'Lady Lazarus' by Sylvia Plath

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The Collected Poems1962I have done it again.
One year in every ten
I manage it----A sort of walking miracle, my skin
Bright as a Nazi lampshade,
My right footA paperweight,
My face a featureless, fine
Jew linen.Peel off the napkin
0 my enemy.
Do I terrify?----The nose, the eye pits, the full set of teeth?
The sour breath
Will vanish in a day.Soon, soon the flesh
The grave cave ate will be
At home on meAnd I a smiling woman.
I am only thirty.
And like the cat I have nine times to die.This is Number Three.
What a trash
To annihilate each decade.What a million filaments.
The peanut-crunching crowd
Shoves in to seeThem unwrap me hand and foot
The big strip tease.
Gentlemen, ladiesThese are my hands
My knees.
I may be skin and bone,Nevertheless, I am the same, identical woman.
The first time it happened I was ten.
It was an accident.The second time I meant
To last it out and not come back at all.
I rocked shutAs a seashell.
They had to call and call
And pick the worms off me like sticky pearls.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.It's easy enough to do it in a cell.
It's easy enough to do it and stay put.
It's the theatricalComeback in broad day
To the same place, the same face, the same brute
Amused shout:'A miracle!'
That knocks me out.
There is a chargeFor the eyeing of my scars, there is a charge
For the hearing of my heart----
It really goes.And there is a charge, a very large charge
For a word or a touch
Or a bit of bloodOr a piece of my hair or my clothes.
So, so, Herr Doktor.
So, Herr Enemy.I am your opus,
I am your valuable,
The pure gold babyThat melts to a shriek.
I turn and burn.
Do not think I underestimate your great concern.Ash, ash ---
You poke and stir.
Flesh, bone, there is nothing there----A cake of soap,
A wedding ring,
A gold filling.Herr God, Herr Lucifer
Beware
Beware.Out of the ash
I rise with my red hair
And I eat men like air.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Introduction

"Lady Lazarus" is one of the most striking poems written by Sylvia Plath, one of the most important figures of the confessional poetry movement. This work, first published in 1965, stands out for its exploration of themes such as death, identity, and power. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the symbolism and imagery used by Plath, as well as her use of language and style, to better understand the significance and impact of "Lady Lazarus."

Literary Analysis

Symbolism and Imagery

One of the most striking aspects of "Lady Lazarus" is the symbolism and imagery used to convey the poet's message. The title itself is a reference to the biblical story of Lazarus, who was brought back to life by Jesus after four days in the tomb. In this poem, Plath uses this metaphor to explore her own relationship with death and rebirth, as well as the power dynamics that come into play in this process.

Throughout the poem, Plath uses the image of the Holocaust, in which millions of Jews were killed in Nazi concentration camps, as a metaphor for her own struggles with mental illness and suicidal tendencies. She describes herself as a "walking miracle," a reference to the miraculous survival of some Holocaust victims, and compares herself to a "Jew" and a "Cat" that have "nine times to die." These images are incredibly powerful and disturbing, highlighting both the trauma of the Holocaust and the intense emotional pain that Plath experienced.

Another important image in the poem is that of the "peanut-crunching crowd," which appears several times throughout the work. This image represents the audience that watches Lady Lazarus perform her death-defying acts, and is therefore a symbol of the power dynamics at play in the poem. Plath suggests that the audience is complicit in her suffering, and that they are only interested in her pain as a form of entertainment.

Language and Style

Plath's use of language and style is also incredibly important to the impact of "Lady Lazarus." The poem is written in a confessional style, which means that it is intensely personal and emotional. Plath uses vivid and often graphic language to describe her experiences, and this has the effect of making the reader feel as though they are right there with her. For example, she describes her suicide attempts in graphic detail, saying that she has "eaten a bag of green apples" and "swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills."

At the same time, Plath's language is often highly symbolic and metaphorical, which gives the poem a deeper layer of meaning. For example, she describes herself as a "skinless icon," which is both an image of vulnerability and a reference to the religious iconography of the Catholic Church. Plath also uses repetition and alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and momentum in the poem, which adds to its emotional impact.

Themes

The themes of "Lady Lazarus" are complex and multi-layered, reflecting the depth of Plath's own experiences. At its core, the poem is about the struggle for power and control in the face of death and suffering. Plath presents herself as a survivor, someone who has overcome incredible pain and trauma to emerge stronger and more powerful. At the same time, she is aware of the power dynamics that exist between herself and her audience, and she uses this knowledge to her advantage.

Another important theme in the poem is that of identity. Plath is acutely aware of the ways in which her mental illness and suicidal tendencies have shaped her identity, and she explores this theme in depth throughout the poem. She also touches on the theme of gender, describing herself as a "female Lazarus" and suggesting that her experiences are specific to her gender.

