The creative partnership of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath is one of literature’s most compelling stories—equal parts inspiration, ambition, and heartbreak. Their relationship wasn’t just a personal connection; it became the backdrop against which some of the 20th century’s most powerful poetry was written. From the moment they met, their bond held an electric intensity, driving Plath’s craft while also sowing seeds of profound emotional turmoil.
Hughes’ influence on Plath’s work is undeniable, but it’s a connection that continues to inspire debate: Did he elevate her genius, or did their dynamic ultimately contribute to her unraveling? This question lingers, capturing the imagination of readers who seek to unravel the layers of their partnership. Plath’s struggles with mental health, which you can explore further here, cannot be separated from the story of their life together. And for a deeper understanding of her life beyond their marriage, consider diving into the biography “Red Comet.”
The enduring fascination with their story is rooted in its duality—brilliance intertwined with tragedy, collaboration shadowed by isolation. For anyone captivated by her work, their shared legacy remains a puzzle that begs to be understood. If you’re curious, this video offers an intimate look at the love and conflict overshadowing their lives.
Table of Contents
The Early Lives of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes
Understanding the early lives of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes is essential for appreciating the dynamics of their relationship. Both were fiercely ambitious and shaped by deeply personal experiences that fueled their poetry. Their stories couldn’t be more different, yet they somehow found synergy in each other—a creative and emotional connection that would reverberate across their lives.
Sylvia Plath’s Literary and Personal Beginnings
Sylvia Plath’s journey into poetry began almost as soon as she could write. Born in Boston in 1932 to a German-born father and an American mother, her childhood was marked by the dual influences of discipline and creativity. Her father, Otto Plath, a professor and author, was both an authoritarian figure and a source of fascination. His death in 1940 when Sylvia was only eight left an indelible mark on her psyche, permeating much of her later work.
It wasn’t just her family life that shaped her ambitions. Plath was precociously talented, with her first poem published when she was eight. By her teenage years, she was doggedly determined to excel, submitting work to national magazines like “Seventeen” and keeping a meticulous journal. Who among us hasn’t felt the pull of proving oneself to the world? For Plath, it was all-consuming.
Her ambition came at a cost. Beneath the surface of external success was a growing vulnerability. She wrote about the pressure to perform, the unrelenting self-criticism, and the lingering shadow of her father’s absence. It’s impossible to separate this early emotional intensity from her later struggles with mental health, which became a recurring theme throughout her work and life. If you’re interested in understanding how her mental health challenges shaped her, you can explore that further here.
From her early years, it was clear she was destined for greatness. But this greatness came with a fragility that made her both a brilliant poet and a deeply tormented individual. To know Sylvia Plath is to understand the tension between her soaring ambition and the darkness that often accompanied it.
Ted Hughes’ Background and Literary Aspirations
Ted Hughes, on the other hand, came from a vastly different world—both physically and emotionally. Born in Yorkshire in 1930, his upbringing was steeped in the rugged landscapes and folklore of the English countryside. This connection to the natural world was more than just a backdrop; it became the very essence of his poetry. While Plath’s childhood was shaped by intellectual rigor, Hughes’ was dominated by raw, elemental forces.
Hughes’ father fought in World War I, and the specter of that devastating conflict loomed large within the family. This sense of trauma and resilience deeply influenced Hughes’ worldview. One can almost feel the echoes of war—both its horrors and its heroism—in his writing. Stories of mythology and the untamed forces of nature became his preferred mediums of expression.
It wasn’t until his teenage years that Hughes found his passion for poetry. Sparring between careers in zoology or writing, he was eventually drawn to literature, where he sought to capture the visceral realities of life—something he felt other poets often lacked. He had ambitions not just to write but to reshape the very contours of English poetry, infusing it with a primal, almost feral energy.
Hughes might not have had the same early exposure to literary fame as Plath, but his life experiences and fascination with nature gave him a voice that was both unique and magnetic. Fast forward to their meeting, and it’s easy to see how his powerful, almost instinctive approach to life and art would captivate someone like Plath. Their worlds collided in a way that can only be described as combustible.
While Hughes and Plath seemed like perfect opposites, there was one undeniable connection between them—a fierce desire to live and create with intensity. Their union was a meeting of two extraordinary minds, born of different worlds but bound together by their shared love for poetry.
