With reference to the poems you have read, trace the development of Sylvia Plath's persona from a docile, submissive woman into a fury raging for revenge. (MEG 102) (SYLVIA PLATH AND CONFESSIONAL POETRY)

Sylvia Plath's poetry often reflects the development of her persona from a docile, submissive woman to a figure consumed by rage and a desire for revenge. This transformation is particularly evident in her later poems, which explore the themes of power, control, and the struggle for self-determination.

In early poems such as "Morning Song" and "Child," Plath portrays herself as a vulnerable and dependent figure, defined by her relationships with others. These poems suggest a sense of longing for connection and security, but also a recognition of the limitations and constraints of her role as a wife and mother.

As Plath's poetry develops, however, her persona becomes more assertive and self-possessed. In "Lady Lazarus," for example, she presents herself as a survivor, rising up from the ashes of her own destruction. The poem is filled with images of violence and aggression, suggesting a sense of anger and defiance in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Similarly, in "Daddy," Plath confronts the memory of her father and the pain he inflicted on her, using powerful and sometimes disturbing imagery to express her anger and frustration. The poem culminates in a powerful assertion of selfhood, as Plath declares, "I am through," and rejects the idea that she is defined by her relationship with her father.

In later poems such as "Ariel" and "The Applicant," Plath's persona becomes even more ferocious and defiant, challenging the norms and expectations of society and asserting her own power and control. These poems suggest a growing sense of self-determination and a refusal to be defined or limited by the roles and identities imposed on her by others.

Overall, the development of Plath's persona in her poetry reflects her own struggles with identity, power, and control, and her desire to break free from the constraints and limitations that society placed on her as a woman.