Introduction: “The Witch’s Life” by Anne Sexton
“The Witch’s Life” by Anne Sexton, first appeared in 1971 in her collection The Awful Rowing Toward God, explores themes of aging, isolation, and self-reflection through the persona of a woman who compares herself to the “witch” from her childhood. Sexton’s imagery and metaphors convey a sense of transformation, where the speaker contemplates her own potential metamorphosis into the isolated figure she once feared. The poem’s popularity as a textbook selection lies in its vivid language, which invites deep analysis of both form and content, as well as its exploration of existential questions. The use of contrasts, such as the “kitten of butter” heart and the “basket of fire,” exemplifies Sexton’s mastery of paradox to evoke the complex and often contradictory nature of identity. The poem’s introspective tone and universal themes of aging and self-perception make it an ideal text for literary analysis, offering students a rich opportunity to explore both the personal and symbolic meanings embedded in the poet’s craft.
Text: “The Witch’s Life” by Anne Sexton
When I was a child
there was an old woman in our neighborhood whom we called The Witch.
All day she peered from her second story
window
from behind the wrinkled curtains
and sometimes she would open the window
and yell: Get out of my life!
She had hair like kelp
and a voice like a boulder.
I think of her sometimes now
and wonder if I am becoming her.
My shoes turn up like a jester’s.
Clumps of my hair, as I write this,
curl up individually like toes.
I am shoveling the children out,
scoop after scoop.
Only my books anoint me,
and a few friends,
those who reach into my veins.
Maybe I am becoming a hermit,
opening the door for only
a few special animals?
Maybe my skull is too crowded
and it has no opening through which
to feed it soup?
Maybe I have plugged up my sockets
to keep the gods in?
Maybe, although my heart
is a kitten of butter,
I am blowing it up like a zeppelin.
Yes. It is the witch’s life,
climbing the primordial climb,
a dream within a dream,
then sitting here
holding a basket of fire.
Annotations: “The Witch’s Life” by Anne Sexton
| Line | Annotation | Literary/Poetic/Rhetorical/Stylistic Devices |
| When I was a child | The speaker reflects on her childhood memory. | Nostalgia, Personal reflection |
| there was an old woman in our neighborhood whom we called The Witch. | The “witch” represents an old, mysterious figure in the speaker’s childhood. | Characterization, Symbolism |
| All day she peered from her second story window | The image of the witch looking out from a high window suggests distance or separation. | Visual imagery, Symbolism |
| from behind the wrinkled curtains | Wrinkled curtains suggest aging or concealment. | Imagery, Symbolism |
| and sometimes she would open the window and yell: Get out of my life! | The witch’s harsh words emphasize her isolation and bitterness. | Dialogue, Hyperbole, Personification |
| She had hair like kelp and a voice like a boulder. | Simile compares her hair and voice to harsh, natural elements. | Simile, Imagery |
| I think of her sometimes now and wonder if I am becoming her. | The speaker reflects on her transformation, raising the idea of identity change. | Personal reflection, Foreshadowing |
| My shoes turn up like a jester’s. | The comparison to a jester’s shoes suggests a playful but awkward aspect of aging. | Simile, Imagery |
| Clumps of my hair, as I write this, curl up individually like toes. | Simile comparing hair to toes implies a sense of oddness or disarray. | Simile, Imagery |
| I am shoveling the children out, scoop after scoop. | The repetition of “scoop” emphasizes the laborious, repetitive nature of the speaker’s actions. | Repetition, Metaphor |
| Only my books anoint me, and a few friends, those who reach into my veins. | “Anoint” suggests a ritualistic or sanctifying relationship with books and friends. | Metaphor, Symbolism |
| Maybe I am becoming a hermit, opening the door for only a few special animals? | The speaker contemplates becoming isolated, like a hermit. | Rhetorical question, Symbolism |
| Maybe my skull is too crowded and it has no opening through which to feed it soup? | The image of a crowded skull represents confusion or mental overload. | Metaphor, Hyperbole |
| Maybe I have plugged up my sockets to keep the gods in? | The metaphor of plugged sockets suggests the speaker is closing herself off to spiritual or divine influence. | Metaphor, Symbolism |
| Maybe, although my heart is a kitten of butter, I am blowing it up like a zeppelin. | Contradiction of a “kitten of butter” heart being inflated, symbolizing vulnerability and change. | Metaphor, Paradox |
