without old age or disease,

wildy but accurately,

knowing my best route"

 

 

Anne Sexton was born Anne Gray Harvey on November 9th, 1928 in Newton, Massachusetts.  She was raised in Weston, Massachusetts in a middle-class environment.  While growing up, Anne's father was an alcoholic and there was talk that her parents were abusive.  Because of this, Anne had harsh feelings towards her parents and leaned on her aunt Anna Dingley.  After Anna's deterioration, Anne began to suffer worse than ever before. 

 

While growing up, Anne was not good at school, not because she wasn't smart but because she could not concentrate or follow the rules.  In 1945, she attended Rogers Hall which was a boarding school in Lowell, Massachusetts. 

 

Anne was always fond of men and they were quite fond of her as well.  According to Modern American Poetry, "at nineteen she eloped with Alfred "Kayo" Sexton II, even though she was engaged to someone else at the time" (Modern American Poetry).  This wasn't the end of her problems with men or her infidelity.  While her husband was away at war in Korea she was unfaithful and this continued through their marriage, eventually contributing to their divorce in 1973.  Through much of her life she was dependant on her lovers. 

 

During her marriage, Anne gave birth to two daughters, Joy and Linda.  Although she loved them very much, she struggled being a mother and at times their grandmother would care for them due to Anne's inability to function.  She also fell deeper into her depressive state after her second daughter was born.

 

Anne Sexton was troubled by many mental issues throughout her life.  She sought treatment from therapists, was treated with medication and from time to time was institutionalized.  Anne attempted suicide five times, with the last time being a success. Along with the problems listed above, this talented woman also struggled with lonliness and alcoholism in her later years. 

 

Given this information, you may think for some reason she doesn't deserve that much credit or that society praised her when she shouldn't have been praised.  Anne was a strong woman who made it as far in life as she could and tried her hardest.  Her impact on poetry is evident.