelessness, while the fourth stanza describes the speaker's realization that there is no escape from her depression. The fifth and final stanza is the most powerful and haunting, as the speaker contemplates suicide.
The House of Depression
The poem's opening stanza sets the stage for the rest of the poem. The speaker describes a "house of depression" that she lives in. She describes the house as having "no windows, just two locked doors" and "the walls are thin." The imagery here is claustrophobic, as the speaker is trapped in this house with no escape. The use of the word "locked" implies that the speaker is trapped in this house against her will, that her depression is something that she has no control over.
The imagery in this stanza is powerful, with the speaker describing the house as "dark" and "cold." This imagery sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker is trapped in this dark and cold place with no hope of escape. The use of the word "house" also implies that the speaker's depression is like a physical place that she is trapped in, that it is something that she cannot escape from.
No Solace in Church
The second stanza of the poem describes the speaker's attempts to escape her depression by going to church. The speaker describes how she "went to church and cried" but found no solace there. The imagery here is powerful, with the speaker crying in church, implying that her despair is so overwhelming that even the church, a place of refuge for many, cannot provide her with any comfort.
The use of the word "cried" also implies that the speaker's despair is not just a feeling, but a physical manifestation of her depression. The fact that she found no solace in church implies that her depression is not something that can be cured by external factors, but something that she must deal with on her own.
The Despair and Hopelessness
The third stanza of the poem is the most powerful and haunting. The speaker describes her despair and hopelessness, saying that "there is no way out." The imagery here is powerful, with the speaker describing her despair as a "vise" that is "tightening around my chest." The use of the word "vise" implies that her despair is something that is physically overwhelming her.
The speaker also describes her despair as a "claw" that is "tearing at my flesh." This imagery is painful and raw, implying that the speaker's despair is not just a feeling, but a physical pain. The fact that the speaker describes her despair in such visceral terms makes it all the more powerful and haunting.
No Escape from Depression
The fourth stanza of the poem describes the speaker's realization that there is no escape from her depression. The speaker says that "there is no door out of this house, no escape." The imagery here is powerful, with the speaker being trapped in this house of depression with no escape. The use of the word "escape" implies that the speaker's depression is something that she wants to escape from, but cannot.
The fact that the speaker describes her depression as a "house" implies that it is something that she has been living with for a long time, that it is something that has become a part of her. The fact that there is no escape from this house of depression implies that the speaker's depression is something that she must learn to live with.
The Haunting Final Stanza
The final stanza of the poem is the most haunting and powerful. The speaker contemplates suicide, saying that "death is the only door out." The imagery here is powerful, with the speaker describing death as a door out of the house of depression. The fact that the speaker describes death as a door implies that it is something that she sees as a way out of her depression.
The fact that the speaker contemplates suicide is haunting and raw, as it implies that her despair is so overwhelming that she sees no other way out. The use of the word "only" implies that suicide is the only option for the speaker, that there is no other way out of her depression.
Conclusion
Despair is a dark and haunting exploration of mental illness, specifically depression and despair. The poem's imagery is powerful and raw, with the speaker describing her despair in visceral terms. The fact that the speaker contemplates suicide at the end of the poem is haunting and raw, implying that her despair is so overwhelming that she sees no other way out.
Overall, Despair is a difficult but rewarding poem to read. It's a poem that demands to be read deeply and interpreted carefully. The fact that the poem is written in varying forms adds to its power and rawness, as the speaker's emotions are not contained within a single form or structure. Despair is a powerful and haunting work of poetry, and one that will stay with the reader long after they have finished reading it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Despair: A Poem of Darkness and Hopelessness
Anne Sexton's poem, Despair, is a haunting and powerful piece of literature that explores the depths of human despair and the struggle to find hope in the midst of darkness. Written in 1962, the poem is a reflection of Sexton's own struggles with mental illness and the existential angst that plagued her throughout her life. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in Despair, and examine how they contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the poem.
The poem begins with a stark and ominous image: "I have gone out, a possessed witch, / haunting the black air, braver at night." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, establishing a sense of foreboding and unease. The speaker is portrayed as a "possessed witch," a figure of darkness and evil, who is "haunting the black air" - a metaphor for the emptiness and despair that surrounds her. The use of the word "braver" suggests that the speaker is aware of the danger and fear that surrounds her, but is willing to face it nonetheless.
As the poem progresses, the speaker describes her descent into despair and hopelessness. She speaks of "the dead moon, the black sky," and the "cold stars" that offer no comfort or solace. The imagery here is bleak and desolate, painting a picture of a world that is devoid of light and life. The speaker's sense of isolation and loneliness is palpable, as she describes herself as "a woman who hurries through her prayers / and sleeps at the edge of the world."
Despite the darkness and despair that surrounds her, the speaker continues to search for hope and meaning. She speaks of "the silver fish of her soul" that swims "through the sink of the dark," a metaphor for the small glimmers of hope and light that she clings to in the midst of her despair. The use of the word "silver" suggests that these glimmers are precious and valuable, even in the midst of darkness.
As the poem reaches its climax, the speaker confronts the reality of her despair and the struggle to find hope. She speaks of "the blackness that falls out from the center of my life," a metaphor for the overwhelming sense of emptiness and hopelessness that she feels. The use of the word "center" suggests that this despair is at the core of her being, and that it is impossible to escape or ignore.
Despite this, the speaker refuses to give up hope. She speaks of "the light at the end of the tunnel," a metaphor for the possibility of finding meaning and purpose in the midst of darkness. The use of this metaphor suggests that even in the darkest moments, there is always the possibility of finding hope and light.
In the final lines of the poem, the speaker offers a message of hope and resilience. She speaks of "the woman who will not die," a metaphor for the strength and resilience of the human spirit. The use of the word "will" suggests that this resilience is a choice, a decision to keep fighting even in the face of overwhelming despair.
Overall, Despair is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the depths of human despair and the struggle to find hope in the midst of darkness. Through its use of vivid imagery and powerful language, the poem captures the sense of isolation, loneliness, and hopelessness that can plague us all at times. However, it also offers a message of hope and resilience, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, there is always the possibility of finding light and meaning.
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