Daddy (poem)

"Daddy" is a confessional poem written by American poet Sylvia Plath. First published posthumously in 1965 in the collection Ariel, it is considered one of Plath's most famous and controversial works. The poem explores complex and deeply troubled relationships, primarily between the speaker and her deceased father, Otto Plath, and secondarily with her husband, Ted Hughes.

The poem is characterized by its aggressive and unflinching tone, its use of hyperbole and metaphor, and its exploration of themes such as female victimhood, patriarchal oppression, the Holocaust, and unresolved childhood trauma. The speaker grapples with feelings of resentment, anger, and a desperate need to break free from the psychological hold of her father.

Otto Plath, a German immigrant and expert on bees, died when Sylvia was eight years old. The poem portrays him as a domineering and oppressive figure, even comparing him to a Nazi. This association with the Holocaust has been a frequent point of critical discussion, with some critics arguing that Plath is inappropriately trivializing the historical tragedy by using it as a metaphor for her personal pain. Others defend the poem, arguing that it is a powerful expression of the speaker's emotional turmoil and her struggle to liberate herself from the influence of powerful, destructive figures in her life.

The second part of the poem focuses on the speaker's relationship with her husband, Ted Hughes, whom she also associates with her father. She describes a sense of being trapped in a cycle of destructive relationships with men who embody the same oppressive characteristics. The poem ends with the speaker declaring that she has finally "killed" the "vampire" father figure, symbolically breaking free from his control.

"Daddy" is written in a highly distinctive and recognizable style, employing simple language, nursery rhyme rhythms, and stark imagery to convey a sense of intense emotional pain. Its raw honesty and unflinching exploration of difficult themes have made it a lasting and influential work of modern poetry, though it remains a subject of ongoing debate and interpretation.