Sylvia Plath didn't glamorize mental illness, she wrote about her experiences beautifully. There's a difference between glamorizing something and writing about an issue poetically.

Even if she is poetry for just teenage girls, why do we discredit things liked by teenage girls? They are people.... and a MASSIVE demographic. I hate that things are so often discredited as soon they become popular among teenage girls.

My dad says he doesn't like that I read Sylvia Plath, since I've also dealt with depression, self-injury, and suicide attempts. But her poetry doesn't promote those activities; it simply explores them. Having my same morbid feelings and thought processes thrown back at me by Plath's work is one of the most healing processes I've experienced.

I may get shit for this, but I feel like John Green is the patron saint of sad teenage girls.

Some additional info on Plath's posthumous reception and her struggle with male oppression in her work: the original manuscript for Ariel was completed and ready for publication before she died, and Plath left it with the intent that it should be published as she had formed it. However, it was discovered by her ex-husband, who decided to edit it, rearrange it, and remove poems that cast him in a bad light (their marriage was far from a happy one, even before his affairs). The way it was rearranged also changed the tone of the whole book from one of tentative hope for life at the end to one that seemed to confirm the hopelessness that drove her to suicide. THAT is the version of Ariel that almost everyone knew for years after her death, and the one that is still found most often in libraries and schools today. It's only in recent years that the original version of Ariel has come into print, and the difference between the two is really amazing. Even in death, Plath struggled to escape the control of men in her life who would censor her words and het work. I'm not saying this as hate on men, but considering the running theme of oppression and struggle for autonomy in her poetry, I think this is an important aspect of the culture that surrounded her, even after death, and it should be acknowledged.

As a teenage girl, I fall into the stereotype of loving Sylvia Plath's poetry.

As a young adult who struggles with depression, I have a fondness for Sylvia's work. To dismiss her simply because you've never experienced the crippling debilitation depression causes, is ignorant, insulting and lazy. Judge her as an "emo of her generation" or however you like, but she was honest, obviously in pain, yet she released that torment into striking words that have resonated with millions of people for over fifty years. Not an easy thing to do when you feel dead inside. So, critics, what have you done lately?

Dear John Green, please give us more of Crash Course Literature. Best wishes, every Crash Course Literature viewer ever

I did my Senior Thesis on Plath & was delighted to see Crash Course's excellent video on her work. It is dismaying that many write-off Plath as an emo, suicide poet when her work is, in actuality, very complex, rife with symbolism. Much of this misconception is due to Ted Hughes' reordering of the poems in Plath's last book, Ariel. He omits poems, such as "Purdah" which ends on a note of female empowerment (Clytemnestra slaying Agamemnon), and adds, as the penultimate poem, "Edge", which begins "The woman is perfected/Her dead//Body wears the smile of accomplishment." Plath's original ordering would have ended with her cycle of bee poems, culminating in "Wintering" in which the dormant bees re-emerge from their hive after winter, "The bees are flying. They taste the Spring." Plath was a poet of rebirth, not death. That's where she's misunderstood. Note the phoenix symbolism Green quotes from "Lady Lazarus", "Out of the ash/I rise with my red hair/And I eat men like air." Rebirth. Empowerment.

The "I am enormous" is probably not a feminist statement (at least not only). Sylvia Plath was Bipolar. She wasn't allowing herself to become enormous with happiness, she was being over taken by it. A feeling of being enormous is one of the most tell tale signs of a Bipolar Manic episode. Her writing of feeling stupidly happy is also in line with a Manic episode. While in a Mania many will often feel so happy that you experience yourself as indestructable and because of that you - to use her own word - act stupidly. Sylvia Plaths Bipolar disorder is the reason for her writing so much and being so active so close to her suicide. As John says she saw herself as living in two extremes, periods of extreme highs and of extreme lows. This is how Bipolar works. You have Manic episodes and Depressive episodes and a kind if lull or stable period inbetween where you flatten out while 'switching' between the episodes (The length and intensity of the stages vary). Sylvia Plath was most likely triggerd by her separation and went into a Manic episode. For people with Bipolar it is when coming down from a Manic episode and entering a Depressive one, or when starting to come up from a depressive episode that you are most likely to attempt or commit suicide. Sylvia was on the way down from a Manic episode and the reality of her situation very likely only made the depression she was entering worse. It is very likely that that is the reason for her tragic and preventable suicide. So while it is very possible and not wrong to read the "enormous" and "stupidly happy" as an act of social rebellion against female oppression, I dont think it is - at least not fully. It os more likely her explanation of the feeling you have while being Manic with happiness due to her Bipolar depression.

