In 1959, Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton met in Boston while studying in Robert Lowell's poetry writing class, a landmark event in the development of the Confessional poetry movement. They were not rivals but rather supported each other, becoming sources of strength for one another. Their friendship transcended personal affection, evolving into a cultural landscape within the scope of literary history, showcasing the self-awareness and spirit of mutual aid among female creative subjects. Although the two experienced a period of estrangement early on due to a romantic affair, they ultimately reconciled, maintaining a transatlantic correspondence where their letters became secret vessels for their creative intertextuality.

"The Art of Death" and "The Limits of Life"

This section delves deeply into the complex intertextual relationship between the lives and works of these two Confessional poets, Plath and Sexton. Plath, as a feminist symbol, had poetry intricately linked to her life; she yearned for self-expression while avoiding overexposure, a tension vividly manifested in Confessional poetics. Although Plath and Sexton had distinct personalities, their meeting in a psychiatric hospital and their shared exploration of death became significant intersections in their lives and creative works. Plath viewed death as an art, while Sexton pursued "poetic truth" through her poetry. Their poems are not merely records of personal experience but also explorations of the psychological limits of humanity. Confessional poets challenged traditional taboos with bold writing; their works, often misunderstood as mere self-exposure, are in fact artistic fabrications and profound insights into the broader human condition.

Confessional Echoes: Exchanging Courage and Anger

This section further explores the life intertextuality between the Confessional poets Plath and Sexton. Sexton, with her unique emotional depth and direct confrontation with pain, influenced Plath's work, leading her later writings to turn toward depicting real-life situations, such as the portrayal of female psychological crisis in *The Bell Jar*. Plath's poetry possesses a potent intensity and toxicity; her work *Lesbos* not only foreshadowed her own fate but also seemed to hint at the fate of her rival Assia, revealing the complex emotional dynamics between her and her rival. Sexton's evaluation of Plath shifted from initial dissatisfaction to later defense and anger. The two influenced each other creatively: Sexton's poetic style impacted Plath, while Plath imbued Sexton with greater anger. Their poetry both carries strong feminist voices, running counter to the social expectations of their time, and showcases the trauma and self-awakening of modern women.

The Belated Second Wave of Feminism

This section discusses the survival struggles and dilemmas faced by Plath and Sexton prior to the feminist wave. Sexton self-destructed under societal expectations, painfully attempting to play the role of a housewife; Plath, as a top student, harbored inner rage while striving to balance family and career. Both faced difficulties in their marriages. Influenced by Sexton, Plath entered her creative peak after her marriage collapsed, yet it ultimately ended in tragedy.

The Switch That Won't Turn Off

This section delves deeply into the life intertextuality of these two Confessional poets, Plath and Sexton, revealing their profound connections in terms of femininity, creative backgrounds, marital lives, and reflections on motherhood and childbirth. Plath's femininity is evident in her transformation of personal hysteria into universal emotional resonance. Much of her work was created around 4 a.m., a time that was both her only personal time after a busy day as a housewife and a symbol of women's struggle between domestic labor and self-perception. In her letters, Sexton expressed a sense of isolation from the world, while Plath depicted women's dilemmas within the family through her verses. Both of their marital lives were filled with violence and struggle; Plath's marriage to Hughes was particularly difficult due to life pressures and creative pursuits. Their reflections on motherhood and childbirth profoundly reveal the pain and helplessness women experience during childbirth, and how this pain lurks deep within the female body, ready to be reawakened at any moment. Furthermore, the chapter emphasizes the importance of feminism, pointing out that true gender equality can only be achieved by fundamentally shaking the patriarchal system. Finally, by mentioning Sexton's passing and her daughters' commemoration of her, it highlights the profound impact of these two poets' life-costly writing and intellectual practice on future generations. Their "life intertextuality" was not merely literary exchange but also a resistance and symbiosis by women under poetic order and gender discipline, laying the groundwork for the second wave of feminism. Future research could further excavate their unpublished letters, manuscripts, and other legacies to trace the ongoing impact of this "life intertextuality" in literary and intellectual history.