Talk:Sylvia Plath

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[edit] Gravestone defacement

I have just uploaded the image of Plath's grave after a recent visit. I will be the first to admit the quality is not brilliant. I noticed no defacement or evidence of attempts to deface the gravestone. I notice another Wikipedian has queried this below. I think this statement should be removed. Snecklifter 21:41, 26 February 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for the pic. I removed the sentence re vandalism to the gravestone. It was explained that they had replaced the original with some sort of tamper-proof material (hmmf), but I don't think the tid bit really added anything or was necessary. Thanks again for the image. --Evb-wiki 21:58, 26 February 2007 (UTC)
The new paragraph reads much better - thank you for also resizing the pic. Snecklifter 09:56, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
I have added the vandalism part again with a reference, albeit without reference to tamper-proof material. I agree that this is unnecessary. However I think that the fact that the stone has been vandalised shows the depth of feeling that some folks have about the Plath-Hughes relationship. I have also added info about the gravestone inscription. Snecklifter 10:54, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
Thanks for the cite. This article is in dire need of references. Maybe now that we have a Ref. Sec., we can start collecting some. Cheers. --Evb-wiki 16:16, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
I agree. Not that I'm obsessed with her death but have started to dig around for references and have added them to this section first. Snecklifter 13:30, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Cookies and milk

  • "Plath laid out cookies and milk for her children, sealed the door of the kitchen who slept above on the second floor."

This sentence in the last paragraph of the biographical section is not correct, but not sure how and what actually happened so would not be able to correct it. That last pararaph is in general a bit unclear and would need some more editing. -- srk 20:14, 17 January 2006

I have added this information back as there are plenty of sources to substantiate this. I have added one of them as a reference. Snecklifter 13:31, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Witchcraft?

While researching Sylvia Plath, I came across an interesting article about Plath and Hughes being involved in black magic. Is this fiction by chance, because I've never seen it anywhere else!

Her Journals make reference to having enjoyed reading tarot cards, however they do not indicate a "religious" or serious attitude to this. High Heels on Wet Pavement 21:21, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] This article-- re wiki standards

There are textual references for much of this information which really ought to be cited, as with much that is in this article... although there are a lot of correct details, these are not adequately referenced, and much of the article is not objective in tone, relying as it seems on online sources (some of them clearly contradictory), and people's memories of what they have read. The issue of her place of birth is a case in point. In addition, easily obtainable important info, such as the reordering v original order of the Ariel poems (printed in the back of the Faber edition of the collected poems) really should be included, and there are unattributed critical views for example in the Colossus section. It's great that so many people contributed, but the article is very inconsistent in quality. As a realtive newbie, I don't know how to flag up the issue of the need for a collaborative effort to improve this article-- rather than just tinkering--- but it is sorely needed. :) High Heels on Wet Pavement 21:45, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Trivia section

I removed the trivia section because there was too much of it and it was too trivial (IMO). If someone restores it please keep only the significant trivia (you know what I mean). RJFJR 22:44, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Who?

...and passed the project onto Freida and Nicholas...

onto whom? These names occur nowhere else in the article. (Could be Sylvia's children but their names aren't given) RJFJR 23:01, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

These are Sylvia's children. --Evb-wiki 23:33, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Spanish translation link

Sylvia Spanish Translation.Raul Racedo [1]

This link has two Plath poems in English w/a spanish trans of each. But first there are a couple of Anne Sexton poems (engl & span). Because of that, and since this is a English-language wiki, I don't think it belongs here. --Evb-wiki 01:16, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Hughes' second wife, Assia Wevill

The cited source for the statement says Assia Wevill was Hughes' second wife . See books.guardian.co.uk. Do not change the text without providing a verifiable source to support your edit. --Evb-wiki 17:45, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] not sure how to do this...

[The following was copied from my talk page. --Evb-wiki 19:24, 20 April 2007 (UTC)]

Sorry, I just copied all of this from my talk page, since I didn't know if you'd ever see it there. I don't know how all this works.

edit Sorry, I've never done this before. This is my first Wikipedia edit. There are many, many sources to cite for that change. One is here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,3857472,00.html

I can find more, if needed. Just about any biography of the life of Sylvia Plath will corroborate that Assia Wevill never married Ted Hughes. Indeed, the fact that he wouldn't marry her contributed to her despair. Marniestarr 18:14, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] another source article http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/biography/story/0,,1925625,00.html

[edit] how does this work So how does this work? How many people have to agree with the change before it is made? When will the change show up in the entry? How is the "consensus" thing supposed to work if my edit isn't allowed to stay up? How will people see it in order to agree or disagree with it? Marniestarr 18:34, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Marniestarr"

It certainly does appear that The Gaurdian contradicts itself. We've been through this edit at least once before. How about just repalcing "second wife" with "mistress"? That appears accurate. --Evb-wiki 19:24, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Otto's death

Can we rectify the following seemingly contradictory claims?