LET'S TRY TO READ SOME POEMS BEFORE CONVINCING EVERYONE ABOUT HOW SMART WE ARE HA the epidemic

"See you next week" Two years later and I'm still waiting. WHERE ARE YOU?!

John green: “isn’t she like know mainly by young emo girls?” Also John green: literally is mainly read by young girls

As a fairly enthusiastic Plath fangirl, I was equal parts excited and wary when I clicked on this--wary because so many people reduce her to just a depressive, tragic poet. It's frustrating to see such a brilliant and impassioned writer so often dismissed because of that. I'd have to say my favorite piece of hers is "The Rabbit Catcher," which is utterly heartbreaking and powerful in the context of her life. "And we, too, had a relationship-- Tight wires between us, Pegs too deep to uproot, and a mind like a ring Sliding shut on some quick thing, The constriction killing me also."

I want to give Plath a hug...

Vincent Van Gogh made his best work when he was in moments of recovery, people need to stop twisting the “depressed genius artist” stereotype in general. Artists create beautiful things *in spite* of mental illness, not because of it.

Regarding the ups and downs, it is a common theory and Sylvia Plath was bipolar, and these ups were her manic phases. It is also thought that her sudden burst of creativity came from a manic phase, since mania tends to beget creative productivity, when channeled right, at least.

I sort of wish you would have dove a little deeper into the abusive relationship Sylvia held with her father and explained one of her last poems "Daddy." Personally, I think it's her best work and I was disjointed in not seeing it so much as mentioned.

Plath's "romanticizing" of death and self-injury, and the manner in which she expresses them, is exactly why her poetry has helped me cope with my own mental illnesses and comforted me in times when I felt so determined to take my own life. Great vid btw!

Ancient Aztec poetry (written by Nazahualcoyotl, the king of Texcoco): All the world is a tomb from which nothing escapes, Nothing is so perfect that it does not fall and disappear... What was yesterday, today is no more, And what lives today cannot hope to exist tomorrow. I, Nezahualcoyotl, ask this: Is it true one really lives on the earth? Not forever on earth, Only a little while here. Though it be jade it falls apart, Though it be gold it wears away, Though it be quetzal plumage it is torn asunder. Not forever on earth, Only a little while here. (excerpted from "Native Mesoamerican Spirituality")

Reading The Bell Jar is so emotionally exhausting. Like...Its unbelievably relatable in the things she talks about, but it is so obvious that she is wildly depressed. She wants to die so badly. In the second half of the book, there's just a constant mood of hopelessness and she talks about killing herself quite often. I cried, because I felt so bad for her.

I'm surprised her miscarriage isn't mentioned, that was important to many of her subsequent poems

As an aspiring author and a literature fanatic, it was really heartfelt when Lana sung about relating to her. Sylvia was an amazing, tragic and iconic poet.

John Green, I think you would be an absolutely amazing professor. I'm dead serious. You are brilliant with literature, you make me fall in love with it over and over again.

I think the "What a thrill" line applies more to the fact that she hates domestic work (cutting onions) and for once, to do something other (cut her finger instead) is compelling, even if it is self-harm.

I'm reading Plath's The Colossus and Other Poems, and it's so intensely visual that reading it is like going to an art museum. I love it and feel dazed.

