A Secret by Sylvia Plath Critics and Context

A Secret - Sylvia Plath information

Context

• Written on October 10th 1962, a year before her death in 1963

• Sylvia Plath wrote “A Secret” just after she separated from her husband Ted Hughes as his secret was out about his affair with friend Assia Wevill.

• Plath wrote the poem as part of the ‘Ariel’ collection, however following her death Hughes removed it from the published collection

• Plath and Hughes’  son was born in January of 1962, however Ted seemed disappointed with the baby and treated him coldly - Ted’s affair began to dawn on Plath at this point as he would openly seem to…