Accident Quote by Sylvia Plath
“The first time it happened I was ten. It was an accident. The second time I meant To last it out and not come back at all. I rocked shut As a seashell. They had to call and call And pick the worms off me like sticky pearls. Dying Is an art, like everything else. I do it exceptionally well. I do it so it feels like hell. I do it so it feels real. I guess you could say I've a call.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Bell Jar, 1963
The speaker portrays death as a crafted, almost artistic act, juxtaposing its horror with a perverse sense of mastery and inevitability.
In simple terms: Death is described as an art she performs well.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge mortality without glorifying it.
Themes
mortality
artistic expression
despair
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- grief counseling
- creative writing
- mental health awareness
- philosophical debate
Key Concepts
existentialism
nihilism
self‑destruction
Questions to Reflect On
- How does framing death as art affect our view of suffering?
- What healthier outlets exist for expressing despair?
A Different Perspective
The romanticizing of death can obscure the need for help and support.
