Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton’s "The Death King" is a hauntingly introspective exploration of death, fear, and the inescapable end that looms over all life. The poem delves into the psychological and physical dimensions of dying, offering a vivid portrayal of the speaker's confrontation with mortality.

The poem begins with a stark image: the speaker hires a carpenter to build her coffin, a deliberate act that signals her acceptance of death's inevitability. The coffin, a symbol of death, becomes a space for reflection as she lies within it, "braced by a pillow," sniffing the wood. The sensory details here—smelling the wood, feeling the coffin’s embrace—underscore the reality of death as something tangible, something that the speaker can almost touch and interact with. The coffin is not just a metaphorical resting place but a physical object that she engages with, emphasizing her attempt to make peace with death.

Sexton’s use of the phrase "the old king" to refer to death is significant. The king, traditionally a figure of authority and power, symbolizes death’s ultimate rule over life. The speaker allows this "king" to "breathe" on her, suggesting an intimate and unavoidable relationship with death. The reference to her "poor murdered body, murdered by time," highlights the idea that death is not just an event but a process, one that has been happening gradually as time wears down the body.

The poem then shifts to a meditation on fear, described in a series of visceral and disturbing images. Fear is likened to a "dog stuffed in my mouth" and "dung stuffed up my nose," evoking a sense of suffocation and disgust. These images convey the overwhelming and inescapable nature of the fear associated with death. The repetition of the word "fear" throughout this section builds a sense of anxiety and dread, reflecting the speaker’s inner turmoil as she grapples with her mortality.

Sexton continues to depict fear in surreal, almost nightmarish terms—"fear as my breast flies into the Disposal," "fear as flies tremble in my ear," and "fear as the sun ignites in my lap." These images blur the lines between the body and the external world, suggesting that fear permeates every aspect of the speaker’s existence. The fear of death is not confined to the moment of dying but infiltrates the everyday experiences of living.

The poem’s conclusion is both defiant and resigned. The speaker acknowledges that death will be "the end of fear / and the fear of dying," suggesting that death might bring a form of release from the terror that haunts her. Yet, even in death, she imagines herself dancing in "fire circles," a "crematory flight." This image of dancing in the flames of her own cremation is both a final act of agency and a surrender to the inevitable. The fire, traditionally associated with destruction and purification, becomes a space where the speaker can assert herself one last time, even as she is consumed by it.

In the final lines, Sexton presents a complex relationship with God, who is described as having a "blue face" and "tyranny." The speaker’s dance wounds God, suggesting a rebellion against the divine order that governs life and death. The mention of her "aphrodisiac" in this context is intriguing, as it implies that there is a seductive or alluring quality to this act of defiance, even in the face of death.

"The Death King" is a powerful exploration of the fear of death and the ways in which that fear shapes our experience of life. Sexton’s vivid imagery and candid language invite the reader to confront their own mortality, while also offering a glimpse into the speaker’s struggle to find meaning and agency in the face of the ultimate unknown. The poem's dark yet evocative portrayal of death as both tyrant and liberator leaves a lasting impression, challenging the reader to reconsider their own relationship with the inevitable end.

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