I first discovered Sylvia Plath near the end of my high school career. I was dating the guy of my dreams and was in the process of recovering from a two-year stint of deep depression. I read an article about must-read books and the artwork of Plath's novel caught my eye. I went to the local library and checked out The Bell Jar.
My boyfriend at the time was a skateboarder and we spent a lot of our time at skate-parks. I typically sat on a nearby bench with a book, art supplies, and my kitten, Monster. Unaware of the novel's semi-autobiographical background, Plath's dark but relatable writing caused me in to finish the book in just a day's time.
I thought to myself, "I get it. I totally understand her." The inspiration I felt after reading her novel pushed me to study her life. I began reading more about the effects on her writing: the dynamics of her family, the relationship between her and her husband, Ted Hughes, and most importantly her sanity. For those of you who would like to know more about Sylvia Plath, here is a short biography.
"Lady Lazarus" is an extremely raw poem about Plath's suicidal struggles. She does not hide the effects of her father's authoritative German background on her youth. The entrapment Plath felt throughout her life is displayed in the poem's structure of repeating three-lined stanzas.
Her German word usage, "Jew linen" and "Nazi lampshade," represent a controlled environment or forced way of life with no escape. The repetition of multiple suicide attempts and her reference to a cat's nine lives signify Plath's dark sense of humor. She took solace in writing through self-expression. Sadly, it was not her only escape.
