Who is Rumpelstiltskin from The Complete Poems and what is their importance? The_Complete_Poems English & Literature Rumpelstiltskin | The Complete Poems

Sexton uses the character of Rumpelstiltskin as a metaphor for the darkness that lurks inside everyone. He appears when his underhanded services are convenient, and he disappears afterward, returning later as a haunting reminder of past misdeeds. Sexton also makes Rumpelstiltskin a somewhat sympathetic character, highlighting his natural desire to nurture a child and the duplicitous manner in which he is deceived. He is an ugly dwarf, a marginalized member of society, and an outcast. Sexton plays upon these qualities to reinvent the story, making Rumpelstiltskin a misunderstood victim.