| Yes. It is the witch’s life, climbing the primordial climb, | The “witch’s life” is embraced, with an image of a challenging ascent. | Metaphor, Allusion |
| a dream within a dream, | The phrase suggests a layered, illusory existence. | Allusion, Paradox |
| then sitting here holding a basket of fire. | The “basket of fire” suggests a dangerous or challenging task, symbolizing the speaker’s own inner turmoil or power. | Imagery, Symbolism |
Literary And Poetic Devices: “The Witch’s Life” by Anne Sexton
| Literary/Poetic Device | Example from the Poem | Explanation |
| Allusion | “a dream within a dream” | A reference to Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, suggesting layers of illusion and existential uncertainty. |
| Anaphora | “Maybe I am becoming a hermit” (repeated) | The repetition of “Maybe” at the start of several lines emphasizes the speaker’s self-doubt and questioning. |
| Assonance | “shoveling the children out” | The repetition of the “o” sound in “shoveling” and “out” creates a smooth, flowing rhythm. |
| Chiasmus | “My skull is too crowded / and it has no opening through which to feed it soup?” | A reversal of structure emphasizes the confusion and mental overload, adding a sense of imbalance. |
| Climax | “climbing the primordial climb, a dream within a dream” | The culmination of existential questioning, building up to a philosophical realization. |
| Consonance | “clumps of my hair, as I write this, curl up individually like toes” | The repetition of the “l” sound creates a soft, rhythmic quality that mirrors the curling hair. |
| Dialogue | “Get out of my life!” | The witch’s words are a direct expression of anger and isolation, creating tension and conflict in the poem. |
| Enjambment | “I am shoveling the children out, scoop after scoop” | The continuation of the sentence without a pause creates a sense of continuous action, reflecting the relentless tasks of the speaker. |
| Euphemism | “My heart is a kitten of butter” | The image of a soft, harmless heart contrasts with the subsequent line about it being inflated, providing a gentle metaphor for vulnerability. |
| Hyperbole | “My skull is too crowded” | An exaggerated description to convey mental overload and the speaker’s sense of confusion. |
| Imagery | “hair like kelp” | A vivid visual image that evokes a sense of wildness and untamed nature. |
| Irony | “Maybe, although my heart is a kitten of butter, I am blowing it up like a zeppelin.” | The contrast between softness (kitten of butter) and inflation (zeppelin) highlights the irony of the speaker’s transformation. |
| Metaphor | “a basket of fire” | A metaphor for an emotionally or physically intense situation, symbolizing the burden or power the speaker holds. |
| Oxymoron | “a kitten of butter” | The phrase combines two contradictory ideas—softness and vulnerability (kitten) with the fragility of butter—to illustrate the speaker’s internal contradiction. |
| Paradox | “a dream within a dream” | A self-contradictory statement that invites reflection on the nature of reality and perception. |
| Personification | “a voice like a boulder” | The witch’s voice is described as powerful and heavy, given human-like qualities that make it seem menacing. |
| Repetition | “Maybe” (repeated) | The repeated use of “Maybe” emphasizes the speaker’s uncertainty and exploration of different possibilities. |
| Simile | “hair like kelp” | A comparison between the witch’s hair and kelp using “like,” suggesting wild, unkempt hair. |
| Symbolism | “The Witch” | The figure of the witch symbolizes isolation, age, and transformation, representing the speaker’s fears of becoming like her. |
| Synecdoche | “shoveling the children out” | The “children” represent the burdens and responsibilities of life that the speaker is trying to push away. |
Themes: “The Witch’s Life” by Anne Sexton
1. Aging and Transformation: The theme of aging and transformation is central to “The Witch’s Life”. Throughout the poem, the speaker reflects on the changes she experiences as she grows older, wondering whether she is becoming the very figure she once feared—The Witch. The speaker compares herself to the witch from her childhood, noting how her physical appearance is transforming in ways that remind her of the old woman. She muses, “Maybe I am becoming a hermit,” contemplating her growing isolation. The image of the witch, once a figure of mystery and distance, becomes a symbol of the speaker’s own potential future, as she questions whether her growing isolation and eccentricity are signs of her transformation. The line “Maybe, although my heart is a kitten of butter, I am blowing it up like a zeppelin” reveals the paradox of her aging heart—soft and vulnerable, yet expanding and changing, illustrating the complexity of growing older and the fear of becoming someone she once feared.
