Sylvia Plath was a talented, complex one-of-a-kind poet whose life was tragically cut short at the age of 30 by suicide. Her work, which explored themes of depression, identity and gender, continues to draw readers long after her death.
My own favourite collection of all time by any poet is Plath’s seminal work, Ariel. It’s impossible for anyone to know for certain what Plath would have gone on to do with her life had she not ended it, but educated guesses can be made based on her interests, abilities, known life experiences and ambitions.
It’s certain, I believe, that Plath would have continued to write. She was prolific with words throughout her life, publishing poems, essays, and a novel (The Bell Jar). It’s possible she might have gone on to write more novels; she expressed an interest in doing so. Given the content of the novel she did write and her personal struggles, plus the fact that she studied psychology in college and was interested in the field, she may well have explored writing stories involving themes of mental health and engagement with psychotherapeutic.
Plath was interested in teaching. It’s possible she might have pursued a career as a professor. She taught creative writing at Smith College before her death and was known to be a talented and inspiring teacher who could have continued to teach at college level or pursued a career as a school English teacher.
Another plausible idea is that Plath would have become involved in the feminist movement, which was gaining momentum in the 1960s. Plath’s writing often explored the experiences of women and their fight for equality, so it’s possible she would have become a vocal advocate for women’s rights. She may have become involved in organising women’s groups or writing about feminist issues.
Plath struggled with mental illness throughout her life, making it at least more likely than not she would have continued to seek treatment and work the way she did in order to manage her depression and anxiety. It’s not beyond the realms of plausibility to think she could have become an advocate for mental health awareness and worked to reduce the stigma around mental illness.
Plath’s legacy primarily as a poet – her substantial body of work – continues to motivate and inspire new readers to this day, and her impact on literature and culture will be felt for generations to come.
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