I read the Colossus and thought I loved Sylvia Plath. Then I read Ariel and realized she kind of sucked both as a writer and as a person. Sorry she had depression (so do I), but I don't think that explains all the ways she was a somewhat odious person. She seemed to revel in drama and bitterness and negativity- which is not a requirement of being depressed, it's a choice. Her casual use of the N-word when there were better choices even at the time bothered me, among other things. I don't think she'd be popular today if she wasn't already revered.
I read the Colossus and thought I loved Sylvia Plath. Then I read Ariel and realized she kind of sucked both as a writer and as a person. Sorry she had depression (so do I), but I don't think that explains all the ways she was a somewhat odious person. She seemed to revel in drama and bitterness and negativity- which is not a requirement of being depressed, it's a choice. Her casual use of the N-word when there were better choices even at the time bothered me, among other things. I don't think she'd be popular today if she wasn't already revered.