2. Isolation and Loneliness: Isolation and loneliness emerge as prominent themes in the poem, especially as the speaker contemplates the witch’s life and her own potential descent into solitude. The witch in the poem is characterized as a recluse, hiding behind “wrinkled curtains” and yelling, “Get out of my life!” The speaker considers whether she, too, is becoming more like the witch, detached from the world. The line “Maybe I am becoming a hermit” suggests a growing sense of withdrawal from society, as the speaker imagines herself retreating into isolation, opening the door only for “a few special animals.” This yearning for solitude is contrasted with the harshness of the witch’s life, where she seems to push people away, just as the speaker now feels an increasing desire to distance herself from others. The metaphor of “only my books anoint me” highlights that the speaker finds solace only in her limited circle, reinforcing the theme of isolation.
3. Self-Reflection and Identity: The poem delves deeply into the theme of self-reflection, as the speaker examines her own identity and her transformation over time. The speaker is constantly questioning her own evolving nature, asking, “Maybe I am becoming her,” referring to the witch. This self-inquiry becomes a central concern in the poem, as the speaker explores whether her current self is a reflection of the lonely, bitter old woman she once observed. The use of metaphors such as “My shoes turn up like a jester’s” and “Clumps of my hair, as I write this, curl up individually like toes” conveys the physical changes in the speaker, but also points to her emotional or psychological shift. The line “My skull is too crowded” suggests a mental overload, as the speaker grapples with the complexities of her identity and her perception of aging. In reflecting on her possible transformation into the witch, the speaker questions the boundaries between who she was and who she is becoming, illustrating the uncertainty of self-identity over time.
4. Power and Vulnerability: The theme of power and vulnerability is intricately woven throughout the poem, where the speaker’s internal struggle is juxtaposed with the imagery of the witch’s external power. The witch, with her “hair like kelp” and “a voice like a boulder,” is portrayed as a powerful, commanding figure, yet this image of power contrasts with the speaker’s own vulnerability. The line “My heart is a kitten of butter” illustrates the speaker’s fragility, evoking a sense of softness and delicacy. However, the speaker also recognizes a contradictory power within herself: “I am blowing it up like a zeppelin.” This tension between power and vulnerability is echoed in the metaphor of holding “a basket of fire,” where the fire symbolizes an inner intensity or power that is both dangerous and consuming. The poem reflects the internal conflict of embracing both vulnerability and strength, suggesting that power can emerge from one’s vulnerabilities, just as the witch’s harsh exterior may conceal a deeper vulnerability.
Literary Theories and “The Witch’s Life” by Anne Sexton
| Literary Theory | Explanation | References from the Poem |
| Feminist Theory | Feminist theory explores gender roles and female identity, often examining how women are represented or marginalized in literature. In “The Witch’s Life”, the speaker contemplates the idea of aging as a woman and the transformation into an old, isolated figure that may reflect societal views on aging women. The witch represents the fear of becoming a “crone,” a term often used to devalue older women. The poem’s references to “Get out of my life!” and “Maybe I am becoming a hermit” reflect the speaker’s anxiety about her evolving identity as a woman. | “Get out of my life!” (rebellion against societal expectations); “Maybe I am becoming a hermit” (isolation as a woman); “hair like kelp” (wild, untamed image of femininity). |
| Psychoanalytic Theory | Psychoanalytic theory, based on the works of Freud and Jung, focuses on the unconscious mind, identity formation, and the interplay of repressed desires. The speaker’s internal conflict and self-reflection in “The Witch’s Life” reflect the tensions between the conscious and unconscious mind. The transformation into the witch can be seen as a projection of repressed fears about aging and death. The line “Maybe I am becoming her” reflects a fear of identity loss and becoming someone the speaker once feared. | “Maybe I am becoming her” (fear of transformation); “Maybe my skull is too crowded” (mental overload, repression of thoughts). |
| New Historicism | New Historicism examines a text within the context of its historical and cultural moment, considering how historical events influence the writing and the reader’s interpretation. “The Witch’s Life” can be read as a reflection on the societal treatment of older women during the time Anne Sexton wrote. In the 1960s and 70s, women’s roles and perceptions were shifting, and the poem reflects both the isolation of women in old age and the fear of becoming marginalized figures. | “Get out of my life!” (social isolation); “Maybe my skull is too crowded” (contemporary anxieties about societal roles for women). |
| Existentialism | Existentialism focuses on individual existence, freedom, and the search for meaning, often highlighting themes of isolation, despair, and self-determination. In “The Witch’s Life”, the speaker questions her existence, the meaning of her aging, and the fear of becoming a hermit or an isolated figure. The uncertainty about identity and transformation into the “witch” represents the existential crisis of facing one’s own mortality and the search for purpose. | “Maybe I am becoming a hermit” (isolation, existential reflection); “It is the witch’s life, climbing the primordial climb” (struggle for meaning in life). |
Critical Questions about “The Witch’s Life” by Anne Sexton
- What does the figure of the witch symbolize in the poem, and how does it reflect the speaker’s anxieties?
