Published Paper Details:

This research examines the thematic and psychological dimensions of the poetry of Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson, John Clare, and T.S. Eliot, focusing on the potential presence of schizophrenia symptoms in their works. Schizophrenia, a complex mental disorder, manifests through symptoms like delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and emotional instability. By analyzing selected poems, the study identifies instances of these symptoms, exploring how mental health challenges influence artistic expression. This paper draws upon both psychiatric literature on schizophrenia and literary criticism to explore the possible manifestation of symptoms within the poems of Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson, John Clare, and T.S. Eliot. Each poet brings unique psychological struggles to their work. Sylvia Plath's vivid imagery and fragmented structures suggest cognitive disturbances. Emily Dickinson's reclusive life and symbolic language, as seen in I Felt a Funeral in My Brain, reflect hallucinatory experiences. John Clare's disjointed thoughts and profound isolation, shaped by his time in asylums, align with schizophrenia's negative symptoms. T.S. Eliot's modernist works, particularly The Waste Land and The Hollow Men, mirror disorganized thinking and emotional fragmentation. Through close readings, the research highlights how psychological distress informs creativity, using schizophrenia as a lens to deepen literary analysis. While none of these poets were formally diagnosed, their works reveal recurring patterns tied to schizophrenia, emphasizing the profound intersection of mental health and artistic expression.