"Daddy" by Sylvia Plath

Daddy by Sylvia Plath talks about the poet's relationship with her father. As the poem progresses the anger and frustration the poet has on her father is expressed. I would like to point out a few themes from the poem.

Firstly, the poem focuses on the father-daughter relationship. It's obvious that she is scared of the father because of the domineering and aggressive nature but as she has only experienced aggressiveness she fails to distinguish or without strong protection from her father she again falls victim in her married life. The father was not a choice but the husband was, but her lack of paternal love and support led her to a wrong choice that she regrets. She even compares her father to Hitler due to the similarities she found between both individuals.

Secondly, the poem talks about power leading to suppression and oppression. She gives the imagery of the Nazi as a bullseye point to equate her life with the Nazi victims.

Thirdly, the poem talks about identity and self-discovery. The poet's life has been shaped according to the parental care she received. Even though her father was dominant and restricted her freedom she still craved his love. He haunted her when he was alive and never left her even after death leading to her carrying his shadow everywhere.

Fourthly, the poem talks about trauma and its long-lasting effects on the poet. Years and years of suppression led her to continue living that life. Trauma follows like an invisible ghost where it's easy to get triggered. The fear continues even after the person has left the experience is still alive and the victim often relives those. 

Finally, the poem also talks about gender stereotypes and how the poet fell deeper into that pit. Her whole life was controlled by men both very similar to each other. She was tired down by the patriarchal notion.

The poem portrays the years of frustration and anger the poet carried and this poem was like a therapy where the poet faces her past and embraces it.