I think there is something here. Rory’s “fatal flaw” is that she is not really able to assimilate failure. Each setback must be a disaster. I mean, sure, she’s a teenager. But this depth of feeling, this indulgence of despair, does strike me as very Plath-like.
I think this might be some of the fandom’s frustration with Rory - because it’s a light drama, none of the darkness can be allowed to stick. She passes through these valleys, but seems to emerge unscathed each time, which doesn’t quite strike as authentic. The poets and writers who felt things so deeply were bruised by life. Obviously I am not suggesting that plath’s fate was inevitable or a casual by-product of art. But the suffering that produced the art also left scars, and the fact that Rory escapes these feels perhaps a little unnatural
I have never seen the Gilmore Girls, but I think I will have to now. I'm very interested in your Sylvia Plath research and articles, and their psychic osmosis relationship. There are probably many more examples of psychic osmosis cropping up in other mother/daughter experiences the more you look and the more you read.
I love this! I love both Plath and Gilmore Girls, but I’ve never noticed these glaring parallels. As you’ve said, Lorelai and Rory’s relationship is a little toxic at times - and Rory’s academic burnout is so remnant of Sylvia Plath’s own struggles. Amy Sherman-Palladino is known for her clever writing, so I think it’s entirely possible that some of the parallels are intentional :)
Thank you! 💕 You are the original GG fan 😉 so I'm glad you enjoyed it! I really hope Amy planned it that way…I'll let you know if I she gets in touch 😄
This is such an interesting parallel. I grew up loving Gilmore Girls and returned to The Bell Jar often in my teens, but I’d never consciously connected them! What fascinates me is how influence moves–how a novel like The Bell Jar can thread itself into a show like Gilmore Girls, and how that, in turn, will echo into whatever comes next. Formative creations like the characters of Jo March, Anne of Green Gables, Carrie Bradshaw (for better or worse), even the protagonist in Fleabag (maybe?)—don’t simply reflect a moment. They build, reappear, and sometimes take entirely new forms.
Vogue once asked "Was Little Women the 19th Century of Sex and the City", or what one critic posed as “Big Women”:
"There is also a premium on the bonds between women—sisters, and friends akin to sisters—that feels universal and moving, now as much as it did then…they each have become rites of passage for the way they make women feel seen and heard, inviting us to see a little bit of ourselves in popular characters.”
Thanks, Ashni! It's all so fascinating, how women's stories (real and fictional) feed into one another throughout history. Thank you for sharing the Little Women piece! I haven't seen that before, I will go and read it!
Intriguing!!!! Even though I haven't seen the G Girls, I loved your argument... seems more than likely that a writer as smart as Amy S-P was making the connections intentionally....
Hi Kate. Mind. Blown. I think you're absolutely spot on regarding the similarities between the Plaths and the Gilmores. I'n guessing this must have been deliberate on Amy's part when writing it, and the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced you're right. The gags about Sylvia Plath are quite shocking especially from this distance but maybe they have the tone of somebody who loves thier subject so much they feel they're allowed to make sick jokes about them? (I would illustrate this with a Stevie Wonder gag but... you get the idea). Excellent article, now subscribed. Oh and thank you for not having that daft "only paid subscribers can reply" switch on, I have no idea whatsoever who that serves!
PS - Two small comments - or "notes" if you will. First, Kelly Bishop as Emily isn't the thrd Gilmore Girl, she's the first! (and her autobiography is marvellous, too). Second, hard disagree on "Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life", I loved it. And as for the fan-baiting, network-trolling, sequel-seeking ending... just magnificent!
Thank you, Tony! I think you're probably right about Amy, too many clever similarities to be coincidence. I think as you say, the "jokes" are from an affectionate place, just perhaps not in the best taste. I bought my daughter Kelly's autobiography for Christmas and it's wonderful! (And I can forgive you for the year in the life...I found it truly depressing!)
Also: I truly do not understand the turning off of comments either! It's one of the best ways to meet readers.
Plath continues to fascinate as the embodiment of a terrible human dilemma: frustrated/blocked capacity. I find the "bell jar" such an evocative symbol for that despair: you suffocate inside the bell jar, and no one outside can hear you scream.
I posted a note yesterday with a list of some of my favorite Substack writers. I neglected to add your name. Fixed that error today. Sorry about the initial oversight, Kate.
I think there is something here. Rory’s “fatal flaw” is that she is not really able to assimilate failure. Each setback must be a disaster. I mean, sure, she’s a teenager. But this depth of feeling, this indulgence of despair, does strike me as very Plath-like.
I think this might be some of the fandom’s frustration with Rory - because it’s a light drama, none of the darkness can be allowed to stick. She passes through these valleys, but seems to emerge unscathed each time, which doesn’t quite strike as authentic. The poets and writers who felt things so deeply were bruised by life. Obviously I am not suggesting that plath’s fate was inevitable or a casual by-product of art. But the suffering that produced the art also left scars, and the fact that Rory escapes these feels perhaps a little unnatural
Thanks for reading, interesting points.
