Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton’s poem "Lessons in Hunger" explores the devastating impact of unspoken rejection, articulated through the metaphor of silence as a force that consumes and destroys. The poem is a poignant reflection on the vulnerability of seeking validation from others and the destructive power of unanswered questions.

The poem begins with the speaker asking a seemingly simple and direct question, "Do you like me?" The question is directed at "the blue blazer," a figure who is likely a representation of someone the speaker admires or desires approval from. However, this straightforward inquiry is met with "No answer," a silence that immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. This silence is not just an absence of sound but a heavy, oppressive presence that "bounced out of his books" and "fell off his tongue." The personification of silence as something tangible and active suggests that it is not merely a lack of response, but a deliberate, almost aggressive act.

Sexton’s choice of imagery in this poem is strikingly dark and visceral. The silence "clogged [her] throat" and "slaughtered [her] trust," indicating that it is not just a passive experience but a violent one, capable of causing deep emotional harm. The trust the speaker once had is not simply eroded; it is "slaughtered," a word that evokes brutality and finality. This suggests that the speaker’s sense of security and self-worth is violently shattered by the lack of response.

The silence also "tore cigarettes out of [her] mouth," which could symbolize the destruction of her coping mechanisms or the stripping away of any comfort she might have found in familiar habits. The silence leaves the speaker with nothing but a feeling of emptiness, where previously there was "a sort of kindly oxygen," a metaphor for something that was once life-giving and sustaining. The transformation of this oxygen into "a gas oven" is a chilling image that evokes the idea of something life-sustaining becoming deadly. The gas oven could be seen as a symbol of despair, recalling the association with suicide or the Holocaust, both of which are loaded with connotations of finality and inescapable death.

The speaker’s repeated question, "Do you like me?" takes on a tragic tone as the poem progresses. It highlights the desperation and vulnerability inherent in seeking validation from another person, especially when that validation is not given. The question itself becomes "absurd" in the face of the overwhelming silence, leading the speaker to question not just the nature of the silence but also her own reasons for "hanging around" despite the pain it causes. The silence is not merely an absence of an answer; it is a powerful statement in itself, one that "riddles" the speaker with self-doubt and insecurity.

The poem ends with the speaker still trapped in the silence, "riddled with what his silence said." The use of the word "riddled" suggests that the speaker is left full of holes, metaphorically wounded by the unspoken rejection. The silence, though not explicit in its message, has communicated something profoundly hurtful, leaving the speaker to grapple with the implications of what was not said.

"Lessons in Hunger" is a powerful exploration of the pain that comes from seeking approval and the deep wounds that can be inflicted by silence. Through stark imagery and raw emotion, Sexton captures the existential anguish of feeling unworthy, the devastating impact of unspoken rejection, and the slow, consuming nature of unanswered questions. The poem serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of human connection and the destructive power of silence.

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