The Speaker

The speaker is given little distinction in the poem because the themes and ideas are so close; the poem is internal, rather than external, expressed entirely within. However, the title tells us that the speaker is a “Mad Girl,” or a mentally and emotionally unstable young woman. The poet has acknowledged the piece’s autobiographical nature and so the speaker can stand for Plath herself. Throughout the poem, the speaker struggles with a distant lover and the way their relationship with them has weakened their hold on reality to the point where they’re no longer sure what’s real and what is not.

The Lover

The speaker’s lover is never seen on the page — in fact, it is not even certain if they ever existed at all. They are described as “bewitching,” seductive and ultimately disloyal. When the speaker says “I fancied you'd return the...