Through their early years, we see the seeds of the dynamic, and often fraught, relationship that would eventually define them both as individuals and as artists.
The Meeting That Rewrote Their Stories
There are moments in life when two paths converge, and history is forever altered. Such was the meeting of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath in 1956 at a party in Cambridge. The attraction was immediate, passionate, and electric—a rare collision of two literary spirits destined to shape each other’s work and lives. Both were brilliant yet deeply complex individuals whose union brought forth extraordinary creativity but also profound turbulence.
A Literary Love Affair
Their meeting marked the beginning of a complicated and fiery relationship, one deeply rooted in their mutual admiration for each other’s talents. Sylvia Plath, with her razor-sharp intellect and precision, found herself drawn to the primal, almost untamed energy of Ted Hughes. In turn, Hughes marveled at Plath’s ability to channel her vulnerabilities and inner chaos into poignant, articulate poetry. They weren’t carbon copies of each other, and that’s what made the connection so electrifying.
Yet, as much as their personalities complemented each other, they also clashed. Plath’s disciplined approach to her craft often contrasted with Hughes’ more intuitive, almost instinctive style. In many ways, their relationship resembled a volatile but rewarding chemical reaction—the kind that, once ignited, is impossible to contain. Their love story wasn’t merely romantic; it was also intellectual. They continually challenged each other, weaving their personal and creative lives into a complex tapestry.
However, love can’t always soften sharp edges. Their passion often veered into rough territory, with personality differences flaring into conflict. Plath’s sensitivity, coupled with her struggles with mental health, created moments of fragility, while Hughes’ occasional emotional aloofness often exacerbated tensions. To delve into how these struggles influenced Plath’s journey, you can explore more on her mental health challenges.
Despite the challenges, the bond between them was undeniable. They weren’t just partners in love but also in art—two halves of a creative dialogue that pushed boundaries and explored uncharted depths of emotion and meaning.
Collaboration and Creative Energy
If there is one thing their relationship undeniably brought forth, it was an extraordinary burst of creativity. Hughes and Plath actively engaged in each other’s work, critiquing drafts, sharing ideas, and providing the kind of encouragement—and sometimes brutal honesty—that can only exist between equals. Their collaboration wasn’t merely occasional; it was symbiotic.
It’s fascinating to consider the different ways they inspired one another. Plath’s work during this era achieved a newfound intensity and sharpness, often reflecting themes of power, extremities of emotion, and existential complexity. Hughes, in turn, was influenced by Plath’s meticulous crafting of language, which brought clarity and vividness to his often raw, elemental voice. Their creative partnership cultivated some of their finest work, imbuing their poetry with an unparalleled depth.
For Sylvia Plath, collaboration with Hughes occasionally served as a lifeline to her creative identity. There were times when their shared momentum seemed almost otherworldly, driving both poets into territories that might have been unreachable alone. Yet, as with any collaboration between vividly individualistic creators, their dynamic wasn’t always harmonious. At times, Hughes’ influence was seen as both liberating and suffocating, a complex duality explored further in assessments of their literary synergy.
Hughes himself grappled with the challenge of co-existing alongside a poet as formidable as Plath. Through their exchanges, they examined subjects like love, mortality, and nature with a vigor that left an indelible mark on their respective voices. For those fascinated by this profound interaction, insights can be found in a thought-provoking article on their creative and emotional dialogue.
Their collaboration highlighted one of life’s many paradoxes: how proximity to greatness can be simultaneously inspiring and overwhelming. For both Hughes and Plath, their years together represented a rare intersection of creative peaks and intense emotional challenges. This push-and-pull dynamic may forever color the way we view their relationship—not merely as lovers, but as collaborators who held up a mirror to each other’s brilliance and flaws.
In their shared quests for poetic excellence, Hughes and Plath proved that art thrives in collaboration—even when it becomes a crucible for personal tension. Their work, born from this crucible, continues to resonate with readers, standing as a testament to the challenges and rewards of their shared universe.
The Influence of Ted Hughes on Sylvia Plath’s Work
Sylvia Plath’s poetry stands out for its raw intensity, but to fully understand its evolution, one must consider the profound influence of her relationship with Ted Hughes. Their marriage wasn’t just a romantic union; it was a collision of two powerful poetic voices. The resulting interplay of inspiration, critique, and shared experiences shaped much of Plath’s written legacy, adding layers of complexity to her work.
