Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Mother and Daughter" by Anne Sexton is a poignant and complex exploration of the evolving relationship between a mother and her daughter as the daughter steps into adulthood. Through rich and layered imagery, Sexton delves into the themes of loss, inheritance, and the inevitable passage of time, portraying a mother’s bittersweet recognition of her daughter’s independence.

The poem opens with the striking image of Linda, the daughter, "leaving [her] old body now." This suggests a transformative moment, where the daughter is shedding her childhood as one would shed an old, worn-out garment. The comparison of the body to an "old butterfly" or a "loose... dress" emphasizes this shedding as a natural, if not inevitable, part of life. The mother’s attempt to reach out to this former version of her daughter, only to have her fingers "turn to cankers," evokes the pain and helplessness often felt by parents watching their children grow away from them. It is a reminder that the mother’s nurturing warmth and care, once so vital, are now rendered ineffective and obsolete as the daughter moves forward into her own life.

Sexton continues to explore this theme of inevitable change by framing the daughter's growth and independence as something unstoppable, symbolized by the "big clock going, / its hands wider than jackstraws." The image of the clock here suggests the relentless forward march of time, indifferent to the mother’s feelings or desires. The daughter's journey into adulthood is likened to a vast undertaking, where she will "sew up a continent," a metaphor for the expansive, complex life she will build on her own, away from her mother's influence.

The mother acknowledges this separation by offering her daughter her "booty" and "spoils," an inheritance of sorts. However, this inheritance is not merely material but also emotional and physical—her "Mother & Co." and her "ailments." This suggests a complex transmission of identity, where the daughter receives not only the tangible aspects of her mother's life but also the burdens, the wounds, and the unresolved conflicts that come with it. The mother's recognition of this transfer is filled with a sense of resignation, as she understands that these gifts are both a blessing and a curse, something the daughter will have to navigate on her own.

As the poem progresses, the imagery becomes more visceral and intense, with references to "the war and the war's vomit," "the hopeful tent of oxygen," and "the tubes, the pathways." These images evoke the physical and emotional toll of life, particularly the life of a woman, and the inevitability of aging and death. The mother seems to be imparting this knowledge to her daughter, who, despite her youth and vitality, will eventually confront these same challenges.

The poem's closing lines are particularly poignant, as the mother reflects on her daughter's role as a "burglar" who has "picked [her] pocket clean" and "racked up all [her] poker chips." This metaphor suggests that the daughter, in her process of growing up, has taken everything from her mother, leaving her feeling empty and spent. The river between them, which "narrows" as the daughter moves further away, symbolizes the growing distance between their lives. Yet, even as this distance increases, the daughter continues to carry on with the routines of life—represented by "sew[ing] a shroud" and "thumb[ing] out the chicken gut"—unaware of or indifferent to the mother’s sense of loss.

Ultimately, "Mother and Daughter" is a meditation on the inevitable separation that comes with growth and the passage of time. Sexton captures the mother’s mixed emotions—pride, sorrow, resignation—as she watches her daughter step into the world, leaving behind the safety and warmth of their shared past. The poem resonates with the universal experience of parents coming to terms with the reality that their children will one day move on, taking with them pieces of the life they built together, yet leaving the parents to face their own mortality alone.

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