This is such a brilliant song! Does anyone have any theories on what the link is between the Sylvia Plath parts of the song and the religious message?
Before I knew about the Sylvia Plath thing I always thought the Oven symbolized heaven, or a faith in some sort of afterlife (maybe it has a double meaning). The song is obviously making some strong statements about spirituality ("This Kansas Wheat won't break us and another drink won't make us free... the oven's wide open... hold your breath and see", "The smartest man she ever met was not buried or put up on a cross... but she thinks it's over still if that light won't go on... there's no hope in life at all, if the oven won't burn"). it seems like maybe a similar theme to their song "Devilboy" where he talks about the absurdity of how non-Christians are often demonized by religious leaders and told they're going to hell, etc. It seemed to me that the message was that people can still have faith in something important and get through difficult times without having to be Christian.
That being said, learning the story of Sylvia Plath opens up a whole new, darker dimension to the song.
In any case I'm interested in hearing people's thoughts on what the relationship might be between these two different themes of the song!
This is such a brilliant song! Does anyone have any theories on what the link is between the Sylvia Plath parts of the song and the religious message?
Before I knew about the Sylvia Plath thing I always thought the Oven symbolized heaven, or a faith in some sort of afterlife (maybe it has a double meaning). The song is obviously making some strong statements about spirituality ("This Kansas Wheat won't break us and another drink won't make us free... the oven's wide open... hold your breath and see", "The smartest man she ever met was not buried or put up on a cross... but she thinks it's over still if that light won't go on... there's no hope in life at all, if the oven won't burn"). it seems like maybe a similar theme to their song "Devilboy" where he talks about the absurdity of how non-Christians are often demonized by religious leaders and told they're going to hell, etc. It seemed to me that the message was that people can still have faith in something important and get through difficult times without having to be Christian. That being said, learning the story of Sylvia Plath opens up a whole new, darker dimension to the song.
In any case I'm interested in hearing people's thoughts on what the relationship might be between these two different themes of the song!