Talk:Ted Hughes

Question about Birthday Letters

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

Another image

There is another image of Hughes at Commons, which appears to be free of copyright: File:Ted Hughes.jpg, although there are no details as to when and where it was obtained. I have just added it to the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom article. Martinevans123 (talk) 12:10, 3 February 2020 (UTC)

Great.Anna (talk) 12:57, 3 February 2020 (UTC)

Isn't it a policy to always use a non-free image for the lead image, if one is available? Martinevans123 (talk) 12:59, 3 February 2020 (UTC)

Is this true?

"Hughes's biographers note that Plath did not relate her history of depression and suicide attempts to him until much later." Is this really true? In the film "Sylvia" he appears has already knowing that the first time he visits the United States.Mistico Dois (talk) 14:52, 14 April 2020 (UTC)

Please see the reference given. Anna (talk) 19:05, 16 April 2020 (UTC)

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 "In 2017, it was revealed that letters written by Plath between 18 February 1960 and 4 February 1963 outline how Hughes beat Plath two days before she had a miscarriage in 1961, and that Hughes told Plath he wished that she was dead." The current text is "In 2017, previously unpublished letters written by Plath between 18 February 1960 and 4 February 1963 accuse Hughes of physically abusing her months before she miscarried their second child in 1961." 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)