Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton’s poem "Locked Doors" delves into the complex interplay between innocence, suffering, and the limitations of empathy. It is a meditation on the human condition, exploring the boundaries of compassion and the inaccessibility of certain aspects of the human psyche, represented through the metaphor of a locked room.

The poem begins by invoking the presence of angels who "inhabit this town," though their form is constantly changing. These celestial beings are connected to domestic and pastoral imagery, with the speaker leaving offerings of "cold potatoes / and a bowl of milk on the windowsill" each night. The offerings symbolize a gesture of kindness or hope, a routine act meant to maintain a connection with the divine or the ethereal, even if the nature of these beings is transient and elusive. The angels "usually...inhabit heaven where, / by the way, no tears are allowed," suggesting a realm untouched by human suffering or sorrow—a place of purity but also of emotional distance.

The poem quickly transitions from the idyllic image of heaven to a darker, more unsettling reality. The speaker describes the moon as something that the angels "push...around like / a boiled yam," transforming a celestial body into a mundane object, thus bridging the gap between the divine and the earthly. The Milky Way, referred to as "their hen / with her many children," reinforces the nurturing aspect of these angels, but this nurturing is contrasted sharply with the existence of a "locked room up there / with an iron door that can't be opened."

This locked room, described as containing "all your bad dreams," is a potent symbol of internalized suffering and the isolation of despair. The room represents hell, a place where "the people inside have no water / and are never allowed to touch." These souls are completely cut off from any form of comfort or human connection, "mute" and "crack[ing] like macadam." The harsh imagery conveys a sense of desolation and the irreversible nature of their torment. Their hearts, "covered with grubs," suggest decay and the infestation of negative emotions, making it clear that their suffering is deep and irredeemable.

The poem raises the question of who holds the power to lock the door: "Some say the devil locks the door / from the inside. / Some say the angels lock it from / the outside." This ambiguity reflects the duality of human suffering—whether it is self-imposed, a product of our own inner demons, or whether it is inflicted by external forces, including those who might otherwise be seen as protectors or saviors. The locked door becomes a metaphor for the inaccessibility of these deeper layers of human experience, layers that cannot be easily reached or healed, even by those who wish to help.

The speaker’s desire to "unlock that door, / turn the rusty key / and hold each fallen one in my arms" reveals a deep empathy and a wish to alleviate the suffering of others. However, the repetition of "but I cannot, I cannot" underscores the limitations of this desire. The speaker is aware of the futility of their wish, trapped by the boundaries of human capability and the inevitable distance between oneself and the suffering of others. This acknowledgment of impotence in the face of overwhelming pain is a poignant reflection on the nature of empathy and the limits of human intervention.

In the final lines, the speaker resigns themselves to their position, "only sit[ting] here on earth / at my place at the table." This image of the speaker at the table, grounded in the mundane world, contrasts with the unreachable realm of the locked room. It suggests a return to the reality of everyday life, where the speaker must accept their role as an observer rather than a savior. The table symbolizes the ordinary, the place where life continues despite the unseen suffering that exists elsewhere.

"Locked Doors" is a powerful exploration of the human condition, highlighting the tension between the desire to alleviate suffering and the recognition of one’s limitations. Through the metaphor of the locked room, Sexton captures the inescapable isolation of certain aspects of human experience and the profound sense of helplessness that can accompany it. The poem is a meditation on the nature of empathy, the boundaries of compassion, and the acceptance of those boundaries in a world where suffering is often hidden behind closed doors.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...