Monday, March 23, 2009

A legacy of suicide

Nicholas Hughes, son of poet Sylvia Plath, committed suicide at the age of 47 last week at his home in Fairbanks, Alaska. Plath, killed herself in 1963.

Here is something I did not know:

Ted Hughes [father of Nicholas] relived the tragedy not only through the constant reminders of Plath, but also through the suicide of Wevill, his second wife, who in March 1969 killed herself and their 4-year-old daughter.
Since Nicholas was unmarried and had not children, this sad legacy of suicide will end with him.