Shared Themes and Inspirations
The themes that Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes explored often blurred the lines between their individual identities, creating an unspoken dialogue across their poetry. Both poets were fascinated by the elemental forces of nature—Hughes with its wild, primordial aspects and Plath with its ethereal, often melancholic expressions. You can see this in how Hughes’ influence appears to amplify Plath’s fascination with themes like death, passion, and despair.
For example, their shared interest in the natural world frequently found its way into Plath’s poems. While Hughes drew on nature as an untamed force, Plath often intertwined it with her own emotional turbulence. Take her poem “Elm,” which resonates with Hughes’ vigor for describing the dominance of nature, yet carries her unique emotional lens. This shared yet distinct perspective became a hallmark of their dynamic.
At the same time, Plath and Hughes both reflected a mutual preoccupation with intense interpersonal emotions—love, betrayal, and existential anxiety. If Hughes approached these themes with a kind of stoic brutality, Plath saw them through a lens of vulnerability, often capturing them with razor-sharp emotional clarity. Their shared life inevitably informed these perspectives, imbuing their works with a deeply personal undercurrent.
The Evolution of Sylvia Plath’s Literary Voice
When Sylvia Plath met Ted Hughes, her writing was already extraordinary. Yet, Hughes’ presence both challenged and sharpened her voice, taking it to greater heights. Their partnership played a dual role—at times nurturing her creativity, while at other times compounding the pressures she faced. How could it have been any other way when two such formidable talents collided?
Hughes’ critiques were, by all accounts, both meticulous and brutally honest. This feedback catalyzed a refinement in Plath’s voice that became more distinct in her later work. Compare her early poems, precociously lyrical but sometimes over-embellished, with the searing clarity found in collections like Ariel. It’s difficult not to see Hughes’ influence here, albeit as a double-edged sword—perhaps distilling her genius but also tightening the grip of her inner anxieties.
What’s fascinating is the way Plath incorporated Hughes’ feedback. She seemed to absorb his observations and weave them into her own stylistic evolution. Her tone became darker, more daring, and increasingly experimental. Her ability to juxtapose brutality with vulnerability emerged in full force, drawing readers into what felt like the raw chambers of her psyche. For a broader exploration of how this dynamic interplay affected her mental health, you can read this analysis on Plath’s struggles.
Was this amplification of intensity a direct result of Hughes’ presence? It seems likely. Their relationship was, after all, a crucible—one that both strengthened and complicated Plath’s artistry.
Analyzing Key Poems
To understand Hughes’ influence on Plath’s poetry, we need only to look at some of her most iconic works. Poems like “Daddy” and “Lady Lazarus” illustrate how Hughes’ themes—raw power, primal forces—may have shaped her own aesthetic. Yet, these works remain uniquely Plath’s, underpinned by her deeply personal experiences.
In “Ariel,” for instance, there’s a visceral energy that echoes Hughes’ hallmark depictions of nature’s untamed forces. But where Hughes might simply celebrate nature’s power, Plath transforms it into an existential metaphor. The galloping horse becomes not just a literal dynamic movement but a plunge into psychological depths, marked by liberation and chaos. You can explore more about Plath’s autobiographical connections in her major work The Bell Jar through this review.
Yet, perhaps the clearest connection to Hughes appears in Plath’s unpublished drafts and letters. Observing how her handwritten manuscripts evolved—often through Hughes’ input—reveals a dynamic exchange of ideas. Themes of dominance, violence, and survival, central to Hughes’ worldview, subtly infiltrate Plath’s later poems. However, her voice retains its unique composition, oscillating between fury and fragility.
Plath’s poem “The Colossus” also reflects this interplay. Like a monument to the crushing weight of patriarchal forces, it embodies a thematic tension that Hughes might have fueled—a struggle between reverence and rebellion. Their poetic dialogue continued long past their marriage, reflecting in Hughes’ later works as he grappled with his role in her legacy. For those intrigued, the complexity is analyzed beautifully in this exploration of grief and influence.