It sounds like she is not only suffering from some sort of Bi-polar Disorder but describes it in great detail. When she is down she describes the explosions, something she longs both longs for and finds intimidating. She is motivated to feel as she once did and yet when she is up it almost feels as if there is to much, as if she is excessively drained and both happy and productive and yet not necessarily of her own volition. And to someone with dramatic ups and down death and suicide doesn't seem like a permanent solution to a temporary problem but a permanent solution for a endlessly revolving door of depression and uncontrollable energy,

"See you next week," he lied.

It's great that you put that little excerpt about suicide in there. So many teenagers watch this, its really awesome that youre using your power as an educator for good, and for more than just shoving facts in our heads.

I really love this series. I'm a science major in college and I don't get to take literature classes, and am confined to my room most days, so getting to read and analyze great novels with you, one of my favorite authors, gives me the greatest joy. It would make me, and I'm sure a lot of other people, very happy if you would continue with this series. Best, Cal

You should talk about THE OUTSIDERS

Also... in the midst of depression, it's often hard to see a way out, or believe that it will ever get better. And knowing, abstractly, that your life is actually quite nice compared to many people's, and that you really "shouldn't" feel terrible often does not help one feel better at all... in fact, it can make someone feel worse, because it adds in a guilt element to the depression. It's a terrible thing, how a person's mind and emotions can betray them.

I am so glad you did her. I have recently become obsessed with her, and I love how you discussed her in such a wonderful way not putting her down for her death poetry but just putting it as it was. Thanks Crash Course!

Ooh, I would LOVE a Crash Course Literature on one of the works of Virginia Woolf!

When I was a junior in high school, I was in the public library when this book flew off the top shelf and hit me on the head. It was Plath's Ariel. I asked my English teacher if she had heard of Plath. She hadn't but I checked out Ariel again and again because it had chosen me and I thought it was very good.

my therapist suggested i read sylvia plath and i began to write again. it is not glamorous, depression. but, you have to admit, there is a certain stubborn beauty about it that causes you to cringe.

I recently finished reading The Bell Jar today and I really enjoyed. Not much happened in the plot (not very much anyway) but I couldn't put the book down and every time I did manage to draw my eyes away from the page, I couldn't stop thinking about the story and Esther's problems. The book was easy to read and understand yet it did move me and I would happily re read it :) I'd love to get hold of some of her poems now...

Dear John and all the CC team: For a glorious couple of weeks I have enjoyed Crash Course Literature along with my morning coffee. For those few short minutes my life experience was lifted beyond the ordinary because of your efforts. I assure you that this subject matter is warmly appreciated. Thank you. Make more!

You should do a crash course on Nabokov's works -- namely, Signs and Symbols and Lolita!

3:51 to 4:49 Why do I need to come back and listen to this so often? I suppose I'm glad I am able to come back, glad it was written in the first place. Thank you, John.

I would love it if John did a Crash Course on Animal Farm or 1984 both by George Orwell. Two really cool books.

When John says "Her career was cut short, and I mourn all the many wonderful books we could have had" I immedeatly thought of a Kendrick Lamar line from 'i' a song about expression/depression "What do you want from me and my scars?"

Crash Course Literature is so amazing. Every time I watch it I feel myself falling in love with literature even more. The quotes you guys choose are just incredible.

I would like to thank everyone involved in the making for this video for addressing suicide the way you did, and depression, well the whole open letter response. Thank you

John, a Crash Course Literature on Macbeth would be great! :)

Dear John Green, An analysis of Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go would be amazing. Best wishes, A diehard crash course fan

IRS puts me on hold for about an hour so far. Thanks God for crash course. I am still willing to live after the morning passed me by, Still on hold but glad to had taking crash literature course on the poems of this great woman who left us too early but gave us so much food for though. Mil gracias Silvia!

Oh my goodness I love Sylvia Plath's work. Lady Lazarus is my favorite from her. Her use of enjambment, and repetition blows my mind! Thank you for doing this video!

