Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton's poem "Demon" is an introspective and candid exploration of the darker aspects of the self, the internal struggles we often try to hide or suppress, and the complex relationship between these demons and our identity. The poem grapples with the idea of acceptance versus denial, and the inevitable integration of these inner demons into our lives, even as they challenge our sense of self and morality.

The poem opens with a reference to a quote from D.H. Lawrence, "A young man is afraid of his demon and puts his hand over the demon's mouth sometimes," setting the tone for a discussion about the tension between acknowledging and suppressing the darker parts of oneself. Sexton begins by mentioning her demon to a friend, who reacts in a way that is both cryptic and distant, "swam in oil and came forth to me / greasy and cryptic." This imagery suggests that the friend's response is slippery, difficult to grasp, and perhaps not entirely sincere or helpful. The friend's comment about "thinking of taking him out of hock" implies that they, too, have a demon they have pawned off or suppressed but are now considering reclaiming, despite the potential consequences.

The idea of a "pawned demon" is particularly striking. It suggests that the demon—this troubling aspect of the self—has been put aside, forgotten, or temporarily removed from one's life, but it remains, yellowing with forgetfulness, still capable of causing harm. The demon is described as having a "hand at his throat," a poignant image of self-strangulation or suppression, as if the demon itself is both the cause and the victim of its repression.

Sexton warns of the grief that comes with reclaiming one's demon, "that will fly into your mouth like a bird," indicating that facing these repressed parts of ourselves can lead to intense emotional turmoil. The demon is not easily dealt with; it is something that, once acknowledged, can invade and overwhelm, bringing with it grief and suffering.

The speaker's own demon is described in various disturbing and intimate images: "too often undressed," "too often a crucifix I bring forth," "too often a dead daisy I give water to," "too often the child I give birth to / and then abort, nameless, nameless . . . / earthless." These images convey a sense of cyclical torment and unresolved pain. The demon is both a burden and a creation of the speaker, something that is simultaneously cared for and rejected, brought to life only to be aborted, left without identity or place in the world.

The speaker expresses fear and shame, often trying to "stitch it up / covering you, smothering you / from the public voyeur eyes / of my typewriter keys." This suggests that the demon is something deeply personal, something the speaker is reluctant to reveal, even to herself, yet it is something that finds its way into her work, into the public sphere, despite her attempts to hide it.

The idea of pawning the demon is revisited with a sense of futility: "what bullion would they give for you, / what pennies, swimming in their copper kisses / what bird on its way to perishing?" This rhetorical question implies that the demon is worth very little in the material world, yet its emotional and psychological impact is immeasurable. The demon, even if it could be pawned, would not bring any real profit, only more grief.

In a significant turn, the speaker shifts from a stance of repression to one of acceptance: "I accept you, / you come with the dead who people my dreams." This acceptance is not just of the demon but of the entire pantheon of troubling figures that inhabit the speaker's inner world, "the dead, who give sweets to the diabetic in me, / who give bolts to the seizure of roses / that sometimes fly in and out of me." The dead and the demon are intertwined with the speaker's identity, influencing her experiences and perceptions.

The poem reaches its climax with the speaker's ultimate acceptance of the demon, regardless of its form: "If it be man I love, apple laden and foul / or if it be woman I love, sick unto her blood / and its sugary gasses and tumbling branches." Here, the demon is linked with love, whether of a man or a woman, acknowledging that the darkness within is intertwined with her deepest emotions and desires.

The final image of the demon "farts and giggles" as the speaker partakes in the Christian ritual of taking bread and wine at an altar is both sacrilegious and darkly humorous. It reflects the speaker's recognition of the absurdity and the inescapable presence of the demon, even in the most sacred and supposedly pure moments. The demon mocks the speaker's attempts at sanctity, highlighting the tension between spiritual aspirations and the persistent, unavoidable nature of the inner demon.

"Demon" is a powerful meditation on the acceptance of one's darker self. Through vivid and often unsettling imagery, Sexton confronts the reader with the reality that these demons—these aspects of ourselves we wish to deny or suppress—are integral to who we are. The poem suggests that true acceptance of the self involves embracing these demons, acknowledging their role in shaping our identity, and recognizing the ways in which they influence our actions, thoughts, and desires. The demon is not an external force to be exorcised but an internal truth to be accepted, however difficult or disturbing that may be.

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