In the end, dissecting their poetry is like studying two halves of the same conversation—an exchange pierced by intensity, shaped by shared muses, yet forever marked by their individualities. The marks Hughes left on Plath, like fingerprints impressed on glass, were as indelible as they were transformative.
Turmoil and Deterioration
The complex relationship between Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes is a lens through which we can examine the highest highs and the lowest lows of creative genius, love, and betrayal. Their dynamic was as fiery as it was tragic, with each chapter of their marriage leaving its indelible stain on Plath’s mental and emotional health. It’s in the space of this intricate bond where we observe the turbulence that shaped Sylvia Plath’s later years and works.
Struggles and Betrayal
Few events disrupt a relationship more profoundly than betrayal, and in the case of Plath and Hughes, the repercussions were devastating. Ted Hughes’s infidelity not only shook the foundations of their marriage but also inflected Sylvia’s already fragile mental health. Her struggles with depression, compounded by this personal affront, became inescapably entangled with her creative process.
Imagine a person standing on the edge of a precipice, weather-worn and frail, when a sudden shove sends them spiraling into the unknown. Hughes’s affair with Assia Wevill was more than just an act of betrayal—it was that shove, leaving Plath to grapple with feelings of inadequacy, anger, and despair. For someone whose emotional state was already precarious, this betrayal carried far-reaching implications, plunging her deeper into cycles of loneliness and self-doubt. For a deeper look at the connection between her relationships, mental health struggles, and creativity, consider exploring this comprehensive analysis.
Plath’s deteriorating trust and escalating isolation began to manifest in her writing, scribbled lines filled with haunting accusation and vulnerability. Her journals openly conveyed the sorrow she felt, the betrayal acting as a catalyst that worsened her existing depression. Hughes’s actions weren’t the cause of Plath’s longstanding inner battles, but they were undeniably a heavy weight added to her burdens.
The Role of Mental Health in Sylvia Plath’s Creative Process
The interplay between Sylvia Plath’s mental health and her creative output is spellbinding and, at times, heartbreaking. In her most notable works, we can trace the residue of her psychological struggles—sharpened and magnified during her years with Hughes. Whether one views Hughes as a muse, a rival, or a tormentor, his shadow looms large over Plath’s creative mind.
Here’s the thing: mental health can both inspire and destroy. In Sylvia’s case, her unraveling psychological state often led to an unmatched depth of language and poignancy. Her later body of work—most famously, Ariel—is a stark reflection of her internal chaos and tumultuous relationship with Hughes. These gems of literature would not exist as they are without Sylvia’s anguish, wherein Hughes played a crucial but complicated role.
For those unfamiliar with her story, Ariel represents a period where Plath lived with electric creative energy and crushing despair. The poems captured in its pages feel almost like unfiltered glimpses into her fractured psyche. The ferocity with which she tackled themes of betrayal, death, and existential sorrow reflects how deeply intertwined her mental state was with her marriage’s demise. Readers curious about her complete history may find this biography on Plath’s life to be a powerful gateway to understanding the broader context of her struggles.
Despite the hardships, Plath’s works reveal how she harnessed her emotions with precision, amplifying the power of her voice through her anguish. Hughes may have been both a compass and a storm in her life, but his influence—and the strife their bond caused—helped shape her into the remarkable poet we revere today. It’s a reminder of art’s paradox: that beauty often springs from the darkest corners of the human condition. To dive deeper into this connection, explore further insights on Plath’s mental health and artistic process.
In the end, the immense stress Sylvia Plath endured throughout her relationship with Ted Hughes wasn’t just a personal battle; it became the lifeblood of her craft. Whether her art might have flourished without this suffering is impossible to say, but what remains is a body of work forged in the crucible of emotional hardship. This is the Sylvia Plath we know—an artist for whom creativity was both salvation and sacrifice.
Legacy and Enduring Fascination
When discussing Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, their connection remains intrinsically tied to questions of legacy and influence. For Plath, her posthumous reputation as one of the most influential poets of the 20th century went hand in hand with the controversial oversight of her work by Hughes. This juxtaposition of their fates continues to draw readers, academics, and admirers into their compelling narrative.
