An Ode to Chick-Lit.

I was thrilled to offer some comments about the 50th Anniversary edition of The Bell Jar to 'An Ode to Chick-Lit', produced by Pauline Dunne and broadcast on Dublin City FM this week. My feelings on the notorious cover have not changed since writing my original blog post and I was happy to contribute to a programme that asks us to challenge our preconceived ideas of what is 'proper' writing or fiction. My comments come in around the 8min mark but I would urge everyone to listen to the entire programme as it is so interesting!



Janet Badia points out in her excellent book, Sylvia Plath and the Mythology of Women Readers, Plath has been frequently characterised as , 'St. Sylvia - High Priestess of Suffering' with a collection of 'emo' followers who inevitably grow out of the poetry and fiction with maturity. I second Badia's frustration at this categorisation and also go on the defensive, asking: so what if Plath's main readership is sensitive young women? Does this lessen the value or quality of her writing or indeed, the validity of her readership? Throughout my PhD experience, when asked about my topic, people will usually respond how 'depressing' it must be to study Plath. Do the covers of her books and fiction contribute to this perception of Plath and her writing as dark and depressing? I really believe so!

In my opinion, the 50th Anniversary cover of The Bell Jar draws attention to aspects of the novel that have not been popularised in conjunction with the 'Plath myth'. And again - if the book is marketed to resemble chick-lit, part of me wants to say: so what? What's wrong with chick-lit! In fact, are we contributing to women's secondary position within the wider literary tradition by dismissing chick-lit as something trivial and embarrassing? Furthermore, by kicking up a fuss at how Plath is marketed, are we denying the multiplicities in her voice and creative imagination? Why can't The Bell Jar be seen to represent a young woman's coming of age, struggles with mental difficulties and also the frivolity of youth?

Plath's calendar: illustrating how she planned
and budgeted her life. (c) Smith College.
Part of the reason I strongly opposed the furore that occurred on the publication of the 50th anniversary edition of The Bell Jar spans from viewing Plath's archives at Smith College and seeing the pages Plath wrote that budgeted, planned and listed poems and stories: how much they were bought for and how much she expected to sell. Plath was a keen businesswoman (and child of consumerist USA!). It is Heather Clark who most clearly points out the difference between Hughes and Plath's approaches to writing and publishing. For Hughes, the act of inspiration and composing the poem was the important and most meaningful part of writing. For Plath, selling her poetry was of tantamount importance. It wasn't a 'success' if it wasn't published and paid for. For these reasons I think the reaction to the 50th anniversary edition was seriously over the top. Personally I can imagine the Plath who planned every meal, every dollar, saved every paycheck being absolutely overjoyed at The Bell Jar being placed on the 'holiday reading' list at WH Smith.

Frankly, whether The Bell Jar is marketed as chick-lit or a children's bedtime story, these book covers will not change the content of the book. The Bell Jar shocks, intrigues, entertains, is very moving and is a brave, brilliant novel. Indeed, marketing this book as chick-lit introduces it to a whole new catalogue of readers and may assist in the 'Plath myth' subsiding - allowing all of Plath's inspirations to shine through, appreciated. As Pauline Dunne concludes, we should 'applaud (chick-lit readers) choice of reading material for the funny, moving and intelligent piece of writing it is'.