Anne Gray Harvey Sexton was an extravagant person and yet had such a gruesome life. She was born on November 9, 1928; Anne was raised in Newton, Massachusetts. She is the daughter of Ralph Harvey and Mary Gray Staples. Sexton attended a boarding school, Rogers Hall, in Lowell, Massachusetts. She …show more content…
The Contemporary era has been extraordinary part of the 19th century. This time period was between the 19th century to about the 20th century. “She was a confessional poetry writer and in part because she became a sort of media event [the mad suicide poet]”(Sexton 669). This time period was difficult to describe, because it reflects contemporary life and culture. Sexton was known for writing about her life and culture during this time, such as her poem “Her Kind” that reveals details of her life. This being said, she was a tremendously rough individual who never had much and was looked down upon by her family. This time period had to do with the questioning of the meaning of life. Sexton had always been one to be depressed about life because she suffered from severe mental illness for much of her life. Aberjhani referred to this time period as, “We are living in an era in which billions of people are grappling to promote communication, tolerance, and understanding over the more destructive forces of war, terrorism, and political chaos that characterized the beginning of the 21st Century” (Aberjhani). Anne never wrote about the wars or terrorism, but she wrote about the understanding of life and communication to others. This quote is trying to show the true meaning of the contemporary era, providing evidence and support of what the time period was …show more content…
Middlebrook stated that Anne wrote “confessional” because it seemed so personal. Sexton was a poem writer and a short story teller, but mostly was known for her confessional writing. Her poems usually go straight to the point with magnificent detail; but Sexton likes to beat around the bush and kind of hide her feelings. In her poem, “Her Kind”, as Diane Wood Middlebrook said “Sexton resisted the label [confessional]; she preferred to be regarded as a [storyteller]” (Middlebrook). Diana also states that Sexton uses “I” rather than her real identity or that person 's real identity. In her poem, her depression and sadness is not shown but you can analyse it; thus seeking out depression and despair in the diction used in the poem. Diana supports her criticism by stating a line for Sexton’s poem. Diana says, “A woman like that… I have been her kind” Diana says that Sexton is conveying the terms on which she wants to be treated; not a victim, but witness and witch (Middlebrook). When analysing this same piece it felt as if she was a depressed women. She seems like she has never had much growing up or as if she always felt out of place. She says three times, "I have been her kind" . This to is stating that she has felt the pain and has felt what the speaker of the poem has. In every stanza that Anne writes