Depression In The Bell Jar Sylvia Plath

I bought the audio book for The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, which was narrated by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The bell jar she refers to is a metaphor of how she feels suffocating, stewing in her own “sour air”. (Plath, S.) She also refers to the bell jar as something many people around her seem to have that are in denial, perhaps not even just in their own madness, but about everything. In chapter 7 Esther bring up feeling inadequate. (Lit Charts) Esther doesn’t seem to recognize her own accomplishments. In my opinion that is exactly how Sylvia Plath, the author, was. No matter what she accomplished she was stuck in her own depression and didn’t see how amazing of a writer she truly was. She was focused on what she was not more than what she was. She once felt very ambitious and had a plan and now she looks at herself as unmotivated and unsure about her own future, just as Plath herself. Unlike Plath, Esther is about to get out of the asylum, hopefully. However, I don’t …show more content…
Dysthymia with is a mild form and if someone were to have depression for at least 2 years. Perinatal depression also known as post-partum depression caused by a hormone imbalance due to child birth. Psychotic depression which is a more severe case which means they also have some form of other disorder along with depression. Seasonal affective disorder which is common in Northern states where the weather is very gloomy during the Winter months. Bi-polar disorder which is different than depression, but seems to fall under the same symptoms as severe depression, but with more extreme highs and lows. (Depression) I believe Sylvia Plath had persistent depressive disorder where Esther, in The Bell Jar, had more of a Psychotic depression because she seemed to hallucinate a bit and see things that were not really happening, or perhaps perceived things in a more obscure way. If there had been the treatment for her back then that they have today, Sylvia Plath might still be