“Daddy” by Sylvia Plath (1965)

One of Plath’s most well-known poems, the poem was written in her prolific creative period shortly before her death and was published in Ariel posthumously. Some scholars argue that it seems to be one of Plath’s most confessional and autobiographical poems, seeming to address her relationship with her father. Others consider it an extended metaphor for a larger social issue, like the treatment of the Jewish people during the Holocaust or the treatment of women under patriarchy. These dueling interpretations are representative of the academic conversation around Plath’s work and her legacy.

“Lady Lazarus” by Sylvia Plath (1965)

Another of Plath’s most well-known poems, “Lady Lazarus” describes a speaker who is repeatedly resurrected against her will, as she wants to die to escape the suffering she experiences in her life. Scholars often interpret this poem as reflecting Plath’s own suicidal thoughts and her feminist critique of patriarchy.

“Wanting to Die” by Anne Sexton (1966)

Like Plath’s “Lady Lazarus,” this confessional poem expresses the speaker’s desire to die by suicide. Sexton, a contemporary and friend of Plath, often tackled similar topics in her deeply personal poetry.

“Epilogue” by Robert Lowell (1976)