Madness and Creativity: A Rational Reading to the Non Rational Poetry of Ann Sexton

Abstract

Madness is not a medical term though it is widely used by medical men. It is a common sense category, reflecting our culture’s recognition that Unreason exists. It reflects the idea that some of us seem not to share our mental universe: they are irrational, or they are emotionaly withdrawn, downcast, or raging; their disorderly minds exhibit extremes of incomprehensible and uncontrollable extravagance and incoherence. However, There is a deep line between madness and insanity. Insanity is a neurotic illness and madness is a sense of creativity. In poetry, madness and genius seem to go hand in hand. Poets’ subject is the world of experience itself, reflected through their creations. Whatever the nature of theses experiences, they must tell the truth as it is. Much of Anne Sexton's poetry is autobiographical and concentrates on her deeply personal feelings, especially anguish. In particular, many of her poems record her battles with mental illnessMuch of Anne Sexton's poetry is autobiographical and concentrates on her deeply personal feelings, especially anguish. In particular, many of her poems record her battles with mental illnessThis paper sheds light on the poetry of the American poet Ann Sexton(1928–1974). Many of Ann sexton’s poetry shows mentall illness. It seems that the main impulse behind her poetry is therapy. Out of her raw experiences with madness, with love, with doctors, with obsessions that sometimes seemed to lift the top of her head off, came poems that helped her to keep going, poems that were radical on language and tone. Her poetry problematises madness as a malleable, non-essentialist mental state.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n11p200