Sylvia Plath

Born: October 27, 1932 

Died: February 11, 1963 

Life:  

Dying is an art, like everything else. I do it exceptionally well. I do it so it feels like hell. I do it so it feels real. I guess you could say I've a call. -Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Plath 

Before Sylvia Plath became an American literary icon often compared to the fame of Marilyn Monroe, she was the daughter of immigrants. Sylvia Plath was born to Otto and Aurelia Plath on October 27th, 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts. Her father originated from Germany, and was a famous entomologist who worked closely with bees while teaching biology at Boston University. Her stay at home mother was a second generation American of Austrian decent.  

Sylvia found her affinity for poetry early in her life. Her first published poem was featured in the Boston Herald's children's section at the age of 8. It was later that year that her father died of complications from untreated diabetes. Her father's influence would continue to impact her poetry with the imagery of bees appearing frequently.  

Plath was a very gifted student and writer. With an IQ of 160, she was known to be highly driven even at a young age. In 1950, Sylvia began her education at Smith College, a private women's liberal arts college in Massachusetts. Sylvia was excelling at school but also struggling with depression. It was during her third year at school that Sylvia attempted suicide, which she later used as inspiration for her only novel the Bell Jar. After recovering from her first suicide attempt, Sylvia returned to school and eventually submitted her thesis, The Magic Mirror: A Study of the Double in Two of Dostoyevsky's Novels, and graduated with the highest honors in 1955. She received a Fullbright Scholarship to study at Newnham College of the University of Cambridge in England. 

It was February 25, 1956 when Sylvia first met her eventual husband, English poet Ted Hughes. The couple was married June 16th of that same year. Their relationship was passionate and even violent at some points. Plath wrote to her longtime friend and therapist that Hughes had abused her two before she suffered a miscarriage in 1961. 

Plath was a dutiful wife and eventual mother, but struggled to separate her matronly life to dedicate time to her craft. She had her first child Frieda in April of 1960 and later in October of that same year she published her first collection of poetry, The Colossus. She continued to struggle with her identity as a mother and writer even after the birth of their second child Nicholas in 1962.  

Continuing to struggle with her mental illness, Sylvia Plath attempted suicide for the second time, and soon after found that her husband was having an affair. They separated in September of 1962, and it was after this separation that Sylvia wrote the majority of the poems on which her reputation now rests.   

Sylvia finally succumb to her depression on February 11, 1963. Her most famous work, Ariel, was published after her death increasing her notoriety. The world is still obsessed with her tragic story as well as her brilliantly vivid poetry.