- The figure of the witch in “The Witch’s Life” is central to the speaker’s self-reflection and represents her deep-seated fears about aging and identity. The witch, a character from the speaker’s childhood, is initially described as isolated, with her “hair like kelp” and “a voice like a boulder,” embodying harshness and distance. As the speaker matures, she begins to wonder if she is becoming like the witch, suggesting that the figure of the witch symbolizes not only societal fears of aging but also the internal transformation of the speaker herself. The line “Maybe I am becoming her” reveals the speaker’s dread of embodying the isolation, bitterness, and loneliness that she associates with the witch. The witch becomes a symbol of the harshness of time, a reminder of how one’s identity can transform into something feared or misunderstood as they age. This transformation echoes societal attitudes toward older women, often viewed as “other” or “unattractive.” Thus, the witch is both a literal and symbolic representation of the speaker’s anxieties about her own future.
- How does the poem address the theme of self-identity and transformation?
- Self-identity and transformation are key themes in “The Witch’s Life,” as the speaker grapples with the fear of losing her sense of self while confronting the inevitability of change. The poem explores the psychological dissonance between the speaker’s childhood perception of the witch and her current fears of becoming like her. The repeated question “Maybe I am becoming her” shows the speaker’s internal conflict, as she questions her own transformation. This transformation is not just physical, but emotional and psychological. The line “My shoes turn up like a jester’s” suggests an awkwardness in the speaker’s changing body, while “Clumps of my hair, as I write this, curl up individually like toes” conveys the odd, disorienting nature of aging. The speaker’s metaphorical descriptions of her heart as “a kitten of butter” and her expanding heart “like a zeppelin” illustrate the contradictory feelings of vulnerability and growing power. These moments underscore the uncertainty of self-identity as the speaker contemplates the passage of time and the shifts in her personality and appearance.
- What role does isolation play in the poem, and how does the speaker relate to it?
- Isolation is a prominent theme in “The Witch’s Life,” where it functions as both a fear and a potential reality for the speaker. The witch, described as hiding behind “wrinkled curtains” and yelling, “Get out of my life!”, embodies the extreme end of isolation—rejecting others and withdrawing completely. The speaker, reflecting on the witch’s life, wonders whether she is headed down a similar path of solitude: “Maybe I am becoming a hermit.” The speaker’s contemplation of becoming a hermit, “opening the door for only a few special animals,” signals an increasing desire to withdraw from the outside world. This isolation is not entirely negative, as the speaker also finds solace in a select few relationships, such as “Only my books anoint me, and a few friends, those who reach into my veins.” However, there is an inherent tension between the comfort of solitude and the fear of becoming too isolated, as represented by the witch. The poem thus reflects on the complex relationship between loneliness and the search for meaning, suggesting that while isolation can bring peace, it can also signify a loss of connection to others and oneself.
- How does Anne Sexton use paradox to convey the complexity of aging and identity?
- Anne Sexton employs paradox in “The Witch’s Life” to illustrate the contradictory emotions and experiences that come with aging and self-awareness. The speaker’s reflections are filled with paradoxical images that capture the tension between vulnerability and strength. For example, the line “My heart is a kitten of butter” evokes an image of softness and delicacy, yet the following line, “I am blowing it up like a zeppelin,” introduces a sense of growth and expansion, highlighting the complexity of aging. This contrast between fragility and power reflects the internal conflict that many people experience as they age—recognizing their vulnerability while also experiencing an increased sense of self-awareness and strength. Similarly, the “basket of fire” the speaker holds symbolizes both the burden and the power of her inner life. These paradoxes reflect the duality of human experience, particularly in the face of aging, where the speaker is both embracing and rejecting the idea of becoming like the witch, illustrating how identity can simultaneously evolve and fragment over time.
