Anne Sexton Literary Essay

Anne Sexton transforms the well-known fairytale Snow White into a sardonic piece of writing that reflects societal perceptions of the woman. In her song she explores the idea that a woman is nothing more than a doll. She also describes the reliance on men, and a womens intuition compared to her knockout and vanity. Sexton also is trying to show that fairytales arent real, and they are overrated- happily ever after does not exist.
all(prenominal) fairytales have a female antagonist, and one that is usually a princess. Snow White is sexualized as the virgin.
Good Day Mama,
and shut for the thrust
of the unicorn.
She is unsoiled.
She is as white as a bonefish. (9-13)
With this comes the connotations that she innocent and untouched. completely that matters to a prince is that she is beautiful and a virgin. A brand naked doll with porcelain skin and glassy eyes.
cheeks as fragile as cigarette paper,
arms and legs made of Limoges,
lips like Vin Du Rhône,
roller her china-blue doll eyes
open and shut. (3-7)
Sexton compares Snow White to a doll because she is merely an object for ones admiration and love. She is to be pampered and taken care of in return of sitting pretty on the shelf, so everyone can admire her beauty.
Beauty and vanity frolic an important part in this poem.



The queen epitomizes vanity, when she asks the mirror who is the fairest of the land, simply when the reply is Snow White, she is outraged. Being the most beautiful mortal in the land is what the queen desires. She craves the attention because beauty is so valued, and Sexton makes that clear. If Snow White or the Queen werent beautiful, would anyone ever notice them? Because Snow White is beautiful, she is valued. But with beauty comes vanity, and that is something that Sexton believes in. She believes women should be submissive and intelligent; beauty is adept a façade that relieves women of reaching their wide potential.
If a woman is beautiful, she can be just as successful as a smart woman...If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Ordercustompaper.com



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