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Reviews tagging 'Death'
Mary Ventura Y El Noveno Reino / Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom by Sylvia Plath
5 reviews
tylerluvspsychofiction's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, Grief, and Deportation
snowwhitehatesapples's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Also on Snow White Hates Apples.
“…train leaving for…train leaving…” (page 1).
There goes the announcer, warning that your train will depart soon. You don’t really want to go, but your parents who bought your ticket are encouraging you to. After all, everyone leaves home sooner or later, no?
Unfortunately for Mary Ventura, the train she ends up taking at her parents’ assurance leads to a kingdom of frozen will where there will be no return upon entering. It’s an impending doom made more sinister when Mary realises that her surroundings, the regulars and the workers on the train aren’t as charming, serene or normal as initially believed. It’s also hair-raising when you have the blissful ignorance of other passengers vividly contrasting against imagery like “red neon blinked outside the window” (page 22) and the train’s chugging wheels sound like “…guilt, and guilt, and guilt” (page 31).
Although it didn’t entirely fit the situation, I was first reminded of the Chinese Yellow Springs, a purgatory-like place where the souls of the departed must pass while heading to their next existence. I thought of the different stations as different levels of hell where the soul goes to be punished for the sins they’ve committed while alive.
Then, recalling that Plath attempted to take her life thrice, it made me think that Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom was a kind of metaphorical tale where Mary had made the same attempt, but before she reached the true and final end, she decided to fight for life instead. On the other hand, this short story could also be read as a suicide allegory where the train represents life and Mary’s early exit is her ending her life before it’s time.
Whichever it is, it’s clear that this short story can be read in multiple ways. As Plath herself had stated, it’s a “vague symbolic tale” and I think there’s both strength and weakness to that because while it isn’t polished and can feel clumsy, it’s also ambiguous enough to hold multiple meanings and intentions.
“…train leaving for…train leaving…” (page 1).
There goes the announcer, warning that your train will depart soon. You don’t really want to go, but your parents who bought your ticket are encouraging you to. After all, everyone leaves home sooner or later, no?
Unfortunately for Mary Ventura, the train she ends up taking at her parents’ assurance leads to a kingdom of frozen will where there will be no return upon entering. It’s an impending doom made more sinister when Mary realises that her surroundings, the regulars and the workers on the train aren’t as charming, serene or normal as initially believed. It’s also hair-raising when you have the blissful ignorance of other passengers vividly contrasting against imagery like “red neon blinked outside the window” (page 22) and the train’s chugging wheels sound like “…guilt, and guilt, and guilt” (page 31).
Although it didn’t entirely fit the situation, I was first reminded of the Chinese Yellow Springs, a purgatory-like place where the souls of the departed must pass while heading to their next existence. I thought of the different stations as different levels of hell where the soul goes to be punished for the sins they’ve committed while alive.
Then, recalling that Plath attempted to take her life thrice, it made me think that Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom was a kind of metaphorical tale where Mary had made the same attempt, but before she reached the true and final end, she decided to fight for life instead. On the other hand, this short story could also be read as a suicide allegory where the train represents life and Mary’s early exit is her ending her life before it’s time.
Whichever it is, it’s clear that this short story can be read in multiple ways. As Plath herself had stated, it’s a “vague symbolic tale” and I think there’s both strength and weakness to that because while it isn’t polished and can feel clumsy, it’s also ambiguous enough to hold multiple meanings and intentions.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Suicide
othersociologist's review against another edition
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
seapotatohowisitalrtaken's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Death, Violence, and Blood
alexpullen02's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Suicide