Poet or Pedophile/Molester?

[dirtywhiteboi]

How do Sexton fans deal with Sexton molesting her daughter? Does if affect how you read her? Or does her poetry obscure this knowledge?

dirt

Comments

[palefire]

I try to separate the person from the poet. I think she was an incredibly messed up person who needed the help she got. At the same time, from an academic's perspective I can look at the poetry and separate it from the life. Liking someone's art does not necessarily mean liking (or agreeing with the choices of) the artist themselves.

[delirium_skye]

My thoughts exactly

[dirtywhiteboi]

And had she NOT written poetry, how would you view her?

[delirium_skye]

Good question. Definitely as a deeply and seriously disturbed woman. I don't think I would have known about her if it had not been for her poetry - so she would have been another one of those sickos who abused their child. She painted some incredible pictures with words, but away from the papers she wrote on - nothing could paint over her actions...the life of a tormented (and tormenting) woman...

[dirtywhiteboi]

I guess one can take some stock in Linda forgivng her.

dirt