Anne Sexton's Reimagining of CinderellaMichelangelo, perhaps the most gifted sculptor and painter of all time, once said that "geniuses stand on the shoulders of other geniuses." As Michelangelo built on the brilliance of his predecessors, Anne Sexton does the same with her poem "Cinderella." Fairy tales began as oral traditions and have been passed down and sculpted by thousands of storytellers. Each narrator changes elements of the story to suit their individual needs. Sexton reimagines "Cinderella" as poetry and supplements the story with his own opinion and commentary. Sexton's version of this classic story contrasts the rosy images of human happiness conjured up by fantasy with the banality, decay, and desperation of everyday life. He conveys this message with a sadistic tone and modern language, drawing on his own difficulties and American culture. Throughout her life, Anne faced many personal struggles. His childhood, although privileged in financial terms, was also characterized by deprivation and abuse. Anne's mother and father both struggled with alcoholism, a struggle that, according to her biographers, influenced Sexton's substance abuse later in life. In addition to alcoholism, Sexton also suffered other abuse from his parents; Sexton's biographers describe his mother as "neglectful" and his father as verbally abusive (Middlebrook 57). Anne Sexton attended Garland Junior College for only one year and mar......middle of paper......brought them forth.In conclusion, with her poem "Cinderella" Sexton not only created a wonderful retelling of a loved one's tale, but a critical evaluation of how the story relates to his or her life and the impact it has on cultural expectations. Regarding her reconstruction of fairy tales, Sexton herself said, “I take the fairy tale and turn it into my own poem, following the plot, surpassing the plot, and adding my own panache” (Middlebrook 336). And panache is something Anne Sexton definitely had. She was a brilliant artist who marked the beginning of feminist poetry. Although her death was unfortunate, the spirit and distinct voice still shines through her poem "Cinderella."