stanza 6 - the German word for 'I'. This sound repeats four times in one line almost like the repeating sound of gunfire, which merges in with the imagery of Nazism and war, with references to 'barb wire' and 'Aryan', 'Panzer-man' and so on. She also continually addresses her father as 'Daddy' which of course is also the title of the poem. This is a deceptively familiar, innocent-sounding form of address, which a loving child might use for her parent; but in this case the child appears almost completely overcome with negative emotions for the father. There is no formality, no trace of respect; she speaks to him now, in her mind, without any kind of constraint, in the way that she pleases.

The poem, then, paints quite a frightening picture of a wholly oppressive family relationship through its use of disturbing imagery and harsh diction. The daughter appears to have felt so constricted by her father that at the beginning she likens herself to a mere foot living in his ‘black shoe’. It seems she is struggling to liberate herself from his malign influence throughout the poem and declares at the end, with a final imprecation: 'Daddy, daddy, you bastard, I’m through’. This does not really provide a sense of closure, however. It may well be that he is finally dead to her - as underlined in the penultimate stanza with the image of him as a vampire finally contained with the proverbial stake through his heart. However, the bitter anguish of the poem never lets up. It is probably more accurate to say, then, that she never will quite escape: she may be rid of her father’s physical presence, and she may try to convince herself that she’s escaped him emotionally also, but the tone, which remains utterly scathing to the end, suggests otherwise. 

“Daddy” by Sylvia Plath was written after her separation from husband poet, Ted Hughes, who left her for another woman.  Furthermore, it was not long before her suicide in 1963.  Obviously, Plath was not in a good place psychologically or emotionally.  This is a disquieting, yet well-written poem from a woman who has lost her father and her husband. 

Plath’s situation grew worse as she was left to care for their children by herself in the dead of winter. Already having attempted suicide more than once, Plath finally succeeded while her children slept in the apartment. Thankfully, she blocked the doors so that the gas which Plath used to kill herself would not disturb the children.

Her father, a German immigrant, had been a German professor. Suffering from diabetes, one of his legs had to be amputated;  he died from complications. Plath was eight years old. Her references to Nazi Germany and the Holocaust indicate Plath’s feelings of subjugation from a powerful male figure.

“Daddy” is a rather long poem free verse poem which means that there is no set pattern for rhythm or rhyme.  There are 16 quatrains breaking up the thoughts in the poem. At times, Plath’s poem takes on a seemingly playful tone with its language.  Do not be deceived because this poem is serious in tone and meaning. Moreover, the atmosphere is bitter and angry.  She holds little back in her declaration of disdain for the men in her life. Her themes include life, death, depression, war.  This is no loving tribute to a dear departed father.  Because of her choice of words, the impact becomes much stronger and more shocking.

Bit my pretty red heart in two.
I was ten when they buried you.
At twenty I tried to die
And get back, back, back to you 

Plath utilized a first person point of view with a speaker who seems to know everything about the situation with her men.  Making herself into a character in the poem, she exposes her hurt and anger toward them.  The poem purports that her father was a Nazi and a vampire.  Obviously, neither was true. 

The poem reflects how Plath felt at the time she was writing. We do understand that she was miserable in her life.  Her father was lost to her when she was so young; she has suffered for much of her life longing for that relationship with him.

“Daddy” is a representation of Plath’s feeling toward men in general.  She wanted to die because of them. In fact, when her husband leaves her, she actually does.