1. This essay was presented to, and benefited from the responses of, audiences at the Uni
2. versity of Chicago, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, the University of
3. Washington, and Yale University. My work in the Plath Collection at Smith College
4. was greatly aided by Karen V. Kukil, Assistant Curator of Rare Books. I am grateful
5. for comments by Marie Borroff, Margaret Bruzelius, Jill Campbell, Allen Grossman,