Death in Sylvia Plath's poetry

Death is a prevalent theme in Sylvia Plath?s poetry where its representations are explored from varied angles. Numerous factors in her writing contribute to the reader?s understanding of her poetry. These include Plath?s ability to communicate the theme of death by adopting either a subjective or an objective point of view. The use of a specific person perpetuates Plath?s different representations of death by engaging the reader in either a personal or an impersonal way. Poetic techniques such as imagery, language, structure and tone are able to depict death as either a comforting or disturbing experience thus providing the reader with alternative perceptions.

Death is most commonly viewed as a sinister and intimidating end. Although Plath?s poetry offers alternative representations, a fraction of her poetry conforms to the typical view on death. ?Two Views of a Cadaver Room? is a poem, which does so effectively. In this poem Plath attempts to be objective by writing in third person point of view. The structure is also successful in doing so as it is divided into two verses. The first verse describes a mortuary where four men are examining human corpses presenting a very sterile and lifeless setting. The second verse speaks of a couple in a painting preoccupied by their love yet ignorant to the horrors of death. This opposition between the two verses creates an alarming juxtaposition. Because the first verse adopts an attitude of reality and rationale compared to the couple?s ignorance in the second verse (ie: ?only are blind to the carrion army?), the first verse is further emphasised thus foregrounding the eeriness of death. This technique is recurrent in Plath?s poetry and is equally effective in ?I Am Vertical? by offering two verses to compliment yet contrast each other.

The varying imagery in both verses is relevant when highlighting different aspects in the poem. The use of disturbing imagery represents the horrific nature of death as a force, which destroys the mind and the life in a person. The setting is established in a dissecting room, which has connotations of an absence of emotions in a scientific and impersonal environment. The human corpses are described as ?black as burnt turkey? as their organs and bones are removed. These images provide the reader with a greater significance. The act of dissecting suggests removal of the elements, which constitute a human being similar to the depiction of death in this poem. Death extracts a person?s life, mind and feelings from a human body thus representing ?a process of dehumanisation? . This is shown by the phrase, ?he hands her the cut-out heart like a cracked heirloom.? Heirlooms are valuable objects, which embodies the memory of someone just like the heart, which is often symbolised as a person?s identity. The second verse speaks of a ?blind? and ?deaf? couple. Their lack of senses suggests the fragility of life beaten the power of death.

The fear and horror of death can also be perceived as a means of self-destruction by an individual. This shifts the perspective in Plath?s poetry from death acting as a force on the individual to the individual choosing death. ?Edge? and ?I Am Vertical? are two poems, which perpetuate this alternative approach to death. In Plath?s poetry death is an act of self-destruction, which draws focus to the persona?s pain and suffering. This is particularly evident in ?Edge? in the phrase ?her bare feet seem to be saying; we have come so far, it is over.? This demonstrates the persona?s constant endurance of pain has ended. The description of bare feet signifies her vulnerability due to a lack of protection perhaps from society. This poem is often regarded by critics as an instance of the death instinct which Sigmund Freud referred to specifically as ?self-destruction.? One critic, David Holbrook, considers the poem as an ?idolisation of suicide and infanticide.? This statement is probably referring to the phrase ?each dead child coiled, a white serpent.? However such a comment is quite extreme as Plath?s disturbing imagery is merely a form of expression rather than a reflection on her beliefs.
An aspiration for self-destruction also questions the significance and causation of death. The personas in both poems are attempting to make a statement and are confronted with rejection from society. This is effectively portrayed in ?I Am Vertical? when ?the trees and flowers have been strewing their cool odours. I walk among them, but none of them are noticing.? This phrase is metaphorical for society enforcing its attitudes on individuals suggesting social restraint and a lack of independence. The latter quote displays people?s egotistical and self-indulged nature. This idea is also perpetuated in ?Edge,? for example ?the moon has nothing to be sad about? reveals that the persona?s death will leave others unaffected. Death in both poems can thus be perceived as a method of escape or self-deliverance.
An escape from life could lead to the personas seeking something greater. In ?Edge? the persona strives for perfection, which she finds through death for example when, she says ?she has folded them back into her body as petals of a rose close.? The rose is often depicted as having qualities of beauty and purity, which the persona longs for. ?The woman is perfected. Her dead body wears a smile of accomplishment? demonstrates a sense of finality and justice has been achieved. The smile in Plath?s poetry, synonymous with malicious intent, reinforces this finality. A similar attitude is found in ?I Am Vertical? when the persona says ?I want the one?s longevity and the other?s daring? referring to a tree and a flower respectively, which communicates the persona?s desire for what she does not have. More importantly the persona hopes that acceptance and recognition will result from her death. This is highly apparent when the persona states ?I shall be useful when I lie down: then the trees may touch me for once, and the flowers have time for me.? These can therefore suggest that the personas in Plath?s poetry lack satisfaction in their life and look to death as a means of fulfillment and new beginnings.