I have never seen the Gilmore Girls, but I think I will have to now. I'm very interested in your Sylvia Plath research and articles, and their psychic osmosis relationship. There are probably many more examples of psychic osmosis cropping up in other mother/daughter experiences the more you look and the more you read.
Thank you! Yes, my research is taking me in some really interesting directions atm…I hope you enjoy Gilmore Girls if you watch it!
I love this! I love both Plath and Gilmore Girls, but I’ve never noticed these glaring parallels. As you’ve said, Lorelai and Rory’s relationship is a little toxic at times - and Rory’s academic burnout is so remnant of Sylvia Plath’s own struggles. Amy Sherman-Palladino is known for her clever writing, so I think it’s entirely possible that some of the parallels are intentional :)
Thank you! 💕 You are the original GG fan 😉 so I'm glad you enjoyed it! I really hope Amy planned it that way…I'll let you know if I she gets in touch 😄
This is such an interesting parallel. I grew up loving Gilmore Girls and returned to The Bell Jar often in my teens, but I’d never consciously connected them! What fascinates me is how influence moves–how a novel like The Bell Jar can thread itself into a show like Gilmore Girls, and how that, in turn, will echo into whatever comes next. Formative creations like the characters of Jo March, Anne of Green Gables, Carrie Bradshaw (for better or worse), even the protagonist in Fleabag (maybe?)—don’t simply reflect a moment. They build, reappear, and sometimes take entirely new forms.
Vogue once asked "Was Little Women the 19th Century of Sex and the City", or what one critic posed as “Big Women”:
"There is also a premium on the bonds between women—sisters, and friends akin to sisters—that feels universal and moving, now as much as it did then…they each have become rites of passage for the way they make women feel seen and heard, inviting us to see a little bit of ourselves in popular characters.”
(Source: https://www.vogue.com/article/is-little-women-19th-century-sex-and-the-city)
Thanks, Ashni! It's all so fascinating, how women's stories (real and fictional) feed into one another throughout history. Thank you for sharing the Little Women piece! I haven't seen that before, I will go and read it!
I too love what I’ve seen of the Gilmore Girls, but hasn’t made the Plath connection. Interesting.
Thanks! I thought so too.
Intriguing!!!! Even though I haven't seen the G Girls, I loved your argument... seems more than likely that a writer as smart as Amy S-P was making the connections intentionally....
Thanks, Laura. Yes, there's so much reference to literature and popular culture in the show that I can't imagine it's coincidence.
Hi Kate. Mind. Blown. I think you're absolutely spot on regarding the similarities between the Plaths and the Gilmores. I'n guessing this must have been deliberate on Amy's part when writing it, and the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced you're right. The gags about Sylvia Plath are quite shocking especially from this distance but maybe they have the tone of somebody who loves thier subject so much they feel they're allowed to make sick jokes about them? (I would illustrate this with a Stevie Wonder gag but... you get the idea). Excellent article, now subscribed. Oh and thank you for not having that daft "only paid subscribers can reply" switch on, I have no idea whatsoever who that serves!
PS - Two small comments - or "notes" if you will. First, Kelly Bishop as Emily isn't the thrd Gilmore Girl, she's the first! (and her autobiography is marvellous, too). Second, hard disagree on "Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life", I loved it. And as for the fan-baiting, network-trolling, sequel-seeking ending... just magnificent!
Thank you, Tony! I think you're probably right about Amy, too many clever similarities to be coincidence. I think as you say, the "jokes" are from an affectionate place, just perhaps not in the best taste. I bought my daughter Kelly's autobiography for Christmas and it's wonderful! (And I can forgive you for the year in the life...I found it truly depressing!)
Also: I truly do not understand the turning off of comments either! It's one of the best ways to meet readers.
Great interesting premise. (BTW, no need for apostrophes in the title here.)
Hmmm…I didn't think it needed apostrophes either, but substack kept highlighting it as wrong!!
Love Gilmore Girls, some great parallels here. Think Taylor was my fav’ character 😁
Haha, second only to Dean...👀
Plath continues to fascinate as the embodiment of a terrible human dilemma: frustrated/blocked capacity. I find the "bell jar" such an evocative symbol for that despair: you suffocate inside the bell jar, and no one outside can hear you scream.
I posted a note yesterday with a list of some of my favorite Substack writers. I neglected to add your name. Fixed that error today. Sorry about the initial oversight, Kate.
https://substack.com/@bairdbrightman/note/c-114150424?r=2ks6k8&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Thank you, Baird! Yes, Plath continues to fascinate me also. And thank you so much for including me on this list! Genuinely humbled 🙂