The dead father effect on the psyche of a daughter—Sylvia Plath

ABSTRACT

Poetry is a tool for expressing our psychological journey. Mirroring numerous scenarios, literature and psychology together describe the pathways of development and reflecting our common dramas and feelings. The American poetess Sylvia Plath (1932–1963), her life and writings illustrate what is called the “dead father effect” on a daughter. Her story has parallels to people we see in our consulting rooms. There are personal and collective issues when a father is absent either physically or emotionally. She remains psychologically shackled to the dead connection. A psychic pact is made with the father not there, unavailable for catharsis or working it through as the dead father is internalized and deadens her system.

KEYWORDS:

• Dead father
• Sylvia Plath
• jungian psychology
• Andre Green

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.