Plath, Roth, Rich

                Sylvia Plath’s poetry was insightful and graphic.  I actually enjoyed it even though I have never read any of her works.  I found her references to the WWII intriguing and questioning to know more about her.  While I did read the bibliography note in the beginning, it doesn’t really talk about her connection to Jews or Germans.  I know that her father died when she was young and was one of the reasons that drew her to an attempt at suicide which she mentions in Daddy.  She talks about how she tried to get back at her dad by killing herself but then being put together by others.  She describes her father as a vampire and having a “fat black heart”.   She talks about getting revenge to her father—by killing herself?  I am not really sure how that would be revenge…any thoughts?  Her other poem “Lady Lazarus” was interesting—particularly the title.  I didn’t understand the title until the end of the poem.  I know that Lazarus was a man that was raised from the dead.  In my opinion, I think she is referring to the Jews especially in the last stanza with the line “out of the ash”.  The footnote talks about the mythical creature called the phoenix which is reborn out of the ashes similar to Lazarus.  Although I’m still not sure why the title includes the word “lady”.  I didn’t know about the Natzi gold fillings being made out of corpses and lampshades being made of victims’ skin.  It makes me sick to think about these images—but I am glad that they are brought to the surface.

                Call me a romantic but I loved the first line in “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning” which is “My swirling wants.  Your frozen lips.”  It reminds me of something in a cheesy chick flick—but I don’t care it’s poetic!  I want more explanation of this poem because while I can pick up bits and pieces I would like to have some more opinions.  It seems someone is trying to forget something bad, but then at the same time it talks about writing and grammar.  I also like the last line—I feel like it’s highly individualized and a modernized notion.  The message of being independent and being living life in a personal choice and not letting others chose it for you.