Interpretation

Death and Rebirth

One of the most significant themes in "Lady Lazarus" is that of death and rebirth. Plath uses the metaphor of Lazarus, who was brought back to life by Jesus, to explore her own experiences of death and resurrection. She describes herself as a "walking miracle," someone who has survived incredible pain and trauma to emerge stronger and more powerful. She also suggests that her experiences with death have given her a kind of immunity, making her stronger and more resilient.

At the same time, Plath is acutely aware of the ways in which her experiences have changed her. She has become a kind of performance artist, someone who is willing to use her own pain as a source of entertainment for others. This raises important questions about the nature of power and control, and the ways in which we use our own experiences to shape our identities.

Trauma and Identity

Another important theme in "Lady Lazarus" is that of trauma and identity. Plath is acutely aware of the ways in which her experiences with mental illness and suicidal tendencies have shaped her identity, and she explores this theme in depth throughout the poem. She suggests that her experiences have made her a kind of outsider, someone who is different from the rest of society.

At the same time, Plath is also aware of the ways in which her experiences have given her a kind of power. She is able to use her own pain as a source of strength, and she is able to control her audience through her performances. This raises important questions about the nature of power and control, and the ways in which our experiences shape our identities.

The Audience and Power Dynamics

One of the most interesting aspects of "Lady Lazarus" is the way that Plath explores the power dynamics between herself and her audience. She suggests that her audience is complicit in her suffering, and that they are only interested in her pain as a form of entertainment. This raises important questions about the nature of power and control, and the ways in which we use our own experiences to shape our identities.

At the same time, Plath is also aware of the ways in which she is able to control her audience through her performances. She is able to use her own pain as a source of strength, and she is able to manipulate her audience into feeling a sense of awe and wonder. This suggests that there is a kind of symbiotic relationship between the performer and the audience, one that is based on power and control.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Lady Lazarus" is a powerful and deeply moving poem that explores themes of death, trauma, and power. Through her use of symbolism and imagery, as well as her confessional style, Plath is able to convey the intensity of her own experiences and the complex emotions that they inspire. This makes "Lady Lazarus" a truly remarkable work of poetry, one that continues to captivate readers more than 50 years after it was first published.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Lady Lazarus: An Analysis of Sylvia Plath's Classic Poem

Sylvia Plath's poem "Lady Lazarus" is a haunting and powerful work that explores themes of death, rebirth, and the struggle for control over one's own life. Written in 1962, just a few months before Plath's own suicide, the poem is a deeply personal and emotional reflection on the author's own struggles with mental illness and the pressures of society.

The poem is structured in three parts, each of which builds on the themes and imagery of the previous section. In the first section, the speaker introduces herself as "Lady Lazarus," a reference to the biblical figure who was raised from the dead by Jesus. The speaker describes herself as a "walking miracle" who has survived multiple suicide attempts and is now "dying" for the entertainment of a crowd of onlookers.

The second section of the poem is more introspective, as the speaker reflects on her own experiences of death and rebirth. She describes herself as a "peanut-crunching crowd" that has witnessed her own death and resurrection multiple times, and she compares herself to a "cat" with nine lives. The imagery of the cat is particularly powerful, as it suggests both resilience and vulnerability, as well as a sense of playfulness and curiosity.

The third and final section of the poem is perhaps the most intense and emotionally charged. The speaker declares that she is "the victim and the butcher" and that she has "eaten men like air." This violent and disturbing imagery suggests a sense of power and control over the men in her life, as well as a sense of anger and frustration at the way she has been treated by them.

Throughout the poem, Plath uses a range of powerful and evocative imagery to convey the themes of death, rebirth, and control. The image of the "peanut-crunching crowd" in the second section, for example, suggests a sense of voyeurism and detachment, as if the speaker's struggles with mental illness are nothing more than a spectacle for others to enjoy. Similarly, the image of the "cat" in the same section suggests a sense of playfulness and curiosity, but also a sense of vulnerability and fragility.

Perhaps the most striking image in the poem, however, is the repeated reference to the speaker's own body. Throughout the poem, the speaker describes herself in graphic and often disturbing terms, as if her own body is both a source of fascination and horror. In the first section, for example, she describes herself as a "peepshow" and a "freak," while in the third section she declares that she has "peeled off the napkin" of her own face and "eaten" her own body.

This focus on the body is particularly significant in the context of Plath's own life and work. Throughout her career, Plath was known for her intense and often disturbing depictions of the body, and her own struggles with mental illness and suicide are well-documented. In "Lady Lazarus," she uses the body as a metaphor for the struggle for control over one's own life, as well as a symbol of the violence and pain that can result from that struggle.

In conclusion, "Lady Lazarus" is a powerful and deeply personal work that explores themes of death, rebirth, and the struggle for control over one's own life. Through its use of vivid and evocative imagery, the poem conveys a sense of both resilience and vulnerability, as well as a sense of anger and frustration at the way society treats those who struggle with mental illness. As a reflection of Plath's own struggles and experiences, the poem is a testament to the power of art to express and explore the most profound and difficult aspects of the human experience.

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