Essay Sample on Anne Sexton's Cinderella: A Twist on a Classic Tale

Introduction

In most cases, we have always gained interest and even once in a while read fairy tales, the main question that does arise is how do they end? Yes, the end has always been happy after. In the amazing work of art by Anne Sexton's Cinderella, what stands out is that she dramatically shakes up, the traditional fairy tale by incorporating a tale of her own. Being a creative writer, she makes use of sarcasm in finishing up the tale hence making the reader's expectation of a traditionally fairy tales and happy ending to disappear. In managing this, she hence depicts the difference between the reality and the general flow in the fairy tale. Sexton's uses harsh word of reality and in her story ends up breaking the dreams of the readers through going for a traditional fairy tale. Cinderella stands out as a retelling of the classic fairy tale by Anne Sexton who was recognized as one of the greatest poets that ever lived in the twentieth century.

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In the poem, Sexton in making use of the sarcastic tone ends up foreshadowing some of the elements that are to come in the poem. In the poem, the line 5 in the story is repeated various times throughout the story hence making the reader to raise questions and even start thinking of the original Cinderella fairytale. Along with this, by mentioning "That story" in the whole poem, she keeps on reminding us of how every fairy tale stands out to be the same.

The central theme in the poem revolves around the theme of femininity and women. The speaker in the pome has a significantly dim view of various tendencies that women are possessing. Based on the line, "Or the nursemaid, some sweet luscious from Denmark which ends up capturing the oldest son's heat" (6-8). This statement ends up turning a woman into an object that can be consumed, and the "some" ends up making her just one of many as if something didn't matter in her individuality. Additionally in the quote "Next came the ball, as you all recognize. The prince was looking for a wife. It was a marriage market". (41-43). By the statements, it is important to note that the whole marriage market statement is possible one of the significant cynical moments that took place in the whole poem. With this, the women at the ball are identified as a mere object that a man needs to choose.

Considering the general tone, it is important to note that Cinderella by Anne Sexton can retell the fairy tale traditional version; however, in the process, it provides a sardonic twist. Sexton brings transformation to this tale not by having its details changed but by making use of imagery and tone that ends up to mock the happily ever after fairy tale. These devices are employed by the poet to keep on reminding the readers that Cinderella is indeed a romantic fairy tale. The speaker in her writing reinforces the attitude of mocking as the greatest tone by interrupting the general narration to comment and address the reader on the tale. For example, in addition to raising attention to the significance of the dove, the speaker can identify the stepmother's meanness. On the other hand, the speaker's attitude that is directed toward her material is significant in conveying the theme, its inseparable from the diction and of the poem's imagery.

Focusing on the poem structure, perhaps along by mentioning "That story" in the whole poem, Sexton is writing to remind us how every fairy tale has the same rendition. It is always demonstrate something like this: poor girl meets the prince, and in the long run, the story ends up proofing that they lived happily ever after! Now, when is life ever seemed to be that easy? Taking the chance to add her anecdote, Sexton is showing the reader a more realistic fairy tale. The stanzas break at a logical point and in the whole description, Sexton makes vivid use of literary devices and description to develop imagery." Cried forth like a gospel singer" as a smile helps to create a various image in mind.

In the poem, Sexton makes use of irony through her sarcasm as well. Perhaps through the rendition, the reader's views on the classic fairy tale are changed. In the general description, Cinderella is identified as Cinderella was their mid. / each night she slept on the sooty hearth/ and walked around eyeing like Al Jolson (Line 30-32). In this statement, Al Jolson being a white man who ended up impersonating a black man is being compared to Cinderella. However, it was a choice for Jolson to dress up as a black man, and being their maid dressed in grime was not considered to be Cinderella's.

Considering the date of publication, through what transpired it is important to note that the poem was published when women were mishandled in history. The poem brings out transformations and a collection of poems in which the speaker ends up being introduced in the first poem. In opening the poem, the directly address the reader and in the process speak out the Cinderella's rags to riches, and it's generally demonstrated in four short stanzas that provide examples of present-day success stories.

Conclusion

Finally, what always transpires throughout the poem is that that it makes the reader develop various emotions while reading the poem, she makes use of sarcasm in finishing up the tale hence making the reader's expectation of a traditional fairy tales and a happy ending to disappear. In managing this, she hence depicts the difference between the reality and the general flow in the fairy tale.

Work Cited

Sexton, Anne. The complete poems. Open Road Media, 2016.