Anne Sexton Essay Example
Anne Sexton believed that the most interesting poetry was written out of personal experience. Everything she had been through, her hospitalization, her affairs, her insanity, the loss of her parents, and great-aunt, gave her things to write about. She uses poetry as one of her outlet. She writes out her problems. Her writing was a part of her therapy.
As a child, Anne Sexton had to be the center of attention, "a demanding child" (Self-Portrait in Letter 3). When Anne was younger, she thought of herself as an outcast and unwanted (Hall 3). Anne's great-aunt Nana died in July 1954. She thought the death of Nana was her fault. This was proved in some of the poetry that Anne wrote, "I knew you forever and you were always old, / soft white lady of my heart" (To Bedlam and Part Way Back 13). Anne met and married Alfred Muller Sexton II in the summer of 1948. The Korean War just started in 1950, and Kayo (Alfred) joined the Naval Reserves. Kayo's boat docked in 1952, and Anne drove to San Francisco to see him. She returned pregnant, and on July 21, 1953 she gave birth to Linda Gray Sexton.
The next two years of Anne's life became hard for her. She started to become emotionally unstable. She was hospitalized on and off due to suicide attempts. August 4, 1955, Joyce Ladd Sexton was born. Anne was not ready to handle the responsibilities of an infant, toddler, husband, and a house. "She checked herself in and out of mental institutions which she called summer hotel', and sealed hotel'" (Hall 6). She became angrier and more depressed. In March 1956, Anne was hospitalized. Linda was sent to Anne's parents and Joyce was sent to Kayo's parents. Anne returned home a few months later, and Joyce stayed at Kayo's parents' house, while Linda came back home. Again, on November 9th 1956, Anne attempted suicide. She then started to see Dr. Martin, who motivated her to start writing poetry. During these years, Anne worked on her poetry in the
As a child, Anne Sexton had to be the center of attention, "a demanding child" (Self-Portrait in Letter 3). When Anne was younger, she thought of herself as an outcast and unwanted (Hall 3). Anne's great-aunt Nana died in July 1954. She thought the death of Nana was her fault. This was proved in some of the poetry that Anne wrote, "I knew you forever and you were always old, / soft white lady of my heart" (To Bedlam and Part Way Back 13). Anne met and married Alfred Muller Sexton II in the summer of 1948. The Korean War just started in 1950, and Kayo (Alfred) joined the Naval Reserves. Kayo's boat docked in 1952, and Anne drove to San Francisco to see him. She returned pregnant, and on July 21, 1953 she gave birth to Linda Gray Sexton.
The next two years of Anne's life became hard for her. She started to become emotionally unstable. She was hospitalized on and off due to suicide attempts. August 4, 1955, Joyce Ladd Sexton was born. Anne was not ready to handle the responsibilities of an infant, toddler, husband, and a house. "She checked herself in and out of mental institutions which she called summer hotel', and sealed hotel'" (Hall 6). She became angrier and more depressed. In March 1956, Anne was hospitalized. Linda was sent to Anne's parents and Joyce was sent to Kayo's parents. Anne returned home a few months later, and Joyce stayed at Kayo's parents' house, while Linda came back home. Again, on November 9th 1956, Anne attempted suicide. She then started to see Dr. Martin, who motivated her to start writing poetry. During these years, Anne worked on her poetry in the