I am currently studying Sylvia Plath in English as part of my leaving cert. Although English is one of my favourite subjects, I do not usually get so fascinated with anything, school wise, but Plath has just reeled me in. I would not in any way consider myself an academic student, but with Plath I just want to learn more. Her poetry is intense, disturbing, vivid and dark, which is what I find so engrossing about it. She had severe depression which lead on to her committing suicide, at the age of 30.
I don't want to come across as one of these dark, depressed, negative people myself, but I just find the likes so intriguing. I become so fascinated and interested with people like Plath. Why are they the way they are? Why do they feel this way? Why are they acting out this way? How can I relate to them? Is her mental state what is contributing to her creativeness leading on to her writing such exceptional poetry? Would she be as creative if it wasn't for her mental state? Maybe my interest in the darkness of people comes from my interest in psychology. Who knows?
I recently compared Plath to Lana Del Rey, another appeal of mine, which could be quite controversial as with most Lana kinda has the"marmite" thing going on, people either love her or hate her. I compared the two in many ways. They both are attracted to danger. They both have a fascination with death. They both long for a passionate relationship. They both have gone through intense, hard times and have that unique, dark but captivating quality about them that people seem to be drawn to, but most of all they express their emotions and feelings in the most creative way possible, through art. Lana through her music and Plath through her poetry. Being able to express myself like the likes of Plath and Lana is something I could only wish that I was able to do.
My other theory, as to why I am so fascinated with Plath's poetry is I feel I can relate to it. I feel like this is the reason a lot of people like Plath's poetry, because on their worst days, they can relate to it. It's like listening to the lyrics of a song and feeling like that song was wrote for you. I feel we all have days were we want to give up and are feeling down, some days more than others and on those days I feel Plath has completely taken the thoughts out of my head, and put them down on paper in the most beautiful, creative way, in a way I never could and this is why I am so drawn to her poetry.
