Confessionalism and the Anguish of Self in the Poetry of Parveen Shakir and Sylvia Plath: A Comparative Study

Abstract

This research paper explores the thematic and stylistic convergence between two iconic female poets of the 20th century: Pakistan’s Parveen Shakir and America’s Sylvia Plath. The study is grounded in the theory of "Confessional Poetry," a genre that prioritizes the "I" of the poet, breaking social taboos to reveal personal trauma, psychological anguish, and intimate experiences. While Plath is widely recognized as a pioneer of the Confessional mode in Western literature, characterized by her raw, nihilistic imagery and engagement with death, Parveen Shakir introduced a similar, albeit culturally nuanced, feminine voice in Urdu poetry. This paper argues that both poets utilized the "Confessional Style" as a tool of resistance against patriarchal structures, transforming their "Anguish of Self" into high art. Through a comparative textual analysis of Plath’s Ariel and Shakir’s Khushbu and Sad-barg, the study highlights how they navigated the dichotomy of private pain and public expression. The research concludes that while Plath’s confession leans towards self-destruction, Shakir’s confession evolves into an aesthetic sublimation of grief, yet both share a profound "Sisterhood of Sorrow."