The Tragic Tale of Poet Sylvia Plath

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Sep 20, 2025

Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Plath

This poem by Sylvia Plath is a very vulnerable one; it reveals some deep secrets and truths about the poet that most would not be willing to share and is a classic example of Confessional poetry. In lines 34-39, Plath describes the two times she faced a near-death experience. She explains the first being an accident that happened when she was a young girl, but describes the second as an attempt “To last it out and not come back at all.” (Plath, “Lady Lazarus” line 38). Plath further explains that she attempted suicide to “feel real” in line 47. This aspect of the poem makes it a very clear example of Confessional poetry as it is obvious that she was and or is dealing with a mental crisis. This topic is something that was seen as improper to talk about during this time and was rarely openly discussed.

Daddy by Sylvia Plath

This piece of poetry holds a lot of deeper meaning. Here, it is clear that Plath has some unresolved trauma surrounding her father and his death during her formative years. She grapples with the pain of loss and mental health here, where she states, “I was ten when they buried you. At twenty I tried to die And get back, back, back to you.” (Plath, “Daddy” lines 61-63). This poem not only discusses the loss of life in the perspective of a young child but also how grief can manifest and lead to severe bouts of mental illness. This piece of work particularly describes hits of depression and anger at Plath’s father, both of which are key aspects in processing grief and were not readily discussed during this time. This alone makes it a good example of Confessional poetry as Plath shares deeply personal details and experiences with childhood loss, grief, and mental illness.

Morning Song by Sylvia Plath

In this poem, Plath describes the beautiful first moments of a child. Childbirth and labor were not widely discussed during the time this poem was published, often, women were very quiet about their experiences surrounding such. This piece of work goes against that norm and describes a mother’s first image of her child, such can be seen in the line “The midwife slapped your footsoles, and your bald cry” (Plath, “Morning Song” line 2). In this poem, Plath depicts the raw experience of seeing one’s baby for the first time. In this sense, this poem is a clear example of Confessional poetry as it speaks on a topic not widely discussed. Childbirth was a topic seen as unfit for media coverage and was typically kept close to chest, Plath goes against this standard and provides a beautiful poem to spread the true marvel that is birth, which is very on par with her other works and Confessional poetry in general.

Sylvia Plath

Born on October 27th, 1932, Sylvia Plath lived a relatively happy life until the unfortunate passing of her father. Her father, Otto, died of diabetes when she was just 8 years old, his death would go on to inspire one of her most famous poems entitled “Daddy,” where she describes her love-hate relationship with her deceased father. Outside of losing her father at a young age, Plath also suffered with depression and had attempted suicide on multiple occasions. Her poem “Lady Lazarus” describes such and expresses Plath’s attempt “…to not come back at all.” (Plath, “Lady Lazarus” line 38). After her first attempt, she was briefly institutionalized and received electro-shock therapy, however, she continued to struggle with mental health. Unfortunately, after a turmoilous separation from her husband, Sylvia Plath took her own life at the age of 30, with her two young children locked safely away in another room. Her mental state was often a core aspect in the depth of her poetry and is part of what made her such a focal point in the Confessional Poet realm. She did not shy away from her mental issues and openly shared her struggles with a world not yet ready to accept them.