…* to learn that money makes life smooth in some ways, and to feel how tight and threadbare life is if you have too little. * to despise money, which is a farce, mere paper, and to hate what you have to do for it, and yet to long to have it in order to be free from slaving for it. * to yearn toward art, music, ballet and good books, and get them only in tantalizing snatches.
In Sylvia Plath's "The Unabridged Journals," she reflects on the dual nature of money in life. On one hand, she acknowledges how it can alleviate struggles and bring a certain smoothness to existence, particularly when it's scarce. This contrast highlights the difficulties of living with insufficient financial resources, revealing the stark realities one faces without enough money.
On the other hand, Plath expresses a deep disdain for money, viewing it as a superficial construct that requires individuals to compromise their values and desires. Despite her aversion, she recognizes the necessity of money to attain freedom and the ability to enjoy life's finer aspects, such as art, music, and literature, which often feel just out of reach.
