Sylvia Plath Postpartum Depression

Words: 1060
Pages: 5

Motherhood is a supernatural power that God gives women, by providing them with the necessities in their body to create, grow, and care for another human life. Motherhood is a gift, it is knowing that you have inherited worthiness, goodness, and the strength to give life to another human being. It is a special bond that only you and your children can share. Motherhood, being a miracle, is not an easy task. Mothers give up their whole life to bring a baby into the world. Their bodies, energy, sleep, and time are no longer theirs. However, during motherhood some women experience the feelings of being trapped, isolated, and resentful of the responsibility they have acquired. These feelings can be linked to postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a clinical depression that arises after childbirth. However, Sylvia …show more content…
Plath being detached from the human world and role as a mother shows the same frustrations as she embarks on the adventure of a play date at a friend’s house in the poem ‘Lesbos.’ The idea of carrying on small talk and watching the children play is torture. ‘Lesbos’ by Plath refer to play dates as sitting in a prison cell by saying, “It is all Hollywood, windowless, The fluorescent light wincing on and off like a terrible migraine, Coy paper stripes for doors---” (Plath, 33). Plath continues on to make a reference to her child as “schizophrenic,” because she is lying on the floor kicking like an unstrung puppet, turning colors in a panic (33). These references show the frustration and powerlessness Plath is facing. Granted, her child seems to be in a struggle Plath makes no reference to helping or showing remorse for the child in distress. She continues on as if she is a stray kitten left to crap, puke, and cry