The Death Instinct in Sexton's Poetry

Abstract

This paper , part of my theis Woman, Death and God: A Thematic Study of Anne Sexton's poetry , examines the death instinct in the poetry of Anne Sexton. It also investigates Sexton`s insight into the nature of death; her poems show a wide range of treatment of the subject of death. Death is perceived in several ways as: a lover, loyal friend and a visitor; it is also the gateway to wider knowledge and the sole path to meet God. The paper also shows that Sexton`s death poems are closely related to her life events, suicidal attempts and obsession with death.