Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton's "Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty)" is a powerful and disturbing reimagining of the classic fairy tale, infused with themes of trauma, abuse, and the complex, often dark relationships within a family. Through the lens of Briar Rose, Sexton delves into the psychological and emotional impact of being trapped in cycles of victimization and the haunting consequences of a past that cannot be escaped.

The poem begins with a depiction of a young girl slipping into a trance, likening her to a "hypnotist's trance" and a "spirit world," where she regresses to a state of childlike vulnerability. This regression, portrayed as a journey back in time, suggests the entrapment of the girl in her past trauma, which she is unable to move beyond. The imagery of her being "stuck in the time machine" and "learning to talk again" evokes a sense of helplessness and a return to an infantile state, emphasizing the severity of her psychological wounds.

The narrative shifts to the traditional story of Briar Rose, beginning with the king's christening for his daughter and the curse placed upon her by the thirteenth fairy. Sexton's description of the thirteenth fairy is particularly unsettling: her "fingers as long and thin as straws," her "eyes burnt by cigarettes," and her "uterus an empty teacup." These grotesque details highlight the fairy's bitterness and perhaps suggest her own history of pain and loss, which she transfers onto Briar Rose through the curse. The curse itself—falling into a death-like sleep upon pricking her finger—is mitigated by the twelfth fairy, who changes it to a hundred-year sleep, thus setting the stage for the traditional tale of Sleeping Beauty.

However, Sexton’s retelling diverges sharply from the familiar narrative, introducing disturbing elements that subvert the romanticized version of the story. The king’s obsessive protection of Briar Rose—biting the hem of her gown, fastening the moon up with a safety pin, and forcing the men of the court to scour their tongues—suggests an unhealthy, controlling attachment. This obsessive behavior is tinged with a sense of foreboding, as it becomes clear that Briar Rose is not simply being protected but also suffocated by her father’s overbearing presence.

When Briar Rose finally pricks her finger and falls into her enchanted sleep, the entire kingdom falls with her, creating a nightmarish stasis where time stops, and all living things are trapped in a "catatonic" state. The imagery of the castle surrounded by "a great wall of tacks" and the princes who attempt to reach her being "crucified" by the thorns is dark and violent, symbolizing the inaccessibility of Briar Rose and the peril of trying to break through her defenses.

The prince who eventually reaches Briar Rose and awakens her with a kiss is met not with gratitude or love, but with a cry for her father: "Daddy! Daddy!" This response reveals the depth of Briar Rose’s psychological entrapment, where the lines between savior and abuser are blurred. Her immediate association of the prince with her father suggests that she has been conditioned to equate love with pain and protection with control.

The poem then explores Briar Rose’s life after awakening, revealing that she has become an insomniac, unable to sleep without the aid of drugs. Her fear of sleep and the nightmarish visions that accompany it point to the deep-seated trauma she carries with her. The image of the "faltering crone" at her place in her dreams, with "eyes burnt by cigarettes," eating "betrayal like a slice of meat," underscores the betrayal she feels, perhaps by her father or by the very nature of her existence.

In the final stanzas, the poem delves into the darkest aspects of Briar Rose’s past, implying that the true horror lies not in the curse or the hundred-year sleep, but in the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. The repeated invocation of "Daddy" and the imagery of her father as a "shark" circling her bed, or as a "sleeping jellyfish" suffocating her, speaks to the inescapable nature of her trauma. The question "What voyage is this, little girl? / This coming out of prison?" reflects the confusion and despair of trying to escape a past that continues to define and imprison her.

Sexton’s "Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty)" is a poignant and harrowing exploration of the psychological effects of abuse and the ways in which trauma can distort one’s sense of self and reality. By reinterpreting the familiar fairy tale through the lens of modern psychological understanding, Sexton offers a powerful commentary on the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of even the most seemingly innocent stories. The poem challenges readers to confront the uncomfortable truths about power, control, and the lasting impact of childhood trauma.

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