Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton's poem "The Risk" encapsulates the emotional turbulence and existential dread that ripple through the fabric of domestic life when it is shaken by a crisis, particularly the suicide attempt of a daughter. Through stark, surreal imagery, Sexton paints a picture of a world where the familiar and ordinary collapse under the weight of profound distress, turning the home—a place typically associated with safety and stability—into a site of chaos and despair.

The poem opens with the blunt, shocking line: "When a daughter tries suicide." This sets the tone for the entire piece, indicating that the following events are a consequence of this traumatic act. The daughter's suicide attempt is the catalyst that sets off a chain reaction, metaphorically causing the very structure of the home to disintegrate. The "chimney falls down like a drunk," an image that conveys both physical collapse and a loss of control. The comparison to a drunk suggests a staggering, unsteady fall, symbolizing the destabilization of the family unit and the loss of its emotional and moral center.

Sexton continues to unravel the domestic scene with increasingly surreal and grotesque images: "the dog chews her tail off," "the kitchen blows up its shiny kettle," and "the vacuum cleaner swallows its bag." These depictions of self-destruction and malfunction reflect the broader sense of breakdown within the household. The dog, an animal often associated with loyalty and protection, turns on itself in an act of self-mutilation, mirroring the daughter's self-destructive act. Similarly, the kitchen, typically a symbol of nourishment and comfort, becomes a site of explosion, further emphasizing the theme of domestic disintegration.

The line "the toilet washes itself in tears" introduces a poignant metaphor for grief and helplessness. The toilet, an object associated with waste and disposal, becomes a vessel for tears, suggesting an overwhelming sorrow that permeates even the most mundane aspects of life. This image, coupled with "the bathroom scales weigh in the ghost / of the grandmother," implies a haunting presence of past generations, their grief and memories weighing heavily on the present. The ghost of the grandmother represents the lingering influence of familial history and the inherited burdens that the current generation carries.

The poem's imagery continues to blur the boundaries between the animate and inanimate, the real and the surreal. The windows, described as "sky pieces," "ride out like boats," suggesting a sense of escape or flight. However, this image also conveys a sense of abandonment, as if the very structure of the home is slipping away, leaving those inside isolated and vulnerable. The grass "rolls down the driveway," an unnatural movement that underscores the disarray and confusion that has taken over the household.

The final lines of the poem return to the figure of the mother, who "lies down on her marriage bed / and eats up her heart like two eggs." This powerful and disturbing image encapsulates the mother's despair and the internalization of her pain. The marriage bed, a symbol of union and partnership, becomes a place of solitary suffering. The act of eating her heart—an organ traditionally associated with love and emotion—like "two eggs" suggests both a numbing of her feelings and a desperate attempt to consume or contain her grief. The heart, reduced to something as mundane as eggs, reflects the mother's profound emotional exhaustion and her struggle to cope with the devastation surrounding her.

"The Risk" is a deeply evocative poem that captures the ripple effects of a suicide attempt within a family, illustrating how such a crisis can unravel the very fabric of domestic life. Anne Sexton's use of surreal and visceral imagery allows the reader to feel the intense dislocation and despair experienced by the family members, particularly the mother, who is left to grapple with the emotional aftermath. The poem serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of family bonds and the profound impact of mental health crises on the entire household. Through its powerful language and vivid metaphors, "The Risk" speaks to the complex and often overwhelming emotions that accompany such traumatic events.

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