The Life of Sylvia Plath: Exploring The Bell Jar's Author
05.22.2023 // By Tome Tailor
Sylvia Plath, a seminal figure in 20th-century literature, left a profound impact on the world with her powerful poetry and prose. Plath’s work delved into the depths of her inner struggles, painting an intimate portrait of a tormented soul. As the author of The Bell Jar, a semi-autobiographical novel, Sylvia Plath vividly illustrates the harrowing impact of mental illness on one’s life. This cluster blog post takes a deep dive into the life of Sylvia Plath, her accomplishments, and how her tumultuous life informed the creation of her masterpiece, The Bell Jar.
Early Life and Education
Born on October 27, 1932, in Boston, Massachusetts, Sylvia Plath was the first child of Otto and Aurelia Plath. Otto, a German immigrant, taught at Boston University as a biology professor and specialized in the study of bees. Aurelia, on the other hand, was a high school teacher of English and German. When Plath was just eight years old, her father passed away from complications due to untreated diabetes. This tragic event greatly influenced her life and work, evident in her poem “Daddy,” which she would write much later.
In spite of the grief she faced, Plath excelled academically and showed an early interest in writing. She published her first poem at the young age of eight in the Boston Herald and continued to write and publish while at Bradford Senior High School. After earning a scholarship, Plath attended Smith College, a prestigious all-women’s school in Northampton, Massachusetts. While at Smith, she was awarded the Mademoiselle magazine’s college board contest in 1952, which secured her a coveted internship at the magazine during the summer of 1953.
The Beginnings of The Bell Jar
During her internship at Mademoiselle magazine in New York City, Plath experienced a series of tumultuous events and emotional upheavals, laying the foundation for her semi-autobiographical work, The Bell Jar. Plath struggled with the demands of her prestigious internship, an unfulfilled romantic life, and a gnawing sense of inadequacy. The following month, after returning to her mother’s home, Plath attempted suicide by taking a large dose of sleeping pills. This attempt proved unsuccessful and consequently led her to treatment that included Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT).
These experiences found their way into the narrative of Esther Greenwood, the protagonist of The Bell Jar. Like Plath, Esther struggles with a prestigious internship, unfulfilling relationships, and the pressures of society to conform to a rigid mold. The heart-wrenching journey of Esther Greenwood is, in many ways, the journey of Sylvia Plath herself.
Life with Ted Hughes and Continued Struggles
In 1955, Plath received a Fulbright scholarship to study at Cambridge University, England. There she met the English poet Ted Hughes, whom she married in 1956. Their tumultuous relationship would prove to have a substantial impact on Plath’s life and work. Together, they had two children, Freida and Nicholas. While in England, Plath published her first poetry collection, The Colossus, in 1960. The couple returned to the United States for a short period, where Plath taught at Smith College. In 1961, they moved back to England.
Though their marriage was filled with passion and creativity, it was also rife with infidelity on the part of Hughes. In September 1962, Plath discovered his affair and subsequently asked him to leave their home. The remaining months of her life were exceedingly productive, as she wrote the poems that would be published posthumously as Ariel. Also during this time, Plath published The Bell Jar under the pseudonym “Victoria Lucas.”
Tragic End and Everlasting Impact
On February 11, 1963, Sylvia Plath took her own life at the age of thirty. Her death sent shockwaves through the literary world and cemented her status as a symbol of female suffering in a patriarchal society. In the years following her death, Plath’s work earned great acclaim, garnering a host of honors, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1982.
Sylvia Plath’s life and work continue to evoke a sense of both profound sadness and profound respect. Her vivid portrayal of anguish and depression in The Bell Jar has resonated with generations of readers and placed her in the pantheon of the most influential writers of the 20th century.
If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to explore the life and work of Sylvia Plath by reading or listening to The Bell Jar. Be prepared to delve into a deeply affecting narrative that will challenge and inspire you. To further explore Sylvia Plath’s poetry, consider reading Ariel or The Colossus, both of which provide insight into the mind of this extraordinary writer.