A Deconstructionist View of Sylvia Plath’s “Lady Lazarus” and Robert Frost's “Design”

Abstract

Deconstructionism, which entails carefully examining a text and underscoring its inconsistencies, ambiguities, and paradoxes, is employed in this paper to evaluate Sylvia Plath and Robert Frost’s poetry. Deconstructionists examine how a text opposes or challenges its own meaning rather than trying to come about a single, conclusive interpretation. They might look at how a text challenges prevailing idea, reveals the limitations of language or undermines the conventional distinctions between gender, race, and class. They could examine how the poem’s themes are distorted or contradicted, as well as how it highlights the limitations of conventional binary oppositions like male/female, self/other, and nature/culture. The poetry of Sylvia Plath is frequently recognized for its great emotional depth and its examination of serious subject matters like loneliness, death, and mental illness. Plath frequently uses intricate metaphors and symbols in her poems, as well as startling and vivid imagery. For instance, “Lady Lazarus” is recognized as one of Plath’s most known pieces and a haunting exploration of the themes of death, rebirth, and identity. On the other hand, Robert Frost is renowned for his bucolic and frequently sentimental images of rural life in New England. His poetry is known for its use of straightforward, simple language and often examines themes like nature, interpersonal relationships, and the passage of time. For instance, the poem “Design” prompts critical reflection on the nature of our existence and our place within such a complex universe.