Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I absolutely loved this short little book by Plath. The theme of it wasn’t obvious at first, but I do think now it was an allegory to suicide.
Maria Ventura, our protagonist, gets on a train to go to the ninth kingdom. She expresses last minute “jitters” to her parents, who are encouraging her to go on this journey, even though she doesn’t quite want to. So she goes, despite her reluctance, and she finds herself surrounded by people whom she doesn’t really understand. **SPOILERS** She befriends a woman, older, who tells her about how she can’t get off the train, unless of course she pulls an emergency stop. The conductors of the train are hectic once they see Maria is running away, so much to say “The boss’ll be mad if we lose a soul.” I thought the use of soul was interesting, and I think the ninth kingdom overall is symbolic of death. Nobody can cheat death. However, Maria gets off at stop 7 instead of 9, with the help of the older woman. Once she arrives at the seventh kingdom, she is greeted with, “We’ve been expecting you,” (or something like that). I think the ninth kingdom is symbolic not only of death but natural death. Everyone on that train was going to the end of their life but naturally. Disease, old age, heart attacks–whatever it may be, it was their natural course of dying. Maria, however, got off early, into a different version of the ‘afterlife’, which I think is suicide.
The conductors did not want to lose count of the natural causes of death, or they could have been extremely against the idea of suicide as a whole which was not uncommon in the time period in which this was written, which is why they didn’t want her to get off.
I think this is an otherworldly story, where we see the hesitation of Maria but yet she doesn’t really stop herself. She still got on the train after expressing her lack of desire to, and that shows her lack of autonomy in her life. When you’re suicidal, you never really “stop” thinking about it. It is always an option in the back of your mind. She finally snatched back her decision making by getting off the train early, but this is what we had expected of her.
Such an interesting and short story, one that holds plenty of themes and symbols for analysis. I also loved Plath’s style of writing. She writes stories the way I would like to read them. Not too much fluff, no dragging of certain things, but perfectly explanatory so there is no confusion, while also having a layer of depth to it.
Maria Ventura, our protagonist, gets on a train to go to the ninth kingdom. She expresses last minute “jitters” to her parents, who are encouraging her to go on this journey, even though she doesn’t quite want to. So she goes, despite her reluctance, and she finds herself surrounded by people whom she doesn’t really understand. **SPOILERS** She befriends a woman, older, who tells her about how she can’t get off the train, unless of course she pulls an emergency stop. The conductors of the train are hectic once they see Maria is running away, so much to say “The boss’ll be mad if we lose a soul.” I thought the use of soul was interesting, and I think the ninth kingdom overall is symbolic of death. Nobody can cheat death. However, Maria gets off at stop 7 instead of 9, with the help of the older woman. Once she arrives at the seventh kingdom, she is greeted with, “We’ve been expecting you,” (or something like that). I think the ninth kingdom is symbolic not only of death but natural death. Everyone on that train was going to the end of their life but naturally. Disease, old age, heart attacks–whatever it may be, it was their natural course of dying. Maria, however, got off early, into a different version of the ‘afterlife’, which I think is suicide.
The conductors did not want to lose count of the natural causes of death, or they could have been extremely against the idea of suicide as a whole which was not uncommon in the time period in which this was written, which is why they didn’t want her to get off.
I think this is an otherworldly story, where we see the hesitation of Maria but yet she doesn’t really stop herself. She still got on the train after expressing her lack of desire to, and that shows her lack of autonomy in her life. When you’re suicidal, you never really “stop” thinking about it. It is always an option in the back of your mind. She finally snatched back her decision making by getting off the train early, but this is what we had expected of her.
Such an interesting and short story, one that holds plenty of themes and symbols for analysis. I also loved Plath’s style of writing. She writes stories the way I would like to read them. Not too much fluff, no dragging of certain things, but perfectly explanatory so there is no confusion, while also having a layer of depth to it.
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This short story is written like a poem, a dream… the beautiful prose and magical words of Plath build vivid and visceral imagery. Need to think and reflect on the metaphors and themes to absorb the underlying meanings and messages tucked within the pages.
dark
reflective
fast-paced
I find it amazing that Plath writes literary fiction like The Bell Jar with such ease and yet slips into the surreal with similar deftness. This reminded me of Johnny Panic, the myths she creates in so few words are massive and wonderful.
She began again to trudge up the dark stairs, and as she climbed, the steps became broader, smoother, and the air thinned, growing lighter. Gradually the passage wid-ened, and there came the sound, from somewhere beyond, of bells chiming in a clock tower, clear and musical. Like a link of metal, the small snake fell from her ankle and glided away into the wall.
She began again to trudge up the dark stairs, and as she climbed, the steps became broader, smoother, and the air thinned, growing lighter. Gradually the passage wid-ened, and there came the sound, from somewhere beyond, of bells chiming in a clock tower, clear and musical. Like a link of metal, the small snake fell from her ankle and glided away into the wall.
As she rounded the next bend of the stair, the natural sunlight broke upon her in full brilliance, and she smelled the forgotten fragrance of sweet air, earth, and fresh-cut grass. Ahead was a vaulted doorway, opening out into a city park.
Mary emerged at the top of the stairs, blinking at the fertile gold webs of sunlight.
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"but remember you pay for it. You pay for it all in the end. It's their business to make the trip attractive.”
"Yes, sometimes the passengers are like that. Last minute jitters, you know. The awareness strikes them too late, and they regret buying the ticket. Regret doesn't help, though. They should have thought about taking the trip beforehand."
"Yes, sometimes the passengers are like that. Last minute jitters, you know. The awareness strikes them too late, and they regret buying the ticket. Regret doesn't help, though. They should have thought about taking the trip beforehand."
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It was short, it was engaging, and plath’s prose kept me wanting to know just what exactly was going on. Even to the end I still don’t know exactly what was going on, but she gave us enough clues to know the symbolism of it all, which I appreciated. She slayed she ate go smithie
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No