Plath Hughes Flashcards
Society
Both poets speak of not fitting into society.
Jaguar Tulips
Jeannine Dobbs - “She wants to reject the tulips as she wants to reject the trappings of her life and the family she has”
Plath and Hughes convey the relentlessness of society and the working week.
‘Insomniac’ ‘Night shift’
‘When men go to the summit’
Plath and Hughes feel forced to please society.
Resolve
“Plath presents dangers of the manmade world.”
Famous poet
Hughes feels trapped by creative process but for Plath it is her freedom from societies’ labels as a woman - winter trees ecofeminism
Human nature
It is in human nature to be in conflict with what they cannot control
Humans are in conflict with other humans.
Wind- Hughes conveys his struggle with being Plath’s husband, as she is depressed and unmanageable. An intimate and direct case of humans vs humans. One on one struggle through a domestic relationship. Similarly shown in Stones, Plath in direct individual conflict with those who wish to change her, lack of acceptance.
Night shift - Plath broadens this conflict to be society vs society. Humans have created these factories, and have imposed this working life upon themselves. Similarly shown in When men go to the summit, forced into 5 day working week.
“Plath presents dangers of the manmade world.”
Humans are in conflict with nature
Jaguar / Bull Moses. - humans try to control nature
Finsterere / Tulips - Nature threatens humanity
‘Plath explores the intrinsic link between nature and death’
Humans seek to gain control of their own identity
Finisterre
Plath chose to visit somewhere known as the end of the world, where people go to find themselves. ‘Finsterer was viewed as the end of the known world’ ‘people end up staying longer than intended’
Wodwo
Creative roles
Plath and Hughes view their roles as creators very differently
Plath and Hughes feel forced to please society.
Resolve “Plath presents dangers of the manmade world.”
Famous poet
Hughes feels society has trapped him within the creative process (famous poet), Plath feels she is forced out of the creative process into her role as a woman
The poets express their differing control over their creative processes.
Words
The thought fox
Life Purpose
Both writers convey struggle in their journey to discover life’s purpose
Society decides people’s purpose in life
Resolve “Plath presents dangers of the manmade world.”
Famous poet
Hughes feels trapped by creative process but for Plath it is her freedom from societies’ labels as a woman.
Hughes feels society has trapped him within the creative process (famous poet), Plath feels she is forced out of the creative process into her role as a woman
Humans seek to find their purpose in life
Finisterre
Plath chose to visit somewhere known as the end of the world, where people go to find themselves. ‘Finsterer was viewed as the end of the known world’ ‘people end up staying longer than intended’
Wodwo
