Two Sisters Of Persephone

Sylvia Plath

Two Sisters Of Persephone

Sylvia Plath
17 pages34-minute read
Fiction
Poem
Adult
Published in 1957

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

The First Sister is a pale, diligent woman who remains indoors to focus on her career and clerical duties. She spends her days calculating sums, isolated from the natural world and the sunlight. Her life is heavily compartmentalized, marked by the mechanical ticking of her equipment and a rigid adherence to duty over personal passion.

Key Relationships

Sister of Second Sister

Aunt of The King

The Second Sister is a bronzed, relaxed woman who embraces the natural world and physical experience. She spends her time outdoors in the sun, listening to the pollen on the wind. She gives herself freely to the elements and ultimately embraces motherhood, shifting her complete focus to her new child.

Key Relationships

Sister of First Sister

Mother of The King

Supporting Characters

The King is the newborn infant of the Second Sister. He is the physical manifestation of his mother's connection to the natural world and her passionate life choices. He commands total devotion, becoming the metaphorical ruler of his mother's existence and changing the course of her future.

Key Relationships

Son of Second Sister

Nephew of First Sister