Patriarchy and Oppression in Sylvia Plath’s Lady Lazarus

Authors

  • Hasan H. Karo University of Zakho

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26436/hjuoz.2024.12.1.1254

Keywords:

Patriarchy, Oppression, Women, Hatred, Holocaust, Sylvia Plath

Abstract

This paper discusses Sylvia Plath’s feelings towards her patriarchal society. In her poem, Lady Lazarus, she expresses her contempt for the mistreatment she receives from the close male members of her family, her father, and husband. Through the poetic lines in the poem, she illustrates the world that women live within a patriarchal society. This paper justifies her hatred of men that Plath conveys in her poem. Her poetic lines in Lady Lazarus are analyzed to show her inner feelings. The paper also explains Plath’s attitude against this oppression that she suffers from. It explains how Plath employs  an example of oppression to blame patriarchy for their actions.       

References

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Cixous, H. (1975). The Laugh of the Medusa. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 1 (4), pp.875-893. Trans. by Cohen, K. and Cohen, P. (1976).

Hughes, T. (1982). The Collected Poems: Sylvia Plath. New York: Harper and Row.

Irigaray, L. (1985). Speculum of the Other Woman. Trans. by Gillian C. Gill. New York: Cornell University Press.

Masal, N. (2006). Sylvia Plath: A Critical Study. PhD Thesis: Shivaji University.

Qazzaz, E. J. (2017). Acts of Resistance in Sylvia Plath’s “Daddy,” “Lady Lazarus,” and “Ariel”: A Journey from Oppression to Emancipation. International Journal of Humanities and Cultural Studies (IJHCD), 4 (1). pp.209-217.

Subagyo, K. (2009). Confronted Patriarchy in Sylvia Plath’s Poems. TEFLIN Journal. 20 (1), pp.83-103.

Wagner-Martin, L. (2011). Sylvia Plath. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

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Published

2024-03-13

How to Cite

Karo, H. H. (2024). Patriarchy and Oppression in Sylvia Plath’s Lady Lazarus . Humanities Journal of University of Zakho, 12(1), 93–95. https://doi.org/10.26436/hjuoz.2024.12.1.1254

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2024): 1, Jan - 30, Mar

Section

Humanities Journal of University of Zakho

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Hasan H. Karo

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