Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton’s poem "The Sun" delves into the complex relationship between the self and the powerful, consuming force represented by the sun. Through vivid, almost surreal imagery, Sexton explores themes of transformation, identity, and submission to a greater power, portraying the sun as both a destructive and life-giving entity.

The poem begins with the evocative image of fish that have come up for the sun and have remained there, "shoulder to shoulder, avenues of fish that never got back." This image suggests a sense of entrapment, as these fish, drawn to the sun's allure, lose their individuality—their "proud spots and solitudes"—as they are "sucked out of them." The sun, in this context, acts as a seductive yet annihilating force, stripping the fish of their essence and trapping them in a state of perpetual exposure. The idea of fish, creatures that are typically hidden beneath the water, coming up to the surface and never returning, underscores the peril of seeking too much of the sun, of reaching for something that can consume rather than nourish.

Sexton then shifts to the image of flies emerging from their "foul caves" into the light. These flies, initially "transparent" and later "blue with copper wings," symbolize a transformation brought on by the sun’s exposure. However, this transformation is temporary, as the flies "will dry out like small black shoes." The flies' journey from darkness to light and their eventual desiccation further illustrate the duality of the sun's power—it brings about change, but also decay. The flies, once vibrant and glittering, are destined to shrivel, becoming lifeless remnants of what they once were. This image of the flies drying out serves as a metaphor for the inevitable decline that comes with overexposure to the sun's intensity.

The speaker then identifies with these creatures, declaring, "I am an identical being." This statement suggests that the speaker, like the fish and flies, is vulnerable to the sun's overwhelming power. The speaker is "diseased by the cold and the smell of the house," indicating a sense of decay and stagnation in their current environment. In response, they seek out the sun, undressing "under the burning magnifying glass," exposing themselves fully to its heat. This act of undressing is symbolic of shedding the old, diseased self in an attempt to be reborn or transformed by the sun's energy.

The sun is addressed directly as "0 yellow eye," a striking personification that emphasizes its omnipresence and watchfulness. The speaker expresses a desire to be "sick with your heat," to be "feverish and frowning," suggesting a longing for the sun's intensity, even at the cost of their well-being. This desire for the sun's heat reflects a deep need for change, for a radical transformation that can only come from submitting to something more powerful than oneself.

As the poem progresses, the speaker becomes increasingly consumed by the sun, stating, "Now I am utterly given." The speaker’s submission is complete—they become the sun’s "daughter, [its] sweet-meat, / [its] priest, [its] mouth and [its] bird." These roles indicate a total surrender to the sun’s power, as the speaker assumes a position of devotion and servitude. The imagery of being the sun’s "sweet-meat" evokes the idea of being consumed or devoured, while being its "priest" suggests a spiritual connection, as though the speaker has been chosen to serve and communicate the sun’s will.

The poem concludes with the speaker's promise to "tell them all stories of you / until I am laid away forever, / a thin gray banner." This final image of a "thin gray banner" suggests a frail, almost ghostly remnant of the speaker, once vibrant but now faded and lifeless. The act of telling stories about the sun implies a legacy of devotion, a life spent in service to this overwhelming force, even as it ultimately leads to the speaker’s own dissolution.

In "The Sun," Anne Sexton uses powerful, often disturbing imagery to explore the themes of transformation and surrender. The sun, depicted as a force of both destruction and illumination, becomes a symbol of the speaker’s own struggle with identity and the desire for change. The poem’s structure, with its shifting imagery and intense, visceral language, mirrors the speaker’s journey from entrapment and decay to a feverish devotion that ultimately leads to their own erasure. Sexton’s exploration of the sun as both a life-giving and life-destroying force reflects the complex, often contradictory nature of transformation and the sacrifices it demands.

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