Blog Two: Sexton &Plath

Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath follow Lowell nicely as both can be seen to build on the tradition of the confessional poet while making forays into new ways of exploring meaning. Plath can be seen as following the tradition of some of the more canonical poets of the past with her use of literary reference and apparent desire to be accepted into the cannon. At the same time her subject matter and tone set her apart as a new voice of the times. Plath’s use of language to create her own meaning marked her as a poet more interested in conveying truth than in entertaining the general public than in entering conversation with an academic elite.
Sexton took her poetry even farther into the realm of the public sphere by making her poetry accessible to the general public by using subject matter that was of general knowledge at the time. Her references to Jello and other pop culture references, as well as her rather more straightforward language has made her one of the most well read poets of our time.
One of the most interesting aspects of Sexton’s writing is her use of multiple perspectives within her poetry. As described in the essay we read by Karen Alkalay, “The Dream Life of Ms. Dog: Anne Sexton’s Revolutinoary Use of Pop Culture“, in her classic poem “Hurry Up Please, It’s Time,” Sexton begins the poem in the voice of her as an exhibitionist and child like figure exploring her sexuality. The poem also speaks as poor Anne who is depressed and perhaps house ridden. She also gives voice to a character called Ms. Dog who seems to be Sexton’s daring and adventurous side. The character Skeezix also makes an appearance as a kind of intermediary between the internal and external worlds. This multiplicity of characters is truly unusual when most poems include one, or a much more limited, perspective.