Anne Sexton Quotes
A collection of quotes by Anne Sexton.
Anne Sexton (1928-1974) was an American poet known for her confessional style of writing. She was born in Newton, Massachusetts, and grew up in a conservative and religious household. Battling with inner conflicts and mental health issues, Sexton found solace in poetry and began writing as a form of self-expression.
In 1957, she enrolled in a writing workshop where she met fellow poet Maxine Kumin, and they established a lifelong friendship. Sexton's first collection of poetry, "To Bedlam and Part Way Back," was published in 1960 and received critical acclaim. Throughout her career, she explored themes of love, sexuality, motherhood, and the difficulties of being a woman in a society dominated by men.
Sexton's writing was deeply personal and often addressed her struggles with mental illness, including depression and bipolar disorder. She confronted taboo subjects and societal norms with unflinching honesty, often challenging the boundaries of conventional poetry.
Her most well-known work, "Live or Die," was published in 1966 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry the following year. Sexton continued to write and publish poetry until her tragic death by suicide in 1974.
Anne Sexton's contribution to confessional poetry influenced a generation of poets, and her raw and visceral exploration of the human experience left an indelible mark on the literary world. Her work remains celebrated for its emotional intensity, vulnerability, and unwavering self-examination.