The idea of death as a means of rebirth and regeneration is an element, which makes Plath?s poetry so distinguishing. This focal idea is found in ?I Am Vertical? who describes the persona?s desire for acceptance that she hopes to find through death. The concept of rebirth is made obvious by comments such as ?then the sky and I are open in conversation? describes the heavens opening up and death thus becomes a union with nature. The use of the word ?sky? suggests death is an elevated state of spirituality and fulfillment. The use of nature as the poem?s backdrop has equal significance. Nature is often associated with trees and plants which are stereotypically symbols of life. Quotes like ?so that each March I may gleam into leaf? evokes the idea of a cycle ? a continual process of birth, death then re-birth.
The notion that death can result in new life creates an irony however these differences allow the reader to approach death in an alternative way. This poem is highly atmospheric and takes on a very calm tone. The term ?garden bed? has connotations of sleep ? related to security and comfort. The use of mellifluous words with long vowel sounds like ?gleam? and ?strewing? provoke a very tranquil mood. The language in ?I Am Vertical? forms images contrary to the disturbing ones in ?Edge? and ?Two Views of Cadaver Room.? The use of nature as a setting helps to reinforce the serenity in death just as the use of first person point of view in the poem allows a for more personal and in-depth experience. The contrast between a vibrant nature full of life and death opposes the traditional view of dying as morbid. This then proposes that life and death are somewhat inter-related and one can be used as means of understanding the other.
Plath?s diverse expression of death extends to expressing her love of life via the horrors of death as a form of comparison. A poem which does so successfully is ?Totem? where the persona?s praise of life could be due to his/her painful awareness of their own mortality and their defense to death is a whole-hearted commitment to life. This is contrary to Plath?s typical view on death as she seems to develop an anticipation of death rather than a fear. The opening lines ?The engine is killing the track ? It stretches into the distance. It will be eaten nevertheless. Its running is useless? immediately describes the technique Plath is using. The train symbolises a technological nightmare or more indirectly, death. The quote proposes death is too far away to be a concern to the speaker and even if it approaches, it will be overcome by perhaps something greater (ie: life).
The persona?s gratitude in life is suggested in the phrase ?The world is blood-hot and personal,? where this demonstrates the intense connection she has with life. The word ?blood? denotes one?s existence while ?hot? speaks of the strength the persona experiences. The quote ?There is no terminus, only suitcases out of which the same self unfolds like a suit bald and shiny, with pockets of wishes,? creates such beautiful imagery of life which seems so out of the ordinary for Plath?s poetry. It describes life as a series of opportunities where its beauty lies in its variability and surprises. Plath?s horrid images of death help to highlight the loveliness of life.

One critical aspect in ?Totem? is Plath?s representation of God. God is often praised for his creation of life however the persona takes on a negative viewpoint of Him. God is compared to the philosopher Plato: ?Let us eat it like Plato?s afterbirth, let us eat it like Christ.? The critic Janice Markey describes this relation as ?the affinity of this figure-head (Christ) with the world of abstractions and his detachment from ordinary life . This questions the persona?s uncertainty of the existence of a benevolent God as He might be a critic rather than an omniscient being. The persona then starts to believe that God is perhaps malevolent who enjoys a sadistic pleasure, suggested by ?I am mad, calls the spider (referring to God), waving its many arms.? The poem later describes the vulnerability of flies as ?they buzz like blue children? which can be likened to a hunter (God) and his preys . Annette Lavers describes this reference as ?a revolt against deity, which is shown as a blood-thirsty pagan idol grimacing like a skull, and at the same time mobile like a scarecrow, and ridiculous and counterfeit, like it .? This harsh criticism is relevant in some respects as the depiction of God is quite negative but however God in Plath?s poetry is often metaphorical for her father and their strange relationship.

In conclusion, Plath?s successful poetry can be attributed to her ability to express certain themes in such a diverse way. The theme of death is conveyed on many levels which are distinguished by the persona assuming a subjective or objective view and using varied imagery to reflect what he/she is experiencing. The use of unique metaphors, the choice of words and the structure of the poems are other elements which contribute significantly to the understanding and enjoyment of Sylvia Plath?s poetry.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Markey, Janice. A Journey into the Red Eye. The Poetry of Sylvia Plath ? a critique.
The Women?s Press Ltd, London, 1993.
Quotes and interpretations by:
Janice Markey. Pg 45, 49, 50
David Holbrook. Pg 48
Annette Lavers. Pg 56