Self-reflection and Theatricality in Sylvia Plath’s ”Lady Lazarus”

Abstract

The works of Sylvia Plath, one of the most influential 20th century American poets, reflect deeply on the emotional and mental state of the author herself, thus making her literature relatable till this day. Plath’s poetry belongs to the confessional style and carries a sense of theatricality. These qualities are especially evident in ‘Lady Lazarus’, a poem included in
the poetry collection ‘Ariel’ (1965), published after Plath’s death. The poem charms readers and critics equally by its self-reflection and puzzling allusions. The sense of theatricality is produced by the skillful use of stylistic devices. However, understanding the poem is difficult without prior knowledge of author’s biography and without decoding the stylistic nuances. Therefore, the article aims to reveal the degree of author’s biographical self-reflection in ‘Lady Lazarus’ and what makes it so theatrical.

Sylvia Plath, born in Boston in 1932, graduated from leading universities and got married to an English poet Ted Hughes. Behind Plath's seemingly successful life, however, hid the childhood trauma caused by the death of her father. Poet’s marriage was short lived, followed by her mental issues (clinical depression) and suicide attempts. considering her background makes the poem easier to understand, although the critics argue that the poem may be a generalised depiction of women’s life experiences. On the other hand, some analyse the poem as a strict reflection of poet’s own experiences and struggles, thus equating the author to narrator.

Analysing the poem further reveals that the essence of ‘Lady Lazarus’ presents a combination of author’s self-reflection and generalised female narrator, creating self-mythologizing heroine. As if Plath reflects on the Shakespearean “All the world's a stage” by portraying her reoccurring suicide attempts into the theatrical play enjoyed by author’s ‘audience’. Ted Hughes also emphasizes this quality of theatricality.

The article concludes that by the skillful interplay of stylistic devices Plath created a self-mythologized heroine which reflects, not fully but partially, her life experiences and emotions, consequently shaping her personal style based on theatricality. This is what makes the poem highly intriguing for critics and readers even today.