“I desire the things that will ultimately destroy me” (Plath). Sylvia Plath's father had such a profound effect on her life that many of his famous poems, both positive and negative, can be attributed to him. Throughout her poetry, it is revealed that the tragic events surrounding her father created a complex relationship in which she felt abandoned. Her poems “Daddy,” “Electra on Azalea Plath,” and “Lady Lazarus” all show the great emotional effects her father had on her life. On October 27, 1932, Sylvia Plath was born to a mother of Austrian descent and a father of German descent. Together they lived in a small apartment in Boston, where her father, Otto, taught German and biology. In 1940, his father died of diabetes. All this happened when Sylvia was only 8 years old. As Plath grew older, she was diagnosed with depression. She attempted suicide several times, but each time she failed. It was later found to be a hereditary problem on his father's side of the family. Despite suffering from depression, she ended up at the top of her class, excelling in writing. She graduated from Smith College in 1955, with highest honors. The death of her father created a permanent effect on Plath and through this also brought her closer to death. In her poem “Papa,” she communicates a representation of her misery without a father. She goes on to write: “I was ten when they buried you. At twenty, I tried to die and come back, come back, come back to you. » This is Plath's way of presenting her grief as a daughter in a fatherless world where, after so long, she still wishes to return to him. Without having a father figure in her life, she shows rage through...... middle of paper...... http://www.internal.org/Sylvia_Plath/Daddy"On "Daddy" “On “Daddy”” Np, nd Web May 1, 2014. http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/m_r/plath/daddy.htm “On “Lady Lazarus”” On “Lady Lazarus” Np, nd Web May 1, 2014. http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/m_r/plath/lazarus.htm “Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, nd Web May 5, 2014.” https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/lady-lazarus "A quote from John Green. Np, and Web May 4, 2014. http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/553713 -lies-are-attempts-to-hide-the-truth-by-willfully-denying “Sylvia Plath.” Academy of American Poets, nd Web May 10, 2014. http://www.poets.org. /poetsorg/poet/sylvia-plath “The Complete Journals of Sylvia Plath Quotes” By Sylvia Np, and Web May 5, 2014. https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/3094683-the-. unabridged-journals-of-sylvia-plath