Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton’s "Rumpelstiltskin" delves into the darkness lurking within the fairy tale, transforming it into a profound exploration of inner demons, identity, and the human condition. Sexton reinvents the classic tale with a modern psychological twist, making it less about the superficial story and more about the complex, often terrifying forces that shape our lives from within.

The poem opens with an image that sets the tone for this exploration: "Inside many of us / is a small old man / who wants to get out." This figure, described as "no bigger than a two-year-old" and "old and malformed," symbolizes the inner voice of despair and self-doubt, what Sexton refers to as the "Doppelganger" or the "enemy within." The comparison to a small, distorted child suggests something stunted and neglected, yet insidiously powerful. This "old man" embodies the darker aspects of the psyche—fear, despair, and a sense of inadequacy—that can dominate one's inner world.

Sexton links this internal figure with Rumpelstiltskin, the malevolent dwarf of the fairy tale. The connection is profound: Rumpelstiltskin is not just a character in a story but a representation of the destructive forces within us all. He is "the boss of your dreams," the one who manipulates and controls from within, feeding on despair and fear. His voice, "tiny as an earphone" and "with Truman’s asexual voice," adds to the eerie, omnipresent nature of this internal tormentor. Sexton’s use of asexuality here is significant, suggesting a figure that transcends typical human experiences and is, instead, a manifestation of pure psychological torment.

The narrative then shifts to the familiar story of the miller’s daughter, who is trapped by the king’s demand to spin straw into gold. This scenario becomes a metaphor for impossible expectations and the crushing pressures of life. The daughter’s plight, trapped in a room full of straw, symbolizes being overwhelmed by the demands placed upon her—demands that seem impossible to meet. Her tears, "huge aquamarine tears," reflect the profound despair that accompanies these expectations.

When Rumpelstiltskin appears, he is described as "ugly as a wart," an embodiment of the grotesque and the unnatural. His small stature and lack of private life—"no child will ever call me Papa"—further highlight his role as an outcast, someone rejected and malformed by society. Yet, despite his grotesque appearance and nature, he holds the power to save the girl, a paradox that underscores the complex relationship between our inner demons and the survival mechanisms they can sometimes represent.

As the tale progresses, Sexton’s retelling remains true to the original story, but with added psychological depth. The girl’s transactions with Rumpelstiltskin—trading her necklace, ring, and eventually her first-born child—mirror the compromises and sacrifices we make to appease the darker parts of ourselves, often at great personal cost. The dwarf’s desire for a child, "a living thing to call his own," speaks to a deeper yearning for connection and legacy, twisted though it may be in this context.

The climax of the poem, where the queen must guess the dwarf’s name to save her child, becomes a battle of wits and willpower, reflecting the struggle to overcome internal demons. The naming of Rumpelstiltskin is symbolic: to name something is to gain power over it. When the queen finally names him, the dwarf’s violent reaction—tearing himself in two—represents the self-destructive nature of these internal forces when they are confronted and defeated.

Sexton’s portrayal of Rumpelstiltskin as "one part soft as a woman, / one part a barbed hook" captures the duality of human nature—the blend of vulnerability and cruelty that exists within us all. The image of him tearing himself apart, "like a split broiler," is both grotesque and tragic, suggesting that the defeat of these internal demons comes at a significant cost, both to the self and to one’s sense of identity.

In "Rumpelstiltskin," Sexton masterfully reinterprets a well-known fairy tale to explore themes of internal struggle, identity, and the human condition. The poem becomes a powerful allegory for the battles we face within ourselves, the compromises we make, and the often painful process of confronting and overcoming our darkest fears. Through her vivid imagery and psychological insight, Sexton invites readers to reflect on the nature of their own inner demons and the complex forces that shape their lives.

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