Sylvia Plath - Poetry

In her poetry, Sylvia Plath struggles with questions of life and death, similar to our title character in Hamlet. Poetry was one way Plath wrestled with her depression and loneliness, and tried to make sense out of experience. Unfortunately, however, in the end poetry was not enough to save her. As we read Plath's poetry, we need also remember the ways poetry can help "save your life." There are countless personal testimonies out there about how poetry and literature helped people through some of their darkest times, along with therapy, medication, faith, support from other people, and the like.

There is always hope, and poetry can remind us of this.

National Portrait Gallery collection of Plath photos