Van Gogh, Anne Sexton, and the Mythological Narrative of Apollo and Artemis in “The Starry Night”

Abstract

This study offers a close reading of “The Starry Night” that integrates both Anne Sexton’s poem (1962) and Vincent van Gogh’s painting (1889) as interrelated artistic creations. Traditionally, scholarly analyses of these works have centered on biographical and psychological perspectives, often emphasizing themes such as the depiction of suicide, which is frequently viewed as a central motif in both pieces. This study, however, aims to move beyond these conventional reviews by following a close reading to uncover the significations of each medium. By following the semiotic approach (Ferdinand de Saussure) and (Charles Sanders Peirce), this paper reveals deeper connections between Sexton’s verse and van Gogh’s visual art. The analysis will focus on the elements of both works and their depiction of Greek mythological narratives–– the story of Apollo and Artemis. We will explore how the rhetoric of the poem and van Gogh’s brushstroke techniques evoke imagery associated with the island of Delos–– the mythological location where Leto gave birth to the twin deities. Therefore, this study seeks to illuminate the symbolic and thematic interplay between the literary and visual aspects of “The Starry Night,” providing new insights into their interconnected meanings.