I really liked your point towards the end, that we are "called to attentiveness, even when it's painful." That really resonated with me. Also, your me-from-the-past discussion seems particularly pertinant considering some of the recent criticism against TFiOS and Looking for Alaska.

What a simplicity of SP's life and poetry.

I read The Bell Jar a few months ago and I loved it. It was relatable in the way that the way the main character thought about her day to day life, how it all feels distorted and hyper-aware sometimes.

I love that whether I need help with a Sociology course, reviewing for a History test, and now trying to understand poetry for an English research paper, Crash course always has a vid for the subject I need! Thanks CC for helping me not fail since middle school 😅

The Poetry of Sylvia Plath: Crash Course Literature 216

Thank you for introducing me to the poetry of Sylvia Plath. I can now say from experience, rather than inexperience, that her work is boring, emo, dribble that's promoting self hate and is not worth my time. And before anyone jumps me for saying so, you don't have to have the same opinion as me. Art doesn't require conformity or agreement. Heck it doesn't even require understanding in many cases. This is but one man's opinion that I alone hold. Hold your own opinion with pride, but do not attempt to deprive me of my own.

John Green, you are doing a service to the world. I thought your literature videos couldn't compare to the history ones but these are great! Thanks so much for helping me and my students better understand the world in general.

Thank you for the open letter, John. As someone who has read The Bell Jar, written a research paper on it and has dealt with depression firsthand, I applaud you. Also the TFIOS movie was great. DFTBA

"By keeping her eyes open as long as she did, she helped to keep ours open" Well said sir.

you just opened my mind to an awesome woman, i just became obsessed and want to read her poems and biography now!

What is perhaps the most important aspect of these videos (of the Crash Course Literature series) is their introduction of elements into literary discussion which broaden the perception of a potential reader without rounding-out or encapsulating an entire opinion or viewpoint. You are, as such, cracking open a door to a room, within which a curious glow pulls the reader deeper into exploratory thought. Keep it up, you're doing good work!

Thank you for not forgetting to be awesome and being so honest with Plath's writing. Loved the video!

1984...you should consider analyzing this. Or maybe "The Picture of Dorian Gray" since I'm currently reading it and it's interesting.

I deeply enjoy the unique, pseudo-philosophical notion of both talking with the past self, and the way it is done. Such as "Let's actually read some poems before we trying to convince everyone how smart we are." It, intentionally or not, shows the flow of change, evolution of the individual and, in my opinion most important to the series on Literature, how ideals and life style can change through education and study.

Hey John! These are always intensely beautifully written and thought provoking videos. Thank you for doing them, but it would be awesome if you could do even more. I know you're busy, but I hope you know how much students (and non students) everywhere appreciate them in a time when literature is becoming increasingly devalued in society and in schools. Thanks again.

Thank you for covering Sylvia Plath! I'm a 35 year old man and she is one of my favorite poets, such beautiful yet sad and dark imagery. Most teachers I ever had didn't want to cover her work. I really appreciate your interpretations of the various works, very insightful. Her poems can be fairly strange and hard to decipher. Thanks again, fantastic video!

Thank you for the open letter. It's amazing.

As a major Sylvia Plath fan I don't care much to call her poetry works of feminism but instead her works were adopted by feminism. She came from a time where the women's movement for equality was at full force and feminism was this new big thing, and generally feminists care for women who've lead horrid, battered lives whether it be physical or mental, and Sylvia's writing was just that, battered, and it all came from a bright and brilliant woman. They saw this in her and took her after her death under their wing. Sylvia wrote just to express her thoughts about everything around and inside her, her mind's eye never blinked.

This video is so good I'm saving it to rewatch it. I LOVE how you interpreted her poems and how you question her without loosing the meaning she put in them. Thank you for being such a respectful appreciator. I have only recently found about the life and work of Sylvia Plath, even though my own work is SO much like her but so much less eloquent, off course, I feel hope when I hear about people who appreciate and how they appreciate her, because I always felt no one will enjoy my dark unhopeful poetry.

