Lady Lazarus Analysis and Interpretation

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Sylvia Plath’s poem Lady Lazarus tells a haunting tale of attempted suicide and self empowerment. “Poem Analysis: Lady Lazarus” written by Axelle Black breaks the poem down stanza by stanza and individually interprets them. She draws upon Plath’s own life as well as textual evidence within the poem to present her interpretation in a clear, logical manner. Through her analysis, Black provides deeper understanding and appreciation of the poem in its entirety. One insight brought forth by Black’s analysis is the concept of Plath being stuck in the rut of societal expectations. She interprets the phrase “My right foot/ A paperweight” as alluding to the idea that Plath “cannot escape these archetypes that live in her given that she feels as if she were nailed to the ground, too heavy to move or act against these.” This notion of being observed and judged by society crops up throughout the poem. Plath first mentions society in stanza four when she proclaims “Peel off the napkin/ O my enemy/ Do I terrify?” Society once again surfaces in stanza nine when Plath states “The peanut-crunching ...

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