Research Paper On Sylvia Plath

“Let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences” -Sylvia Plath. Much of Plath’s literature is devoted to symbolism and references to the people around her. In her compilation of bee poems, written just before her suicidal death, Plath compared much of her personal influences to the life and hardships of bees, especially queen bees. It may seem erratic of Plath to dedicate five poems to an insect, given the subjects of her previous literature. However, these poems relate to herself and stem from various aspects of her life.The most distinct inspirations include her father, husband, occupation, and interest in history and these are each evident in a different poem.(Modern)

(Analyzing) In the beginning of their relationship, the two lived happily and in a healthy manner. She depicts the poem in the same order that the marriage went. First, easy and carefree and then vengeful and imperfect. The beginning stanzas states, “with white pink flowers with excessive love, I enameled it.” Plath is nostalgic for the past when her husband was generous and sweet. (Analyzing) As the poem endures, the tone becomes more dreadful. In “Stings,” Plath asks, “Will they hate me, these women who only scurry, whose news is the open cherry, the open clover?” Her dislike of women who submit to men and end up losing their individuality is made known. Plath grows resentful toward the duties that she is seemingly entitled to fulfill as a housewife and she again ties this back to the concept of bees. (Analyzing) This poem takes the role of a feminist trying to empower women and lead them away from losing their

Once again, this poem portrays herself, women, and society while still maintaining the comparison to bees. (Modern) One day Plath attended a local meeting where she became a beekeeper for the day. During this, she learned the ins and outs of the job and found ways to incorporate her findings into her poem. (Modern) She says, “They will not smell, my fear, my fear, my fear.” Along with the bees, Plath feels overtaken and vulnerable because she comes face to face with her worst fears that stem from detrimental events that took place in her childhood. She relates to the queen bee when she states, “Dream of a duel they will win inevitably” and “sealing off her brood cells, her honey, and quietly humming.” Plath is showing her insecurity of being replaced, as does the queen bee who feels like the younger bees are taking over.(Modern) Later in the poem, Plath portrays women in society by comparing them to a magician's assistant, who are stereotyped as just a pretty face and are the best part of the show. Through this, Plath again is trying to stress the importance of not conforming to society. Her main inspiration for this poem comes from the meeting she attended which brought forth many repressed memories of her father and led her to construct a poem that describes feelings of loss and other societal issues.