LOVE IT!

The references to the Holocaust were apparent in Sylvia Plath’s writing. There was no way to avoid it. As someone who has always been intrigued by the Holocaust, I LOVED Plath. “Daddy” was my favorite of them all. I was glad that we discussed this one during class to hear what everyone thought about it.

My favorite line of the poem was when the speaker said her dad had died before she had the change to kill him off. I took this as meaning not literally kill him, but find closure with him. The speaker had this resentment for her father which appeared rightfully so. I felt as if she really wanted to let go of her past and get this closure with her dad (not necessarily forgiving and forgetting type deal). Death is a tricky thing. There is never really a right time for someone to die, but there is clearly a wrong time. For the speaker, this was the wrong time. Her father had made her feel trapped and scared. This is something no child should ever feel from his or her parent. I can’t even imagine what she went through as a child to feel the way she does.

I also liked the comparison of the husband. He didn’t appear to be much different from the dad and was even referred to as a vampire. I immediately imagined someone sucking the life out of her. I assume that is what the father did as well. I think everyone can relate to that feeling even if it doesn’t stem from an actual person. I know for me, there are times when I have felt school or work sucking the life out of me. Exhaustion builds and frustration grows. This is how I think the speaker must have been feeling but on a much larger scale.

All I can really say is that I loved Sylvia Plath and want to read more!