A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN SYLVIA PLATH’S POETRY “LADY LAZARUS”

Sylvia Plath’s poem Lady Lazarus throws us right into a raw mix of mental struggle and art, blending personal pain with the messy reality of societal expectations. The study dives into a deep, almost hands-on look at the text tying in insights from both literary critics and psychological viewpoints to show that Plath paints an almost tangible picture of inner battles that feels both personal and broadly reflective of our shared struggles. One important takeaway is that the poem lays bare not just the heavy stigma that often shadows mental health, but also the surprising strength that comes from bouncing back after trauma. In most cases, these observations might help shape modern healthcare conversations about the role of storytelling when it comes to understanding mental health, nudging us toward a more empathetic, patient-centred approach. The work also kind of points out that blending literary interpretation with psychological analysis can expand how we see mental illness a mix of individual hardship and collective bias. All things considered, the implications stretch way beyond pure literary criticism, offering fresh perspectives that could boost mental health awareness and encourage more nuanced, human portrayals of resilience in both art and healthcare practice.