# data[].attributes.body
Prevalence of Freudian Psychology

Plath has referenced the Electra complex multiple times in her writing. This idea that daughters feel competition with their mothers for a psychosexual relationship with their fathers comes from Freud. Freud at the time had a hold on psychology and his idea were more well acceptance than now. This isn't to say that Plath agreed with these ideas.

# data[].attributes.body
Mental Health Treatment

Psychology and mental health at this time was not as well understood as it is today. Shock therapy now seems extreme and barbaric, while during her time it was simply an attempt at treating a patient.

Education for Women

Considering the resources women lacked even back during the 50s for education, Plath's academic drive and achievements are even more impressive. Although, may have been necessary to gain the same grounding as her less educated male counterparts.

Stigma Surrounding Mental Health ( of women )

Confessional poetry may just be what we associate with poetry today. It's important to consider that during this time topics directly addressing issues like mental illness may have been considered taboo, or even shameful, especially for a woman.

# data[].attributes.body
Sylvia Plath's identity often centers around her unusual death/suicide: gassing herself in the oven (while making sure to leave out milk for her two children) after an almost year-long depressive episode. She died young at only 30 years old

There's often discussion about how her life, rather than her work, is treated as art to consume. Although, the point of her work was to directly exploit her own life experiences, which then brings up the lines between reality, interpretation, and art.

All in all, it's hard to doubt that the mythos surrounding Sylvia Plath would not exist without her tragic end or even tragic life.

As an author, she's unique in the way her identity as a woman, specifically a woman struggling with mental health, is featured in her writing honestly.

# data[].attributes.body
In 1956 Sylvia Plath married Ted Hughes. Their marriage was reputable for being intense and turbulent. Many of Plath's works follow shared experiences between the two.

Be it traveling, keeping bees, having children, miscarrying, or domestic abuse. Official letters between Plath and her therapist record her claiming Hughes beat her two days prior, and speculations about abuse were denied by Hughes up until his own death.

Hughes would go on to cheat on Plath with his own students before running off with one mistress, abandoning the family.

# data[].attributes.body
Plath attended Smith College in MA in 1950. During this time, despite her high academic drive and achievements, Plath was plagued by worsening mental health. In 1953, she had her first 'official' suicide attempt (she had previously self-harmed) by downing sleeping pills under her mother's porch. This attempt had followed sessions of electroconvulsive therapy and would be followed by it. During this time, this treatment was considered acceptable.

After somewhat of a recovery, Plath attended Newnham College in England on a Scholarship. This is where she would end up meeting her husband, at the time an unknown poet, Ted Hughes.

# data[].attributes.body
An example of her confessional poetry and overall writing style; "Daddy," being a reference to her deceased father.

# data[].attributes.body
Plath was intellectually and artistically gifted at a young age. She began keeping a journal around the age of eleven, three years after her father had passed. She also showed promise in visual arts, which would stay a passion of hers throughout her life.

# data[].attributes.body
Contributed to and innovated confessional poetry.

Confessional poetry is an autobiographical style that focuses on personal topics like trauma, life events, mental illness, and other personal topics.

# data[].attributes.body
Born: October 27, 1932, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA

Died: February 11, 1963, Primrose Hill, London, United Kingdom

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
The only collection of poetry by Sylvia Plath released before her death in 1963, published in 1960. 

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Plath's second collection of poetry released posthumously in 1965.  

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Boats in Rock Harbour, Cape Cod Photograph: Courtesy of Frieda Hughes/The Mayor Galler

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
A national newspaper article addressing Plath's disappearance 

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Finished in 1961 and published in 1963 under a pen name. It was not well recognized until after Plath's suicide.

# data[].attributes.headline
Plath's only novel; a complete semi autobiography. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Plath's only novel; a complete semi autobiography. 

# data[].attributes.body
This novel is a documentation of declining mental health as well as a reflection of Plath's own life experiences.