Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton's poem "The Passion of the Mad Rabbit" is a surreal and darkly ironic exploration of madness, suffering, and the absurdity of societal expectations. The poem juxtaposes religious imagery with the whimsical figure of the Easter Bunny, creating a narrative that is both disturbing and strangely humorous. Through this blend of the grotesque and the absurd, Sexton critiques the ways in which society imposes roles and identities on individuals, often leading to a sense of alienation and madness.

The poem begins with a vivid and bizarre scene: "While the carrots sang arias into the holy earth / and the snowmen turned into bronze weathervanes." This opening line immediately sets a tone of surrealism, where ordinary objects and events are transformed into something otherworldly. The carrots, typically mundane, become performers of a sacred song, and the snowmen, symbols of innocence and winter, are turned into something permanent and metallic, suggesting a loss of their original, ephemeral nature. This transformation hints at the underlying theme of the poem—how identities and roles can be altered or imposed in ways that strip them of their original meaning.

The speaker then describes undergoing a "removal," a process of self-destruction and disfigurement: "tearing my skin off me, / plucking out the eyes like Ping-Pong balls, / squashing the shriek of my heart like a phone off the hook." This violent imagery conveys a sense of deep inner turmoil, as the speaker attempts to shed their identity, to remove themselves from the pain and chaos they are experiencing. The comparison of eyes to Ping-Pong balls and the heart to a phone suggests a detachment from the self, a transformation of the body into something mechanical or disposable.

The introduction of Mr. Rabbit as a figure that the speaker becomes or identifies with adds a layer of absurdity to the narrative. The speaker's declaration, "I am Mr. Rabbit," signals a loss of self and a descent into madness, where the flesh itself has "become mad." The reference to "three mirrors" confirming this transformation suggests a confrontation with one's own reflection, where the madness is not just felt internally but is visible and undeniable.

The poem takes a darker turn as the speaker is nailed up "like a scarecrow" on "bad Friday," a clear reference to Good Friday and the crucifixion of Christ. The image of the rabbit being crucified, with its "pink like powder" ears and "sweet as baby mittens" paws, is both grotesque and poignant. This absurd and tragic figure becomes a symbol of sacrifice and suffering, but in a context that is stripped of its usual solemnity and reverence. The crowd, described as eating popcorn and carrying hymnals or balloons, treats this crucifixion as a spectacle, blurring the lines between sacred ritual and carnival entertainment.

The speaker's plea—"Pay no attention. I am / crazy"—is met with a mix of reactions, from giggles to kneeling, reflecting the incomprehension and ambivalence of the observers. The speaker's experience of being nailed up, with "oxygen becoming tiny" and blood ringing "over and over in my head like a bell," emphasizes the physical and psychological torment they endure. The imagery of blood as a bell's toll reinforces the idea of a death knell, but one that is endlessly prolonged, denying the release of death.

As the poem progresses, the speaker is taken down from the cross and informed that "It is Easter, they said, and you are the Easter Bunny." This statement underscores the absurdity of the situation, as the figure of the Easter Bunny, typically associated with joy and renewal, is now linked to suffering and madness. The speaker's transformation into the Easter Bunny, complete with a "pink basket of eggs," further distorts the traditional narrative of resurrection and redemption.

The final scene of the poem, where the speaker is laid on a pyre and set aflame, is both horrifying and darkly comic. The speaker's act of tossing the colored eggs— "yellow egg, blue egg, pink egg, red egg, green egg"—into the crowd while singing "Hallelujah" as they burn, serves as a mockery of the Easter celebration. The eggs, symbols of life and rebirth, are ironically used in a context of destruction and madness. The speaker's whispered conclusion, "In place of the Lord, / a fool has risen," solidifies the poem's theme of the subversion of religious and cultural symbols. The "fool," a figure of madness and absurdity, replaces the divine, highlighting the disintegration of meaning and the triumph of chaos.

"The Passion of the Mad Rabbit" is a powerful commentary on the absurdity of societal expectations and the ways in which individuals are forced into roles that lead to alienation and madness. Anne Sexton's use of religious and cultural imagery, combined with the surreal and grotesque, creates a narrative that is both disturbing and thought-provoking. The poem challenges the reader to reconsider the meanings and values that are often taken for granted, revealing the underlying madness that can emerge when these are distorted or imposed without understanding.

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