Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

1986

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Nathan, Norman

Abstract

Anne Sexton's poetry is memorable for its brilliant insights that illuminate the darkest corners of her experience. Her outspoken revelations, often brutal and compelling, describe an existence marked by struggles that were ultimately tragic. One of the most disturbing qualities of Sexton's works, however, is her consistent portrayal of the persona as victim. During the three stages of Sexton's career--the early years (1960-65), the middle years (1966-71), and the final years (1972-74)--her persona's culprits move from the specific to the general, or universal, as her demons become less personal and more mystical. In her early poetry, Sexton portrays the persona as the victim of a cruel mother. Later, she is the victim of her callous lovers; and finally, she is the victim of a malevolent God. Sexton began her career writing formal units of verse. Toward the final stage of her life, she used less restraint 1n both style and language in her poetry. However, Sexton used imagery, metaphor, and irony effectively throughout her career to cast her persona as victim of her changing demons.

Extent

52 p.

Comments

Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters|Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1986.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters

Identifier

FADT14297

Format

pdf

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