The Feminist Writing of Sylvia Plath

This analysis attempts to present the theoretical discussions of Plath's poetry within the general context of feminist criticism and writing by women and the problems faced by women as authors and poets. The book deals with the representation of the female body in Plath's poetry, by examining the views of such critics as Alicia Suskin Ostriker and Simone de Beauvoir, and specifically, how the body is represented in particular poems, like "Tulips" and "Ariel". Finally, the chapter concludes with a continuation of the discussion concerning poetic influence and origin, as well as an original analysis or deconstruction if you wish, of "Lady Lazarus", according to Aristotle's definition of tragedy. This will be attempted by comparing Plath's poem to Greek tragedy, unmasking yet another of the poet's mythic façades and thus, giving both poet and poem a place in the poetic tradition. What is more, in such an interpretation, many elements of the Romantic theory of poetic creation may be found and a re-inforcement of the view of Plath's poetry.