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Reviews tagging 'Suicide'
Mary Ventura Y El Noveno Reino / Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom by Sylvia Plath
10 reviews
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
meremeth's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Racism
Noting racism; the bad characters in the story are all blackbiobeetle's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Violence and Abandonment
Minor: Suicide
moyesie11's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
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
nicolepaul_ine's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
thmei's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I liked many things about this and, though it’s obviously an early work, I’m quite impressed that Plath wrote this at the age she did. I’m still unsure if Plath’s style is for me, though. It’s the perfect style for her cold, lonely, surreal portrayal of the world… but I so don’t want to read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
utuisuus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
pang's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
madisoneliza's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide