Introduction
Gender is one of the most impactful and noticeable topics and aspects of Anne Sexton’s poem “Her Kind.” She was very concerned about the sense of alienation in a highly conformist and binding society, which was especially worrisome given the time period when the poem was published and the events prior to it. The following text will review why the poet chose the work to explain the outsider type of woman and why it mattered.
Psychological/Gender Approach to Poem Analysis
In the poem “Her Kind,” Sexton has a strong emphasis on the type of women who defy norms and the customs accepted in society. The work was published in 1960, the later years being the period when women would fight for equal rights (Khan Academy). Unfortunately, at the time of its release, the necessary changes were yet to come. During the previous decade, women were expected to prioritize marriage and be homemakers (PBS). These circumstances make the need to depict a woman who defies social norms even more powerful.
In order to depict herself as an outsider, she not only depicts the many experiences of misunderstood women but also compares herself to a witch. In the last five lines of the work, Sexton even addresses the ostracism and sense of empowerment, saying, “A woman like that is not ashamed to die” (Sexton). The poet wanted to depict a sense of faithfulness to her true self against all of the odds being opposed her.
The majority of the work focuses on the many lives Sexton portrays. They range from a woman who takes care of the warm caves in the forest and its residents to someone who irrationally travels over plain houses. Through these depicted experiences, the writer wants to illustrate the diverse portraits of what misunderstood women are like and why their contemporaries may shun them.
The first quatrain starts with a more stereotypical portrayal of the misunderstood woman. However, this should not be seen as counterproductive by any means. While Sexton uses that depiction, it is important to mention that in a conformist and binding society, the idea of what is abnormal is subjective to the latter. By describing such a woman, the poet wanted to hint at the absurdity of people’s ideas of what a female must represent.
This is why it is crucial to mention the second quatrain of the poem, where benevolent actions are depicted. This moment was meant to emphasize that even if the abnormal deeds in question pose no harm to society or the people around the woman in question, she is criticized. The character depicted in the poem is trapped by the conflict between her personal duty and societal norms.
Finally, the last part of the poem depicts a bright and more hedonistic life while embracing independence. As mentioned earlier, the writer wanted to emphasize that she would remain true to herself in spite of the possible negative consequences. In summary, when combining all of the portrayals and why they matter, the misunderstood woman in Sexton’s poem is made more sympathetic while accentuating the absurdity of society. That way, the depicted archetype acquires a valid reason to exist.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sexton’s poem “Her Kind” depicts the multiple lives of a misunderstood woman. The first one seems more stereotypical; however, as the second portrayal is more benevolent, the absurdity of society’s reaction towards her becomes evident. Finally, the third life described in the work shows a more hedonistic behavior and a sense of empowerment in spite of the possible repercussions. By combining the contexts of these portrayals, it becomes clear that the poet wanted to describe such a woman more sympathetically while exposing society’s irrationality.
Works Cited
Khan Academy. “Second-wave Feminism.” Khan Academy, Web.
PBS. “Mrs. America: Women’s Roles in the 1950s.” PBS: Public Broadcasting Service, Web.
Sexton, Anne. “Her Kind.” Poets.org, Web.