Anne Sexton amplifies Van Gogh's work with beautiful, flowing words and vivid imagery. She uses unique verbs and adjectives to portray a surreal feeling, much like the one Van Gogh portrays in his work. Sexton's writing absorbs the images of the painting, "It moves. They are all alive.\ Even the moon bulges in it's orange irons\ to push children, like a god, from it's eye." (7-9) I notice how Sexton uses alliteration, personification, and simile constantly throughout her piece- and in that way, she achieves an image of the poem- a message that is resistant to a final understanding.
Sexton uses repetition in the poem. She ends two of the three stanzas with: "Oh starry starry night! This is how\ I want to die." (5-6, 11-12) I feel that she relates to Van Gogh, or at least to how she perceives him. Both Sexton and Van Gogh show a similar thought- while morbid, that death is upon them, and that to embrace the heavens is to embrace reality, religion, and serenity.
Anne Sexton conceals a beauty within her words that enhance the message of Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night. I love how a surreal aspect of her poem is completely relatable. I wonder if Anne Sexton's work usually carries this emotion.
I thought that your take on this poem was very interesting. i liked your use of examples and the way you said that anne sextons message corresponding with what van gogh was trying to ssy because i never really saw it in that light before. I also enjoyed the part where you said thAT her words are very relatable, i agree with that point of view.
ReplyDeleteI get the feeling that Ann. wants a sudden and brilliant or blazing death. certainly she does not want to go gentle into a good night. "oh starry night, this is how I want to die." in the painting the sky is a brilliant blue.
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