Literary Works Similar to “The Witch’s Life” by Anne Sexton
- “Mirror” by Sylvia Plath
Like “The Witch’s Life”, “Mirror” explores themes of aging, self-reflection, and identity, focusing on the psychological effects of time and the struggle to recognize oneself. - “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot
Both poems engage with existential reflection and the internal conflict of self-identity, with the speaker confronting their fears and doubts about their place in the world. - “Lady Lazarus” by Sylvia Plath
This poem, like “The Witch’s Life”, deals with themes of transformation, personal struggle, and the tension between vulnerability and power, using strong metaphors and a tone of defiance. - “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe
Similar to “The Witch’s Life”, “The Raven” explores isolation, existential anguish, and the haunting nature of self-reflection through dark and supernatural imagery. - “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” by John Donne
Both poems use paradox and complex imagery to reflect on personal transformation, identity, and the challenges of understanding oneself in the face of time and change.
Representative Quotations of “The Witch’s Life” by Anne Sexton
| Quotation | Context | Theoretical Perspective |
| “When I was a child there was an old woman in our neighborhood whom we called The Witch.” | The speaker reflects on a childhood memory of an old woman who was viewed as mysterious and somewhat threatening. | New Historicism: This quote reflects the societal view of the witch figure during the speaker’s childhood, with historical associations of women, especially older women, being marginalized or feared. |
| “All day she peered from her second story window from behind the wrinkled curtains.” | The speaker describes the witch’s life in isolation, watching the world from a distance. | Feminist Theory: The image of the witch peering from behind curtains highlights how older women, particularly in historical contexts, have been confined to the domestic sphere and isolated from society. |
| “Maybe I am becoming her.” | The speaker wonders if she is slowly transforming into the witch she once feared. | Psychoanalytic Theory: This quote delves into the unconscious anxiety about identity transformation and repression, as the speaker fears becoming someone she once feared and possibly repressed in herself. |
| “My shoes turn up like a jester’s.” | The speaker imagines her changing physical appearance, using a humorous yet awkward comparison. | Existentialism: The awkwardness of her changing self reflects existential themes of alienation and self-awareness, where the speaker contemplates the meaning of her evolving identity. |
| “Clumps of my hair, as I write this, curl up individually like toes.” | The speaker describes the physical transformation of her hair, mirroring the unpredictable changes of aging. | Psychoanalytic Theory: The hair, curling “like toes,” symbolizes the speaker’s deeper anxieties about the passage of time and physical decay. |
| “I am shoveling the children out, scoop after scoop.” | The speaker metaphorically describes her repetitive and exhausting duties. | Feminist Theory: This line highlights the societal expectations placed on women, where caregiving duties, such as dealing with children, can feel burdensome, especially in the context of the speaker’s growing isolation. |
| “Only my books anoint me, and a few friends, those who reach into my veins.” | The speaker finds solace and a sense of meaning in books and select friendships. | Existentialism: The quote reflects existential themes of meaning-making in a seemingly indifferent world, where books and a few close relationships offer the speaker purpose. |
| “Maybe I am becoming a hermit, opening the door for only a few special animals?” | The speaker contemplates withdrawing from society, much like the witch did. | New Historicism: The idea of becoming a hermit relates to historical isolation, particularly the idea of aging women being seen as outcasts or secluded from society. |
| “Maybe, although my heart is a kitten of butter, I am blowing it up like a zeppelin.” | The paradoxical imagery describes vulnerability (kitten of butter) and unexpected power (zeppelin). | Feminist Theory: The contrast between the softness of a “kitten of butter” and the expansion of a “zeppelin” challenges traditional gendered notions of female vulnerability and power. |
| “Yes. It is the witch’s life, climbing the primordial climb, a dream within a dream.” | The speaker embraces the complexity and challenge of life, likening it to the witch’s existence. | Existentialism: This line reflects the existential journey of life, where meaning is elusive, and identity is constantly shifting and evolving, much like the “witch’s life” itself. |
Suggested Readings: “The Witch’s Life” by Anne Sexton
- Ostriker, Alicia. “That story: Anne Sexton and her transformations.” The American Poetry Review 11.4 (1982): 11-16.
- Gill, Jo. “Anne Sexton and Confessional Poetics.” The Review of English Studies, vol. 55, no. 220, 2004, pp. 425–45. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3661307. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
- Marx, Patricia, and Anne Sexton. “Interview with Anne Sexton.” The Hudson Review, vol. 18, no. 4, 1965, pp. 560–70. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/3849705. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
- McClatchy, J. D. “ANNE SEXTON: SOMEHOW TO ENDURE.” The Centennial Review, vol. 19, no. 2, 1975, pp. 1–36. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23738229. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.