Sylvia Plath’s Posthumous Reputation
Sylvia Plath’s works radiate with a voice so authentic, it feels as though she’s speaking directly to you from across time. Yet, what’s remarkable is how many of her most celebrated pieces gained recognition not during her lifetime, but after her death. Plath’s early work showed promise, but it was Ariel, her posthumous masterpiece, that truly cemented her status as a literary trailblazer. The raw power of poems like “Lady Lazarus” encapsulated themes of resilience and self-reinvention that resonate as universally today as they did decades ago.
Ted Hughes, serving as her literary executor, played no small role in bringing these works to light. But here’s where things grow complex—Hughes has often been both credited and criticized for his stewardship. On one hand, his efforts ensured that her voice was preserved and amplified, setting off the wave of acclaim for her genius. On the other, detractors argue his editorial choices and subsequent writings cast a shadow over her autonomy, shaping how Plath’s posthumous narrative unfolded.
Much of this tension underscores the enduring popularity of Plath’s story. Was her work inherently powerful enough to stand without Hughes’ influence, or did their entanglement serve as both a creative catalyst and a wellspring of controversy? For deeper insights into her life’s trajectory beyond their marriage, I recommend taking a look at this review on the biography Red Comet, which explores the nuances of her poetic journey.
Redefining Ted Hughes’ Legacy
Hughes’ role in Plath’s life extends far beyond that of a husband or fellow poet. As her literary executor, he navigated the twin responsibilities of preserving her voice and addressing his own evolving reputation. Not surprisingly, his efforts often polarized audiences. While some see his curatorial role as a labor of love, others accuse him of tarnishing Plath’s story, intentionally or not.
The criticisms reached a boiling point when controversial decisions—such as editing her letters and diaries—stirred debates about transparency versus protection. These actions led many to question whether Hughes sought to prioritize his own narrative over Plath’s legacy.
Interestingly, Hughes’ own work, such as Birthday Letters, reveals a poignant vulnerability as he grappled with his association with Plath’s tragedy. The collection provided a rare glimpse into his grief, regret, and struggles over the years. His legacy, then, is not neatly tied to his own literary accomplishments but rather exists as part of an intricate dialogue with Plath’s enduring image. For those interested in exploring this complex interplay further, there’s an excellent deep dive into their relationship dynamics, available here.
Hughes and Plath remain two halves of a hauntingly beautiful story. While Plath’s work is celebrated for its unyielding honesty, Hughes’ efforts ensure she isn’t merely a historical footnote. Together, their legacies continue to unfold, offering timeless lessons on art, identity, and how storytellers—and interpreters—shape legacies for generations to come.
Mental Health in The Bell Jar
Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar is often heralded as one of the most impactful novels in modern literature, not only for its raw prose but also for its unflinching portrayal of mental health struggles. Plath’s ability to vividly encapsulate the nuances of feeling trapped, alienated, and unsure of oneself gives this semi-autobiographical novel an emotional resonance that transcends time. What makes The Bell Jar especially profound is the way it intertwines personal experience with universal truths about mental health—a testament to Plath’s gift for introspection and expression.
Let’s take a closer look into how Plath illustrates mental health in the novel and the broader implications it holds, both for her readers and her own legacy as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century.
The Bell Jar as a Metaphor for Mental Illness
The title itself is a poignant metaphor that encapsulates the experience of mental illness. The “bell jar” creates an image that’s simultaneously suffocating and isolating, symbolizing Esther Greenwood’s—the protagonist—detachment from the world around her. Much like a bell jar traps air, mental illness keeps her in a state of suspended isolation, where everything feels stagnant and unchanging.
This suffocating sense of being stuck is something Plath herself experienced acutely. In both her life and writing, the theme of feeling trapped recurs repeatedly, reflecting her battle with depression. In The Bell Jar, this metaphor extends beyond Esther’s individual struggle, serving as a commentary on the societal pressures and gender expectations that exacerbate mental health crises.
In many ways, the bell jar can also be seen as a lens—a warped one, to be sure—that distorts how Esther views herself and the world. It’s this duality, of being both within the jar and looking out through it, that makes the metaphor so hauntingly effective.
For those who are familiarizing themselves with Plath’s mental health journey, her works—including The Bell Jar—reveal just how deeply her struggles informed her writing. More on these challenges and her unique ability to weave them into her art can be explored in this article on Sylvia Plath and mental health.
