The Biography of Sylvia Plath

English American Literature is incomplete without Sylvia Plath. When we talk about American Literature, it would be an injustice if we don't mention and admire Sylvia Plath and her work. Because of some childhood traumas, she was depressed and her writings are proof of it. Most people also know her as a depressed poet or writer.

Birth and Early Life

Sylvia was born on October 27, 1932, in Boston, Massachusetts. Plath's mother met his father at Boston University as he was her teacher and were married in 1932. When Plath was eight years old, her father died because of diabetes in 1940. Her father, Otto Plath, was a very strict father probably that's why she had not had a good childhood and she described this relationship in her poem "Daddy". From the age of 11, Sylvia kept writing a diary and in 1950 her first publication was national in the "Christian Science Monitor while she was still in high school. Then in 1951, she went to Smith College on scholarship and in 1955 she moved to Cambridge. During this, she attended a party and there she met an English poet, Ted Hughes, and soon they got married in 1956. They were separated in 1962 because of Ted Hughes' affair with another woman. She had two children. She also attended psychiatric sessions to cope with severe depression.

Pseudonym

The pseudonym, aka pen name, of Sylvia Plath, was Victoria Lucas. In London in 1963, The Bell Jar, her famous novel was published under this pseudonym.

Work/Publications

In total Sylvia wrote 445 poems from which, "Mirror", "Lady Lazarus" and "Daddy" are the most famous poems in her book "Ariel". She wrote "The Bell Jar" her only novel and also her other prominent work. Her letters and journals were also published and edited with the permission of her husband, Ted Hughes, after Sylvia's death. He also edited the works of Sylvia like "Ariel" and "The Collected Poems" and published them in 1981.

Pulitzer Prize

After the publication of "The Collected Poems" in 1981, Sylvia Plath became the first one to receive the posthumous award "Pulitzer Prize" for her poetry in 1982.

Writing Style

The writing style of Sylvia Plath is Confessional Poetry. This type of writing style is used to address personal relationships, trauma, and depression; in other words, it is an autobiographical writing style.

Themes

Sylvia wrote about the situation of mid-20th century women in America in "The Bell Jar". The themes of isolation, alienation, self-destruction, personal suffering, and betrayal can be seen in her poetry. She also wrote on the themes of feminism, motherhood, nature, and depression.

Death

Plath died on February 11, 1963, in London, England. She attempted suicide multiple times. Her final attempt was at the age of 30. She committed suicide by digging her head in the oven while her two children were sleeping beside her.

Every prominent writer is famous for something that makes him/her different from others. Likewise, Sylvia Plath is also famous for her writing style and unique themes.