The Myth Of Lilith

She is often harshly judged because she is said to represent chaos, seduction, and ungodliness; this makes sense to people considering the name “Lilith” comes from a Sumerian word for female demons or wind spirits (“Lilith.”). Lilith was the first wife of Adam, the first man on earth in biblical terms, but was banished from the Garden of Eden because she refused to be subservient to Adam (“The Myth of Lilith.”). Once Lilith was banished she was made into a demon figure and Adam was given a second wife, Eve, who is said to be fashioned from Adam’s rib (“The Myth of Lilith.”). Since Eve was fashioned from Adam himself this ensured her obedience to him (“The Myth of Lilith.”). The reference to Lilith is mentioned in the last stanza of Plath’s

As Plath was gaining popularity for her poems, her husband was not used to the idea of them both being famous poets in the relationship because of their differences between American and British gender roles (“Two Views…”). Plath did not like this because she did not believe in the gender roles against the successful wife (“Two Views…”). Hughes had an affair with one of his students, since she was his student was beneath him, and soon after the Plath-Hughes marriage had ended (“Home.”). This situation seems to be alarmingly similar the the separation of Lilith and Adam. Adam believed that he was above his wife and Lilith believed them both to be equal. Once Adam had gotten rid of Lilith he took on a new wife, Eve, and since she was fashioned from his rib, she was beneath him. Plath uses this similarity between their relationships to fuel the fire in the triumphant ending to Lady

Plath uses the the burning of the Jews to show the victimization of the weak and powerless. When they are burned to death, they are gone, there is nothing there; no voice left. This is why Plath goes on to say that she will rise “Out of the ash”, because women still have a voice that is meant to be heard (Plath). She is generally saying that women will not be burned to silence as the Jews had during the Holocaust, but women will rebel against gender roles and strive for