Talk:Ted Hughes

Question about Birthday Letters

Why does it say 'Birthday letters' [published] with Plath?

Unproven That Hughes Physically Abused Plath

The article mentions that Plath wrote letters to Dr. Ruth Beuscher claiming that Hughes beat her two days before a miscarriage. She also claimed that Hughes said he wished she were dead. Certain word choices in the article--for example, describing the letters as "revealed" in 2017, and presenting their content uncritically--makes a false assumption: that Hughes must certainly have been guilty of battering Plath, and wishing her dead. However, no other source whatsoever has ever supported this. It should not be necessary to point out to the writer of this article that Plath was mentally ill. She herself mentioned this numerous times in her life. She was also furious at Hughes's affair with Assia Wevell. She was not a reliable narrator, and her letters to Dr. Beuscher cannot be taken as fact. Younggoldchip (talk) 17:28, 25 November 2021 (UTC)

• Younggoldchip, there is no need to throw Plath under the bus in order to propose a tweak. That paragraph did indeed state allegation as fact, and it was in the wrong place--I removed it, looking to place it in the appropriate section (about their life together), but it was already there, and with better phrasing. Drmies (talk) 17:38, 25 November 2021 (UTC)
  • The removed text was Template:Tq The current text is Template:Tq The Guardian source clearly says "beat her two days before she miscarried". I'd suggest that is not a case of "better phrasing." Martinevans123 (talk) 18:52, 25 November 2021 (UTC)
    • I mean, yes Plath may have been mentally ill for that whole time. And yes she could not have been "a reliable narrator". But we ought to at least get the claim right, before including context or mitigation? Martinevans123 (talk) 22:33, 25 November 2021 (UTC)
      • Martinevans123, it's about the difference between "outline" and "allege". Drmies (talk) 15:52, 27 November 2021 (UTC)
        • Is it? Ah, so not accuse and allege then. What about the difference between days and months? It seems she alleges that he started months before and continued until two days before. Two days before her miscarriage. Just a coincidence?? Martinevans123 (talk) 18:26, 27 November 2021 (UTC)
          • Still awaiting your response on this. The difference between days and months seems quite an unexplained gulf to me. Martinevans123 (talk) 21:13, 16 February 2022 (UTC)
            • Still seems to be not properly addressed. Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 11:22, 18 April 2022 (UTC)

Aurelia in Benidorm

Challenging the statement that Aurelia Plath accompanied Ted and Sylvia on their honeymoon in Benidorm. This is not supported in Sylvia's journal or letters, or in any other biographical source I've read. Indeed, there are letters from Sylvia to her mother written from Benidorm. The source cited here is Bell. Recommend cutting this statement. Healiobaldini (talk) 08:16, 9 April 2023 (UTC)

I agree that the sources don't support it and I agree it should be removed. Aurelia accompanied Ted and Sylvia on their honeymoon to Paris and then she went off on her own travels through Europe. Anna (talk) 00:28, 13 April 2023 (UTC)

Review: Ted Hughes: The Unauthorised Life by Jonathan Bate

https://www.midwestbookreview.com/rbw/dec_15.htm

Ann Skea, Reviewer

69.181.17.113 (talk) 22:52, 16 December 2024 (UTC)