Esther

One integral metaphor within The Bell Jar is that of the fig tree, which Esther uses to describe her life. She envisions her life as a fig tree spreading out its branches into various futures she could have. One branch symbolizes what society expects of her: to have a husband, children, and a “happy home” (Plath 84). Other branches symbolize a combination of what society expects of her and what she expects of herself: to be a “famous poet,” a “brilliant professor,” or an “amazing editor” (Plath…

understand her metaphors. Plath uses a clear example of simile when Esther is dragging herself down about her looks. Esther is comparing her appearance and talents to other people as if she is “a racehorse in a world without racetracks or a champion college footballer suddenly confronted by wall street and a business suit” as all of her accomplishments shrink down to a small dated trophy “like a tombstone” (77). This simile compares Esther to a successful person who cannot find their niche…

with that of the broader organizations of patriarchal power within American society. Esther seems to be in conflict with the idea of sexuality. She is at confusion with the idea of morality and her natural drives. Her false notions of sexuality sprang up mostly from the illogical advices of her mother. As Esther says “My mother had always told me never under any circumstances to go with a man to…

that women must meet has always been a high bar to reach, but it was especially hard in Victorian England. In his novel Bleak House, Charles Dickens lays out his idea of a perfect Victorian woman, setting the bar almost out of reach. His protagonist, Esther, is the epitome of woman; she is contrasted with other women that have failed to make the mark. These women, who are mere stereotypes of Victorian females, include but are not limited to Mrs. Jellyby and Miss Wisk. With each "bad" woman,…

disconnected- from family, friends, nature, life, etc.- may not realize the harm they are causing by forcing themselves into this emotional exile. In Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, Esther Greenwood spirals into a state of detachment, at first unintentionally, but then purposely. By being unaware of this emotional turmoil, Esther digs herself into a hole of deep-rooted depression and mental…

seem to take on that lying is acceptable in many incidents as seen through his actions, irony and symbolism used throughout the story. Georgie’s intentions and his actions towards Esther and Lanae were only to help them, so babysitting Esther was to help Leana while she and her current partner was at work ,and taking Esther where she wanted was to make up the time he lost with her and to keep her happy but through this lies started. Although when his…

given, people don’t really look at it that way. In the world today, geniuses all over the world lose a little bit of themselves in order to fit into these preconceived standards society has made. In “The Bell Jar”, impeccably smart college student Esther Greenwood feels conflicted in her life with the combination of her oppressive surroundings and slowly growing madness. Although…

a 14-year-old boy. No one except Aunt Esther, who was very loyal to the family. Michael had not liked his aunt and said she was selfish. Soon, Michael brings home a hermit crab, named Sluggo, and he and Aunt Esther try to bond. Aunt Esther didn’t know what the hermit crab did, but she tried for Michael. Finally, Michael and Aunt Esther buy a lot more hermit crabs, but put nail polish on Sluggo so he could stand out from the other crabs. Michael and Aunt Esther bonded with the crabs. At the same…

her everyday college life and her successes. It leads her to over-work her mind and have a nervous breakdown. The novel is a journey through the mind of the young college girl, Esther Greenwood, and her slow descent into insanity. It is an intriguing insight at how the mind works, or in Esther’s case, turns against her. Esther is a young college student who has had much success is her life. She has achieved many different awards, and at the beginning of the book, she goes to New York City for a…

being a housewife as their life career just as Esther, in the Bell Jar, observes a gap between what society says she should experience and what she does experience, and the sad thing is the same mindset is still viewed on women today. Society expects women of Esther’s age and station to act cheerful, flexible, and confident, and Esther feels she must repress her natural gloom, cynicism, and dark humor. Today there is a significant change of how women…