6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” ( F)Ĩ “But Rabbi,” ( G) they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, ( H) and yet you are going back?”ĩ Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. No, it is for God’s glory ( E) so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ( B) 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) ( C) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love ( D) is sick.”Ĥ When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. He was from Bethany, ( A) the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It is a brilliant example of a poet's use of rhetorical devices to convey a compelling and powerful message.11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. The poem's themes of resurrection, death, and life serve as an allegory for the persona's mental state and reflect themes of Plath's personal life. Through a variety of rhetorical devices, including irony, sarcasm, animal imagery, and symbolism, Plath draws attention to the brutality of the persona's pain and the toll it takes on her. In conclusion, the poem "Lady Lazarus" is a reflection of Plath's struggles with mental anguish and suicide attempts. This symbol is a recurring motif throughout the poem and confronts the reader with the trauma of the persona. The image of the red heart reflects a sense of passion and metaphorically portrays the persona as lugging this pain around like an albatross around her neck. The image of a "Red heart swollen to a ridiculous size" (Plath 10) symbolizes the persona's pain that she is unable to contain. Symbolism is another rhetorical device that Plath uses skillfully in the poem. The use of German in this phrase emphasizes the persona's suffering and the fact that she feels trapped and misunderstood. The reference continues in the line "Herr Doktor," (Plath 2) that alludes to the Bible verse, "Lazarus, come out!" (John 11:43). This metaphor is used to signify that the persona is struggling with an unknown, a Messiah-like figure that would help her bear the weight of her life. She describes the persona as "a sort of walking miracle" (Plath 9), a reference to the Messiah. Plath uses the story of Lazarus's resurrection as a parallel to the persona’s struggle. The use of Biblical allusions is another apparent aspect of the poem. The persona is trapped in her cycle of depression and anguish, just like a fish trapped on a hook. The use of animal imagery in this metaphor compares the persona's life to that of a fish that is caught and released repeatedly. The persona says that she is like "a terrible fish" (Plath 54) that is reeled in again and again. Plath uses irony and sarcasm throughout the poem to draw the reader's attention to the persona’s pain. This metaphorical comparison amplifies the pain and emotional turmoil that she experienced in her life. Plath also uses the metaphor of a phoenix to describe the persona, who has risen from the ashes every time she attempts suicide. The persona addresses herself in a sarcastic tone, saying, "I have done it again" (Plath 1). The opening lines of the poem are a portrayal of the persona's suicide attempts and her belief in resurrection. Plath uses a plethora of rhetorical devices to drive home the message of the poem, and the juxtaposition of death and life, reflecting the poet's personal life struggle, forms a significant theme in the poem. The poem explores the concept of resurrection in a rather bleak and morbid way, reflecting the trauma and mental anguish that the poet experienced in her life. Sylvia Plath's poem "Lady Lazarus" is a depiction of the pain and struggle of the poet.
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