Otto Plath died on November 5, 1940, a week and a half after Plath's eighth birthday. He died of an embolism, following the amputation of a leg due to diabetes complications. Otto Plath ultimately died of diabetes mellitus; which at that time was a very treatable disease. Otto Plath however, did not receive proper treatment due to a wrongful personal diagnosis. Otto fell ill shortly after the death of a close friend due to lung cancer. Comparing the similarities between his friends symptoms and his own, Otto was convinced that he too was ill with lung cancer, and did not seek treatment until the illness had progressed too far.

What was the cause of death, an embolism or diabetes mellitus? --Evb-wiki 01:19, 3 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] "Claims by Hughes against Plath"

"This practice intensified following the suicide in 1969 of Assia Wevill, the woman he left Plath for, which led to claims of domestic violence by Hughes against Plath."

So are these claims made by Hughes, against Plath, or claims made by someone else, claims of domestic violence performed by Hughes, performed upon Plath? Only the latter really makes sense to me but I don't know the story and it seems like the sentence is ambiguous due to poor wording... If it is the latter, shouldn't we say who made the claims? Zaku kai 18:30, 18 May 2007 (UTC)

I agree that the wording is shoddy, but I take it to mean that claims were made by a third party (obviously, since Plath was dead at the time) regarding domestic violence performed by Hughes against Plath's person (meaning herself). Perhaps a source can be found to support this? And how would you suggest rewording it? María (habla conmigo) 18:42, 18 May 2007 (UTC)

I don't want to edit as I am not signed in, nor a regular contributor, but would suggest that re-wording it to read which led to claims that Hughes and Plath had an abusive relationship might help? Hippolyta

[edit] Pronunciation

Is it pronounced "Plath" or "Plat"? Willnz0 05:13, 23 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Sources and factual references

Please provide sources when adding factual content. Remember, information added to an article must be verifiable, and facts included must be attributed to a reliable source. Thanks. Happy editing. --Evb-wiki 13:50, 26 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Religion

I removed the following unsourced material:

Sylvia Plath was raised as a Unitarian, but changed her views on religion throughout her life. While at Smith College, Plath considering herself an 'agnostic humanist'. While in England with Ted Hughes, she developed an interest in Paganism, under Hughes' influence. She also attended an Anglican Church whilst in England, and although enjoying the music and the ceremony, was driven away from the Church by a sermon praising the hydrogen bomb as the "happy prospect of the Second Coming". In her last days, Plath wrote to her mother, telling her, "the Unitarian Church is my church. How I miss it! There is just no choice here." Whilst identifying herself as a Unitarian, Plath always demonstrated a skepticism towards the promises of religion in her poetry, and utilised Judeo-Christian imagery frequently.

Specific references should be provided to support this. --Evb-wiki 16:20, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] College Years

This section reads very disjointedly. It is in need of a cleanup, preferably starting with actually naming the college she attended at the top of the section. I would do it myself, but I literally dont have enough time. Jason McConnell-Leech 14:08, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Death

The second paragraph of this section doesn't read too well. It's somewhat difficult to understand how the evidence that's presented shows that she didn't want to succeed in committing suicide. The source seems to be slightly better, but the whole paragraph is already quite similar, except for a rearrangement of sentences. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.45.175.143 (talk) 04:33, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Silvia Plath.jpg

Image:Silvia Plath.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot 22:43, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Bipolar Disorder

I've never edited a wiki page before, but I would strongly urge that the first graf of the Sylvia Plath page be edited. The Bell Jar is not about Sylvia Plath's struggle with bipolar disorder - Plath was never formally diagnosed with bipolar disorder or any specific illness. As opposed to writing that The Bell Jar is about her struggle with depression, it would be best to describe the novel as a female rite-of-passage novel, a twin to Catcher in the Rye, starring Esther Greenwood, a bright, ambitious Smith College student who begins to experience a breakdown while interning for a fashion magazine in New York, based on Plath's experience interning at Mademoiselle and her subsequent breakdown and suicide attempt afterwards.

You can cite the foreword to the current paperback version of the novel by Frances McCullough. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Maryagale (talk • contribs) 18:14, 27 December 2007 (UTC)

  • Hi there. I agree with you. So, I took the liberty of using some of what you wrote here, and some from the The Bell Jar article. (FYI, to edit an article is not much different than writing here. Just click on the edit tab at the top of the article and edit away.) You should try it sometime. :-) BBhounder (talk) 21:49, 27 December 2007 (UTC)