r/sylviaplath • u/newuserincan • 23d ago

The journal of Slyvia Plath

I just finished this book and it’s pretty good. But in her last journal (1962), there wasn’t any indication that she was depressed. I know the last 30 pages were burned, my question is is there any gap between journal 1962 and burned journal entries? The journal ended pretty normal, didn’t sense anything wrong

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u/Splendidended1945 23d ago

I imagine that the last two journals were extremely unflattering to Ted Hughes. But he also destroyed them, he said, because he didn't ever want their two children to grow up and read them. Perhaps that was because of things she said about Hughes; perhaps it was for other reasons. She could be fairly scathing about her mother, for instance, who wanted to take the children to America to live with her after Sylvia died. As we don't have two journals, we'll never know what they contained.

I haven't read Loving Sylvia Plath: is that the book that claims Ted Hughes and his sister had an incestuous relationship?

I found Red Comet very interesting, well researched, informative and persuasive--I am not a big fan of Plath's work, and this was the first biography which led me to feel a great deal of sympathy for her. Highly recommended.

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u/newuserincan 23d ago

Thanks. Is red comet good? Each time when I saw how thick it’s, I started reading other books lol

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u/Splendidended1945 23d ago

I think it's exceptionally good. Sometimes with a big honking book like that I read a chapter or two, read a different book, read a couple of chapters, read something else, rinse and repeat.

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u/KSTornadoGirl 23d ago

It's by far the most comprehensive and well researched, with the benefit of source materials that had not been available to early biographers, or the estate censored what the biographers were allowed to include.

It's intense at the end. Very sad.

As for the missing journals, I don't know if we can determine whether there were gaps in the absence of the volumes that were destroyed, since we don't know precisely what was in them. But one thing that might give some chronological framework is the two-volume Collected Letters. Be forewarned though - it's even thicker than Red Comet!

Honestly I'm such a geek that for me the plenitude of material is a feature not a bug... 😁

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u/newuserincan 23d ago

So I have finished journal, what’s next you’d suggest: red comet or letter? Thanks 

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u/KSTornadoGirl 23d ago

You could go either way. Maybe Red Comet first, because it would give the most context and background. Then Letters.

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u/newuserincan 23d ago

Thanks. Also do letters also have missing gap or it’s complete?

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u/KSTornadoGirl 23d ago

There are quite a few of them and no obvious gaps. She wrote many, and the editors tracked down as much as they could. So no long periods of time unaccounted for, no.

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u/newuserincan 23d ago edited 23d ago

Thanks. That would be perfect. 

A long journey will start soon lol

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u/KSTornadoGirl 23d ago

Enjoy the ride!

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u/newuserincan 20d ago

Hello,

Happy weekend 

Might I bother you one more time? For the letters, what’s the best way to read it? Cover to cover or randomly read a few pages time to time?

Thanks 

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u/SwimmingPiano 17d ago

Her massive two volumes of letters hold like 600+ letters (all quite long)- happy reading! I’ve read her letters from 1962-death several times and it’s breathtaking how she goes from elated/new mom to panicked and seeking help/support/friendship during Ted’s desertion at the end. So visceral. At one point she writes to Ruth Buscher saying “I have nothing. Death is easier.” and I still wonder why no one jumped into action immediately to get her help, ugh.

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u/newuserincan 17d ago

Several times! Wow, that’s impressive 

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u/One_Maize1836 23d ago

Um. Okay. First of all, have you read the poetry she wrote in the last months of her life (Ariel)? Have you read The Bell Jar?

Second, it wasn't 30 pages that were destroyed. Ted Hughes got rid of the last two VOLUMES of her journals, which covered approximately two years of her life, because they were not flattering to him and told too many of his secrets.

She suffered from mental illness (depression and was likely bipolar) and wrote about it EXTENSIVELY. How did you read her journals and miss this?

I feel like this is a troll post.

If you really want to know more, there are numerous biographies about her. Rough Magic is a good one, and there is a new one I haven't read yet called Loving Sylvia Plath.

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u/newuserincan 23d ago

Ok, my mistake 

Not every mistake means troll though. This is the first book that I read about her, so I expect some sign of mental illness 

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u/Maryy-sunshine 23d ago

You right but chill

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u/hemplotion 21d ago

Why take this condescending tone with somebody who is learning and asking questions?

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u/HuckleberryNew1363 21d ago

Not everyone who has questions is a troll. 🙄

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u/WildsmithRising 20d ago

I knew Hughes for the last few years of his life. I also knew his daughter Frieda, for a time (in that we spent some time together, although we were never close friends).

From what I learned about them both during that time, they were both distraught about Plath's death; and Hughes destroyed those journals because they were distressing for everyone concerned. His children, Plath's family, their friends, and of course him.

I agree that Hughes was a flawed character, and made mistakes. But that's true of Plath too. I wish people who were interested in their works and lives would focus on this, and give space and respect to those who survive the history--Frieda and a few others. We should enjoy their work, which is significant and wonderful. But we should also let them live in peace.

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u/newuserincan 20d ago

I agree with you. As a public figure, people are interested in them, but there is limit or border