Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton's poem "The Evil Seekers" explores the paradoxical journey of human existence, where innocence and purity are juxtaposed with the inevitable encounter with evil. Through vivid and often unsettling imagery, Sexton delves into the idea that to truly understand and appreciate life, one must confront the darker aspects of reality. The poem serves as a meditation on the loss of innocence and the necessary but painful process of gaining wisdom through suffering and disillusionment.

The poem opens with an almost idyllic depiction of birth: "We are born with luck / which is to say with gold in our mouth." This metaphor suggests that birth is a fortunate event, a moment of purity and potential. Sexton likens the newborn to objects and elements that symbolize freshness and natural beauty—a "grape," a "pond in Alaska," the "stem of a green bean." These images evoke a sense of innocence and untarnished goodness, implying that life begins in a state of grace and harmony with nature.

However, Sexton quickly undercuts this initial optimism with the assertion that being born "ought to be enough" but isn't. The repetition of "one must learn" introduces the harsh reality that knowledge of evil is a necessary part of human development. This learning process is depicted as a visceral, almost violent experience—"learn how the blood pops out like a scream," "see the night before one can realize the day." These lines suggest that understanding good and evil is not a passive process but one that involves direct and often painful encounters with the darker side of existence.

Sexton uses a series of metaphors to describe the ways in which individuals must confront evil. The image of walking "like a sleepwalker on the edge of the roof" conveys the precarious nature of this journey, where one is constantly in danger of falling into the abyss. The idea of throwing "some part of her body / into the devil's mouth" suggests a sacrificial act, an offering that must be made to fully engage with the reality of evil. This process, though "odd" as Sexton acknowledges, is presented as essential for growth and understanding.

The poem then shifts to more specific examples of encountering evil: "have a book of matches go off in your hand," "see your best friend copying your exam," "visit an Indian reservation and see / their plastic feathers, the dead dream." Each of these scenarios represents a moment of disillusionment, where the speaker or the reader is forced to confront the falseness, betrayal, or suffering that permeates the world. The mention of "plastic feathers" and "the dead dream" on an Indian reservation is particularly poignant, as it highlights the destruction of indigenous culture and the hollow attempts to preserve it inauthentically. This loss of cultural identity is presented as another form of evil that must be recognized and mourned.

The poem's climax comes with the assertion that "one must be a prisoner just once to hear / the lock twist into his gut." This metaphorical imprisonment represents the ultimate encounter with evil—a moment when one is utterly powerless and forced to confront the reality of their situation. Only after enduring such experiences can one be "free to grasp at the trees, the stones, / the sky, the birds that make sense out of air." Sexton suggests that true freedom and appreciation of the world come only after one has faced and understood the nature of evil.

However, the poem does not end on a wholly triumphant note. Even after this hard-won understanding, Sexton warns that "even in a telephone booth / evil can seep out of the receiver." This image implies that evil is pervasive and can appear in the most mundane places. The final act of "cover[ing] it with a mattress" and "bury[ing] it" symbolizes the ongoing struggle to suppress or eliminate evil, a task that is never fully complete.

In "The Evil Seekers," Sexton presents a bleak yet honest portrayal of the human condition. The journey from innocence to experience is fraught with encounters with evil, which are necessary for personal growth but leave lasting scars. Sexton’s exploration of this theme is both deeply personal and universally resonant, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences with disillusionment and the ways in which they have learned to navigate the complex moral landscape of life. Through her powerful and evocative imagery, Sexton captures the tension between the purity of birth and the inevitable corruption that comes with living, ultimately suggesting that wisdom comes at the cost of innocence, but it is a price that must be paid.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...