Meaning: The quote "Dying is an art, like everything else. I do it exceptionally well. I do it so it feels like hell. I do it so it feels real. I guess you could say I've a call." is from the poem "Lady Lazarus" by Sylvia Plath, a renowned American poet known for her confessional style and exploration of mental illness, particularly her own struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts. The quote encapsulates the intense and complex relationship Plath had with the concept of death, as well as her ability to convey deeply visceral emotions through her writing.

Sylvia Plath's "Lady Lazarus" is a powerful and haunting poem that delves into the themes of death, rebirth, and the cyclical nature of suffering. The speaker in the poem adopts the persona of Lady Lazarus, a character who undergoes repeated experiences of death and resurrection. Through this persona, Plath explores the idea of death as a performance, an art form that she has mastered to the point where she can make it feel intensely real and agonizing.

The quote "Dying is an art, like everything else. I do it exceptionally well" suggests a certain level of mastery and control over the act of dying. Plath's use of the word "art" in this context implies a deliberate and skillful approach to the experience of death, as if it is something she has perfected through repetition and practice. This portrayal of death as an art form challenges conventional notions of mortality and hints at the speaker's defiance in the face of mortality.

The lines "I do it so it feels like hell. I do it so it feels real" further emphasize the intense emotional and physical pain associated with the act of dying. Plath's use of vivid and evocative language conveys the raw and harrowing nature of the experience, as well as the desire for authenticity in the portrayal of death. The speaker's insistence on making the experience feel "real" reinforces the idea that death, for her, is not just a passive event but a deeply immersive and visceral ordeal.

The quote concludes with the line "I guess you could say I've a call," which can be interpreted as a declaration of the speaker's vocation or destiny. By framing her proficiency in dying as a "call," the speaker suggests that she is uniquely suited to the experience of death, as if it is her purpose or role in life. This assertion adds another layer of complexity to the quote, highlighting the speaker's complex relationship with mortality and her sense of identity in relation to it.

In "Lady Lazarus" and throughout her body of work, Sylvia Plath grapples with the themes of death, suffering, and the fragility of existence. Her unflinching exploration of these topics, often drawing from her own personal struggles, has made her a seminal figure in the realm of confessional poetry. The quote "Dying is an art, like everything else. I do it exceptionally well" stands as a potent example of Plath's ability to encapsulate profound and unsettling emotions within her poetry, leaving a lasting impact on readers and scholars alike.

In conclusion, Sylvia Plath's quote "Dying is an art, like everything else. I do it exceptionally well. I do it so it feels like hell. I do it so it feels real. I guess you could say I've a call" from her poem "Lady Lazarus" presents a complex and evocative exploration of death as a skill, a performance, and a deeply personal experience. Plath's ability to convey intense emotions and existential themes through her writing continues to resonate with readers, cementing her legacy as a pioneering voice in 20th-century poetry.