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Anosh Fatima

American Literature

Miss Nida Ahsan

Date: April 10, 2023.

Title: The Precipice of Existence: A Study of Anne Sexton's Treatment of Life and Death.

Anne Sexton was a poet known for her deeply personal and confessional work, often exploring
themes of mental illness, family, and relationships. She explored the darkest corners of the
human experience. Many of her poems can be read as grappling with existential questions,
particularly the search for meaning and the struggle to find one's place in the world. In this essay,
I will analyze two of Sexton's poems – "Wanting to Die" and “The Truth the Dead Know" from
the perspective of existential crisis.

Existential Theory explores the search for meaning and purpose in life, and how individuals can
struggle with their own existence. It often arises when individuals are confronted with the reality
of their own mortality, and begin to question the purpose and significance of their existence. This
theme is central to many of Sexton's poems, and can be seen in the following analysis. Anne
Sexton's poem "Wanting to Die" is a powerful representation of the existential themes of despair,
meaninglessness, and the search for purpose. This poem is written in the first person and is
regarded as one of Anne Sexton’s most personal poems. In the classic form of confessional
poetry, she expresses sentiments that are true to her own life. Sexton battled with depression and
suicidal thoughts throughout much of her life, as this poem demonstrates. The poem presents a
deeply personal and emotional perspective on this crisis, suggesting that the speaker is struggling
with feelings of despair, hopelessness, and a desire to escape the pain of existence.

The poem begins with the lines:

"Since you ask, most days I cannot remember.

I walk in my clothing, unmarked by that voyage.

Then the almost unnamable lust returns."

Here, Sexton presents a sense of detachment and disconnection from the world, as if the speaker
is walking through life in a state of numbness or dissociation. At the same time, the reference to
the "almost unnameable lust" suggests a deeper desire or longing that the speaker is unable to
articulate or fulfill. The first stanza sets the stage for the poem by establishing the speaker's sense
of disconnection from the world. They cannot remember most days, which suggest a lack of
engagement or meaning in their daily experiences. They walk in their clothing, unmarked by any
significant events or experiences. This sense of detachment is emphasized by the use of the word
"voyage", which implies a journey or adventure, but in this case, is marked by a lack of impact or
significance.

The second stanza introduces the concept of suicide as a "special language". This language is
likened to that of carpenters who carefully choose their tools to build something. The speaker
acknowledges that they do not understand why suicide is the answer, but they are drawn to it
nonetheless. This suggests a sense of desperation and hopelessness that often accompanies
existential crises.

The third stanza describes the speaker's past suicide attempts in vivid and violent terms. They
have "declared" themselves and "possessed" their enemy, which could be interpreted as a desire
to take control of their own life and death. The reference to "craft" and "magic" suggests that the
speaker may view suicide as a way to escape their current reality and create a new, more
powerful identity for themselves.

The fourth stanza is perhaps the most haunting and emotionally charged of the poem. The
speaker describes the aftermath of their suicide attempts in graphic terms, with the cornea and
urine being "gone". The idea of betraying the body is a common theme in existential literature, as
it suggests a sense of guilt or shame for wanting to escape the physical world. The reference to
suicide as an addictive drug is also a powerful image, suggesting that the speaker is caught in a
cycle of despair and longing that is difficult to escape.

The fifth stanza is where the speaker begins to acknowledge the finality of death and the sense of
loss that accompanies it. The reference to death as a "sad bone" implies a sense of inevitability
and resignation, while the idea of "undoing an old wound" suggests a desire to escape from the
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pain and suffering of existence. The final line of the stanza, "to empty my breath from its bad
prison", is a powerful metaphor for the struggle to escape the limitations and constraints of the
physical body.

The final stanza brings the poem full circle, returning to the idea of suicide as a choice that is
both tragic and regrettable. The image of leaving behind the "bread they mistook for a kiss"
suggests that the speaker has realized too late the simple pleasures of life that they have missed
out on. This realization underscores the central theme of the poem, which is the struggle to find
meaning and purpose in a world that often seems devoid of both.

Anne Sexton's poem "The Truth the Dead Know" is a powerful and haunting exploration of the
existential crisis, which is a period of intense questioning and searching for meaning in life. The
poem presents a deeply personal and emotional perspective on this crisis, suggesting that the
speaker is struggling with feelings of loss, grief, and a sense of disconnection from the world.

One of the main existential themes in the poem is the struggle to find meaning and purpose in the
face of mortality. The speaker rejects the traditional funeral procession and instead chooses to
cultivate themselves in nature, away from societal expectations and conventions. The speaker's
desire for connection and the recognition of human suffering across different countries and
cultures highlights the universal nature of this struggle. The speaker's rejection of the traditional
path and search for meaning can be seen as a reflection of the existentialist idea that individuals
must create their own meaning in life.

The image of the dead lying without shoes in their stone boats can be seen as a representation of
the finality of death. The dead refuse to be blessed or acknowledged, indicating that there is no
comfort or solace to be found in traditional notions of an afterlife or religious beliefs. This
rejection of traditional beliefs is a common theme in existentialism, which emphasizes the
individual's responsibility to create their own meaning in the face of the absurdity of life and the
inevitability of death.

The idea of touch and connection between individuals is also present in the poem, which can be
seen as a desire for authenticity and genuine human connection. The reference to men killing for
this kind of connection emphasizes its importance and the potential for violence that can result
from its absence. This desire for authentic connection is a common theme in existentialism,
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which emphasizes the importance of the individual's subjective experience and the need for
genuine human connection in a world that can often feel meaningless and disconnected.

Sexton's personal struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts are reflected in "Wanting to
Die", and the poem explores the themes of despair, hopelessness, and the desire to escape the
pain of existence. "The Truth the Dead Know" depicts the themes of loss, grief, and the struggle
to find meaning and purpose in the face of mortality. The poem highlights the rejection of
traditional funeral rites and search for connection and meaning reflect the existentialist idea that
individuals must create their own meaning in life