A Stark Representation of Depression
The Bell Jar is not just a symbolic exploration; it’s also strikingly precise in its depiction of depression’s symptoms and effects. Through Esther, Plath chronicles a slow unraveling—a journey from numbness and disconnection to an outright mental health crisis. The despair Esther feels is presented in such an unvarnished way that it defies the filters so often placed around conversations about mental illness.
What’s particularly captivating is Plath’s ability to convey abstract emotional states through concrete imagery. For example, Esther’s description of being unable to wash her hair or get out of bed paints a visceral picture of the paralysis that so often accompanies severe depression. These passages resonate not only with those who’ve faced similar struggles but also with readers attempting to understand mental illness from the outside.
Even the bright moments in The Bell Jar come weighted with an underlying sense of dread or futility. This speaks to the cyclical nature of depression—an aspect Plath so poignantly captured. Readers interested in diving deeper into the psychological aspects of The Bell Jar should consider exploring this academic take on Plath’s depiction of mental health.
The Societal Context of Mental Health in Plath’s Era
What makes The Bell Jar particularly enlightening is how it highlights the intersection of individual struggles with societal forces. Esther’s depression isn’t just a result of her internal battles; it’s compounded by the suffocating gender roles and expectations of the 1950s. Her experiences emphasize how societal pressures can exacerbate mental health issues, especially for women navigating restrictive environments.
Esther’s rejection of traditional paths—marriage, motherhood, and domesticity—mirrors Plath’s own struggle with balancing her creative aspirations and societal expectations. The disconnect between who Esther is and who society demands her to be is a source of deep existential pain. This clash between personal identity and societal conformity speaks to the ongoing relevance of Plath’s work in discussions about mental health today.
For a more detailed look at how mental health and societal expectations intersect in the novel, you might find this analysis insightful.
Therapy and the Road to Recovery
A key part of The Bell Jar’s narrative involves Esthers encounters with mental health treatment. From her disorienting experiences with electroconvulsive therapy to finding a glimmer of relief through a more compassionate psychiatrist, Plath takes us through the highs and lows of mid-20th-century mental health interventions.
These depictions reflect not only the state of mental health care during that era but also Plath’s own deeply personal experiences with therapy. Her narratives provide haunting yet crucial perspectives on how treatments can both harm and heal depending on the practitioner. Interestingly, one of the more hopeful elements in the novel is the therapy sessions that offer Esther some semblance of hope and control—leaving readers pondering whether healing is truly possible or simply an ongoing struggle.
For those curious about the historical and psychological aspects of Plath’s treatment representations, this detailed breakdown offers a nuanced lens.
The portrayal of mental health within The Bell Jar is, and always will be, one of its most powerful legacies. By drawing directly from her own struggles, Sylvia Plath connects us not only to her story but also to the larger, often silenced experiences of mental illness. Whether you’ve experienced these feelings yourself or are seeking to understand them better, Plath’s work grants a profoundly empathetic glimpse into these depths.
For a more comprehensive understanding of the novel and its implications for mental health, you can also explore the review of The Bell Jar at The Literary Compass.
Conclusion
The intertwined lives of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath represent one of the most intricate relationships in literary history. Their bond, equal parts symbiotic and destructive, fostered an environment where genius thrived but also fractured under emotional strain. Their shared passion for poetry created a legacy of astonishing brilliance, while their personal struggles painted a picture of artistic sacrifice and human vulnerability.
Hughes’ role in Plath’s life was profound—his influence seemed to sharpen her creative instincts, yet the weight of their relationship left behind scars that echoed in her work. Through her poetry, we see both the gifts and the turmoil that came from their connection, each piece unveiling a layer of Plath’s identity. Her mental health, intricately tied to both her art and personal life, is explored in depth here, offering invaluable insight into the challenges she faced.
The questions their story raises—about influence, legacy, and the cost of artistic greatness—remain unresolved, keeping their narrative alive in the minds of readers and scholars. For a deeper look into Sylvia Plath’s life and career, this biography provides a comprehensive exploration of her journey.
This shared literary legacy, as haunting as it is inspiring, reminds us that art often emerges from the most paradoxical places—strength and fragility, love and pain, creation and destruction. It’s a story that will continue to compel readers, offering a timeless reflection on the intertwined nature of brilliance and adversity.