This is an absolutely spot on, well-written, and humane summation of Plath. Loved it.

I've heard her reading her own poetry. And honestly I thought that when I was listening to her I could hear in her voice not only the genius, but also the madness.

Why does no one seem to be discussing the adorable Catbug cameo? Catbug!!

John is the best. I adore what you have to say, you always give us the info from a few angles.

This is so well done! Great job, Crash Course team! I never knew that one could consider line breaks in poetry as a form of punctuation. I always thought of them as an arbitrary thing. This will completely change the way I read poetry from now on!

More literature courses!!!!!!!

The idea of suicide is rather interesting to me. I have depression and crippling anxiety so it is often a very temping prospect. I do not fear death at all, the idea of absolutely nothing sounds like a huge relief sometimes. But I never consider it as something I might actually do because it would be a terrible thing to do to the people who care about me. I don't blame people who take their own lives, I understand them quite well, but it is still a terrible thing to do.

Oh meh glob thank you for this video! We talked about Plath recently in English class before school ended, and her poems are a bit disturbing yet fascinating, and they really capture your attention once you really start to interpret and go in depth in the poem. Thank you!

Thank you, John Green, for giving me an accurate and deep explanation for who Sylvia Plath was and what her writing stands for.

Will there be more Crash Course Literature videos because they are my favorite videos on Crash Course.

THE PLATH!!!

This was my favorite Crash Course Literature episode so far. I want John to read me all of her poems.

Thank you so much for this video, CrashCourse team. My heart opened and I cried. It's exactly what I didn't know I needed.

I had pain in my path Sylvia Plath My problems were a myriad I was having my period

THE PLAAAATH

Dear John Green, Thank you for your exploratory, humble, and reasonable approach to all things worthwhile and interesting. I love your thoughts on history, current events, and abstract concepts; but I'm starting to think that most of all, I love your thoughts on poetry. So, thank you for being the English teacher from afar that I could never have in person. And finally, thank you for believing that teenagers have something to contribute to this world without taking them too seriously. Best wishes! Ellie Brower

Nope, still can't get over the fact that I'm being taught about literature from my favorite author. Rewatching every crash course lit video, hope the next season is this awesome!

1984 and Animal Farm definitely should be added to Crash Course in Literature.

You mentioned James Joyce as one of Plath's influences. I know it would be asking a lot, but is there any chance of covering him in this series?

i love Sylvia Plath, one of the best poets i have ever read. thank you for including her on crash course

"People who suffer from crippling depression don't create anything." This is false. Sylvia Plath wrote massive amounts of poetry up to the day she killed herself.

What happened to your arm? I see some bruises on it. Anyway thanks for the Transformers G1 references. And now I get the reference in that MST3K college short.

started studying poetry in literature and looked at one of her poems today, this is very useful! thanks John!

Congrats to me for finding Crash Course. I spend my nights working on visual effects and learning a wealth of new facts and perspectives. Loved this playlist and as a result I wonder since you are a published novelist, what advice you have for someone looking to become one. Perhaps there is a string of Crash Course episodes you could explore on that subject. Keep on!

Interesting video, however I disagree with the sentiment that suicide is a permanent response to a temporary problem. There are many people who are terminally ill, and allowing them to end their suffering can be an appropriate solution to a very permanent problem.

Can we do an episode of Virginia Woolf?

She was a fantastic writer. Her imagery incredibly lush, so alive which is always so strange, when it's used for poetry which is so much about death and stillness. Daddy is one of my favourite of hers.

Oh wow, I nearly forgot, how I love to learn new things for me from crash course. Thank you for creating Crash Course! 💝

I had an exam on Plath a week ago today. Dammit.

PLATH SMASH!

I just finished The Bell Jar and am reading her collected late poems. I swear, I think Crash Course is going through my library!

I was unexpectedly happy and interested when you told me where you shoot Crash Course, even though I live in Australia and will probably never work in Indianapolis. Thank you for that.

Could you guys make one on George Orwell's work ? (Animal Farm or 1984)