LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 21:10 October 2021
ISSN 1930-2940

Editors:
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

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Catharsis of Confessional Writing: A Comparative Study of Sylvia Plath’s Bell Jar and
Kamala Das’s My Story

K S Ahima, B.A., M.A., NET

Abstract

Confessional writing is a type of writing which is written in first person that is often represented through a series of diaries, letters, distinguished by revelations of a person’s deeper or darker motivations. Confessional writings necessarily do not consist of just narratives, it can include any form of essay, letter, poem, or jottings in a journal. It acts as revelations to people; it is a therapeutic exercise of a way of healing when they write it down through words expressing their sentiments on sheets of paper. This research and analysis, discusses two important confessional writers Kamala Das and Sylvia Plath and why they were pushed to the periphery of the society.

For the same, their works My Story and The Bell Jar is used as the basis for understanding their lives from their perspective. Here in this dissertation the focus was on two literary figures who, were never truly appreciated. Even after being successful authors the context of their writing, their narrative style and the controversial lives are what we focus on at the end of the day. While we look at the life of the Authors, we see two women fighting against everything in order to remain themselves. Both the authors teach the reader in many ways, how to love oneself even after being flawed.

Keywords: Confession writing, Kamala Das, Narrative style, Sylvia Plath, Controversial life

1. Introduction

Nearly, everyone is fascinated by somebody else’s life at some point of time. Literature becomes interesting not because it reminds us of our past but because it provides us an opportunity for introspection. Autobiographies are life lessons for every generation from different backgrounds, which tells the story of the self-discovery of the author. It consists of personal events from the writer’s life like his pitfalls, desires, ambitions, mistakes, and experiences which act as motivation to the readers. The function of an autobiography is to leave a legacy behind which bridges the gap between the old and new generation, thus forging ties. When someone writes about their personal experiences it is an act of self-reflection which helps them connect with themselves.

Defining the Genres of the Autobiography and Confessional Writings: Their Similarities and Differences

1.1 The Autobiography

The word autobiography is derived from the Greek word “self” or “life” and “write”. This genre had been in vogue since history has been recorded. Yet, it was not accepted as a genre till the late eighteenth century. The accepted characteristic features of the category are identity of the self, self-reflection, and introspection. Autobiographies help in educating, informing, persuading, and inspiring others.

The main intent of the autobiographies is authenticity though they can mould the story the way they want it to be. The way in which the writer illustrates past events says much about “who he thinks he is” (Porter and Wolf 5). The author tries to justify his or her actions to the reader.

By justifying the actions as right or wrong, the narrator establishes to the reader that they share common norms in life. The narrator speaking in the autobiography “is always normal, even if the protagonist of the narrative is not” (Quigley 107). In the modern context the term has shifted from a literary genre to a much broader space.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

K S Ahima, B.A., M.A., NET
Assistant Professor, Department of English
Yuvakshetra Institute of Management Studies
Mundur, Palakkad
ahima.k.s@gmail.com
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