PATRIARCHY IN SYLVIA PLATH’S “DADDY”

Abstract

The research aimed to discuss patriarchy in Sylvia Plath’s “Daddy”. There were two objectives of the study. The first was to portray the patriarchy in Sylvia Plath’s “Daddy”. The second was to analyze the symbols of patriarchy in Sylvia Plath’s “Daddy”. This research applied four theories. They were ideology, patriarchy, oppressor, and symbol. The ideological and structural approaches were used in this research. The result of the research showed the portrayal of patriarchy in father’s and husband’s figure. From the father’s figure we can understand that a parent who is the dominant ruler of his daughter’s life will leave such a painful loss after his death comes so that his daughter loses his guidance in life. While, from the husband’s figure we can learn that patriarchy also happens in a marriage. Furthermore, the symbols dealing with patriarchy is revealed in the description of confinement life, fear, regretful loss, and unhappy marriage.

Keywords: ideology, patriarchy, oppressor, symbol