Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Anna Who Was Mad", Anne Sexton crafts a haunting and introspective poem that delves into themes of guilt, mental illness, and the complexity of relationships. The poem is structured as a direct address to Anna, a figure who seems to have been consumed by madness, with the speaker obsessively questioning her own role in Anna's descent into insanity.

The opening line, "Anna who was mad," immediately sets a tone of sorrow and reflection. The past tense "was" suggests that Anna is no longer alive or that she has moved beyond the madness that once defined her. This is followed by the unsettling image of the speaker with "a knife in my armpit," which evokes a sense of self-harm or concealed pain, as if the speaker carries an emotional wound that she cannot fully expose. This image also sets the tone for the speaker's ongoing self-interrogation throughout the poem.

The speaker's questions to Anna are loaded with guilt and self-recrimination. She repeatedly asks, "Did I make you go insane?" and "Did I make the sounds go sour?" These questions reveal the speaker's deep-seated fear that she may have been responsible for Anna's mental breakdown. The repetition of "Did I" underscores the obsessive nature of the speaker's guilt, as she searches for answers or perhaps absolution.

The poem also explores the theme of communication, or the lack thereof. The speaker taps out "messages" on tiptoe, a futile attempt to reach Anna or to understand her. The image of "climbing out the window" suggests an escape, possibly from the constraints of sanity or reality, and the speaker's plea for forgiveness—"Forgive. Forgive"—indicates a desperate need for reconciliation or understanding, even though it may no longer be possible.

Sexton’s use of religious imagery, such as "Mary-words" and the "jack-in-the-pulpit," adds a layer of sacrilege or the profane mingling with the sacred. The "Mary-words" could symbolize a plea for purity or redemption, while the "jack-in-the-pulpit" (a flower with a preacher-like structure) might represent the idea of confession or bearing witness to one’s sins. The speaker's demand for a "report on the condition of my soul" and a "complete statement of my actions" suggests an intense need for self-examination, as if she believes that understanding Anna's fate will somehow clarify her own moral standing.

The poem’s tone shifts to a more accusatory and frantic pace as the speaker questions the role of the psychiatrist—"the mustached psychiatrist who dragged you out like a golf cart." This line paints a disturbing picture of a medical professional who might have mishandled Anna's treatment, reducing her to something as trivial as a "golf cart." The speaker’s repetitive questioning—"Did I make you go insane?"—reaches a crescendo, indicating the unbearable weight of guilt that the speaker carries.

Finally, the plea for Anna to write from the grave—"From the grave write me, Anna!"—is both poignant and desperate. The idea of Anna writing from beyond the grave suggests that the speaker is seeking closure or understanding that can never truly be attained. The mention of the "Parker Pen" as a tool for communication hints at a past connection between the two, perhaps a gift that symbolizes their bond or Anna’s voice. The demand for Anna to "Write. Write." reflects the speaker’s overwhelming need for answers, a need that remains unfulfilled.

In conclusion, "Anna Who Was Mad" is a powerful exploration of guilt, mental illness, and the burden of responsibility. Sexton's use of vivid imagery and repetitive questioning effectively conveys the speaker’s internal turmoil and her desperate search for meaning in the face of loss and madness. The poem’s haunting tone leaves the reader with a sense of unresolved tension, mirroring the speaker’s own unresolved emotions and the lingering impact of Anna’s madness on her psyche.

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