Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton’s poem "The Legend of the One-Eyed Man" is a powerful and complex exploration of guilt, betrayal, and the intertwining of personal and mythic narratives. Through the lens of biblical figures like Oedipus and Judas Iscariot, the poem delves into themes of shame, disgrace, and the weight of crimes both committed and inherited. Sexton’s speaker grapples with a deep sense of internal conflict, using the stories of these infamous figures to reflect on their own experiences of betrayal and punishment.

The poem opens with a stark admission: "Like Oedipus I am losing my sight. / Like Judas I have done my wrong." By aligning the speaker with Oedipus, the tragic figure who blinded himself after discovering his own sins, and Judas, the ultimate betrayer in Christian theology, Sexton immediately situates the poem within a framework of profound moral and existential crisis. The speaker's acknowledgment of losing sight—both literal and metaphorical—suggests a gradual descent into darkness, a loss of clarity, and an increasing disconnection from the world.

Sexton then contrasts the speaker’s ongoing torment with the idea that the "punishment is over" for Oedipus and Judas, whose stories have been fully told and whose sufferings are part of the established myth. For the speaker, however, the torment continues, as they carry the weight of their own unnamed crimes, which "dropped upon [them] / as from a high building." This imagery evokes a sense of sudden, crushing impact—something beyond the speaker’s control, yet something they must bear.

The speaker’s reference to their "glass eye" is particularly poignant. This glass eye, a symbol of both literal blindness and emotional detachment, represents the speaker’s attempt to conceal their pain and guilt. It is a mask, a barrier between their inner turmoil and the external world. However, the "nerves push against its painted surface," indicating that the pain cannot be fully hidden or denied. The other eye, which "continues to see," is waiting for judgment, emphasizing the speaker's ongoing internal struggle and the sense of being perpetually on trial, both by others and by themselves.

As the poem progresses, Sexton explores the character of Judas in more depth, questioning how he came to be such a central figure in the Christian narrative. The speaker reflects on Judas’s life, suggesting that it parallels their own in its trajectory of betrayal and shame. The poem critiques the simplistic portrayal of Judas as merely a traitor, suggesting that his story is far more complex and that his actions were influenced by factors beyond mere greed or dishonesty. The speaker muses, "He should have known!"—a statement that reflects both judgment and a recognition of Judas’s tragic inevitability.

The poem also touches on the construction of the Crucifix, a symbol of both salvation and the ultimate betrayal. Sexton imagines the physical construction of the cross, the weight of the wood, and the ugliness that is "a matter of custom." This imagery serves as a metaphor for the burdens of guilt and the societal expectations that shape our understanding of sin and redemption. The speaker questions whether the Crucifix was "constructed wrong," suggesting that perhaps the narrative of sacrifice and betrayal is itself flawed, or at least misunderstood.

The speaker’s reflection on Judas’s motives— "I don’t know whether it was gold or silver. / I don’t know why he betrayed him"—reveals the ambiguity and complexity of human actions. The speaker acknowledges that Judas’s betrayal cannot be easily explained or reduced to simple greed. Instead, there are "forbidden crimes," those that are "overlooked / and then forgotten / except by me." This statement emphasizes the speaker’s isolation, as they are burdened with the memory of these crimes, unable to escape their own sense of culpability.

Sexton then introduces the figure of Judas’s mother, drawing a parallel to the speaker’s own relationship with their mother. The repeated refrain, "Judas had a mother," humanizes Judas, reminding the reader that even the most reviled figures are not without ties to humanity. The revelation that Judas "raped her" adds a layer of horror and complexity to his character, suggesting that his actions were shaped by trauma and a twisted fate.

The poem’s conclusion— "And then he sold his God"—underscores the ultimate betrayal, both of the divine and of the self. This final act of selling God represents a complete abandonment of faith, hope, and redemption, leaving only a legacy of despair and destruction.

"The Legend of the One-Eyed Man" is a deeply introspective and haunting poem that explores the intersections of myth, guilt, and personal history. Through the figures of Oedipus and Judas, Anne Sexton examines the weight of sins, both real and imagined, and the ways in which these sins shape our identities and our fates. The poem’s raw and confessional tone invites the reader to consider the complexities of betrayal and the burdens of guilt that we all carry, offering a powerful meditation on the human condition.

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