Sylvia Plaths Preoccupation With Death [Edge & Lady Lazarus]

“Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives” A.Sachs

Explore the preoccupation with death in “Edge” and “Lady Lazarus”.

Death is very much a universal theme and one present in numerous poems written by Sylvia Plath. The subject of death, and consequently Plath’s work, can therefore relate to everyone as it is relevant to all humanity, nobody is exempt. It can be seen that Plath had a preoccupation with death, it has been said that she was attracted to it like “moths to an electric light bulb” . Indeed, Plath attempted suicide on several occasions throughout her life, finally succumbing to her “passionate flirtation” with death in February 1963. Both “Edge” and “Lady Lazarus” were written close to the end of her life and they both explore the idea of death, yet do so from different perspectives.

The title “Edge” could imply a knife edge, it could also suggest that an end is near and a journey is being completed or perhaps symbolise an edge closer to death. Conversely, “Lady Lazarus” connotes restoration to life, due to the biblical story of Lazarus, who Jesus resurrected from the dead. The headings of these two poems are contrasted, “Edge” suggesting an end to life, and “Lady Lazarus” indicating a new beginning. Both titles however, imply that death is a focal point of the poem.

The mood in “Edge” is calm, “Her dead/ Body wears the smile of accomplishment”, this signifies a sense of fulfilment and completion, and a readiness for death as a result. The enjambment used here makes the poem flow and helps create the restful tone. The atmosphere is one of peacefulness, “the sweet, deep throats of the night flower” implying death is serene and tranquil, thus creating a positive depiction of death. The ambience is also rather melancholy and pathos is used to appeal to the audiences emotions, here evoking a sense of pity and sadness - “One at each little/ Pitcher of milk, now empty/ She has folded/ Them back into her body as petals”.

“Lady Lazarus” on the other hand trivialises and mocks the idea of death, “Do I terrify?”, “What a trash”. The speaker does not take death seriously although it is a major event for most people. Furthermore, the narrator is not portrayed as the victim, “I eat men like air”, and the mood within this poem is not one of pity, suggesting the speaker is powerful and strong. The narrator is not afraid of death, and does not demand sympathy, unlike in “Edge”.

In “Edge” the image of death created is classical and romanticised, “The woman is perfected”, Plath is perhaps saying that death is a means of achieving a particular image of вЂ?the perfect woman’. Also, Plath describes the body as “the illusion of a Greek necessity”. As she writes confessional poetry, it can be seen that Plath is comparing herself to a вЂ?great’ mythological figure, therefore creating immortality through her writing. This romantic, aesthetical image of a goddess that Plath is likening herself to could possibly be a faÐ"§ade, this hyperbola disguising her insecurities.

It is clear that the subject in “Edge” is nearing the end of a journey, as the title proposes. “We have come so far, it is over”. She has вЂ?bare feet’ implying that the subject is vulnerable and in need of protection. The end of a journey signifies achievement and fulfilment of goals, suggesting that death is not a tragedy and is in this case positive. Moreover, Plath metaphorically describes вЂ?each little dead child’ as вЂ?coiled…white serpent[s]”. It is evident from her other poetry, namely “Tulips” and “Cut”, that the colour white signifies numbness and most importantly, death to Plath, which she longs for. “Little pitcher[s] of milk” are left out for the children in the poem, this is significant because when Plath committed suicide in 1963, she left milk for her own children. This suggests a planning of events. In real-life, Plath saved her children whereas in the poem; the children were “dead”. Plath is exploring extreme feelings here, and has evidently thought much about attempting suicide. As Plath writes confessional poetry, it could be said that in “Edge”, she is predicting her own death, of which she is not afraid. She embraces death and the numbness it brings.

In “Lady Lazarus” Plath does not take death as seriously, “I have done it again/ One year in every ten…A sort of walking miracle”. Here, like in “Edge”, Plath is comparing herself to a вЂ?great’ figure; taking into consideration she writes confessional