McLean Hospital

example Plath states: “I felt verys till and very empty, the way the eye of a tornado must feel, moving dully along the middle of surrounding hullabaloo.” (P. 3). Sylvia went to a mental facility herself, and received treatments, just as her autobiographical character, Esther, does. Plath was diagnosed with depression by Dr. Lindemann who did not take her illness seriously. He believed that, “Sylvia suffered no mental disease or psychosis” and she would recover fully. (Hemphill, Stephanie “Your Own Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath. P.84). With no solution for her plaguing detriment given by her doctor, Plath attempted to find one herself, even going as far as to check herself into a mental asylum. Plath attended McLean mental hospital. At this hospital, treatments, for what were thought to help depressed individuals, were administered to Plath. These treatments included electroshock therapy. Esther and Plath both receive unnecessary electroshock therapy as a means to solve their mental illness. As science can prove now a days, this treatment cannot cure someone of depression. In conclusion, this means that Plath was severely depressed while writing The Bell Jar since she was never cured of her ailment. This can explain why Plath decides to reveal who she Peck 6 really is and voice her opinions, as she commits suicide less than a month after The Bell Jar is published.…

A young woman searching for her very own identity in a society where basic values are less likely to be tampered with. In "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath, she faces horrific mental, physical, and emotional breakdowns throughout her life to figure out her purpose. Esther Greenwood's dreams and aspirations are smothered by her demanding environment and impinging madness. Esther is probable to fall into a crisis or two and lose her courage to live life. In "The Bell Jar", Esther seeks out crisis…

In the book “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath the theme is family before anything. Family is the most meaningful concept on earth. Your family cares, loves, and protects. Without your family you would be nowhere. Having your family will help get past your troubles, support, and help succeed in the future. First, in the beginning of the book, Esther did not have a connection with her family. “My own mother wasn’t much help” (39). Esther’s mother was callous on her. Her mother had to take care of 2…

resonates with Esther’s views because it focuses on her experiences with Buddy. Additionally, the two parties have a different outlook on the men and women’s roles in life. Therefore, they hold different religions despite attending the same church. In chapter 7, Esther also revisits the fig tree, but she focuses on all the things she has always wanted to be (Sylvia 125). However, it becomes challenging to decide on what she intends to pursue in life. While other women marry and begin families,…

“The Bell Jar” by Victoria Lucas (Pseudonym of Sylvia Plath) was first time published on 14 January 1963 in the U.S of America after her death in a same year. This book was written as novel by Sylvia Lucas, but in comparison with her life before this book, we can clearly say that it is autobiographical book, where the author tries to wright her personal story but under different name, Plath choose Esther Greenwood as her protégé in the book. Both of them had experience with magazines and…

Figurative Language Comparison Sylvia Plath’s writes with frequent comparisons, always keeping the reader inclined to keep reading to further 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…

This excerpt from Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar describes the main character’s feelings that madness separates her from the outside world. Referring to those feelings as the “bell jar,” Plath explores the themes of reality, sexuality, and femininity. Plath also creates a tone of hopelessness and gloom as the main character battles with suicidal depression. Esther Greenwood is full of academic promise and ambition. She should be thrilled with her progress towards her career, but she feels…

American author, Ralph Ellison, once wrote, “When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.” In The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, the main character Esther is left at loose ends when the novel ends as to whether or not she will be released from a mental institution. As the reader follows Esther’s descent and ascension from her mental illness, it is wholly unclear as to what will become of her at the end; however, it is heavily implied that Esther is released from the mental hospital because of the…

Causes and Impact of Depression in The Bell Jar “The longer I lay there in the clear hot water the purer I felt, and when I stepped out at last and wrapped myself in one of the big, soft white hotel bath towels I felt pure and sweet as a new baby” (Plath 49). The aforementioned “purity” is attributed to transformation, the washing away of the dirt as she descends into a cleaner self. Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar morphs this idea of sanity and purity twisting it to make us all question if a glass…

Daddy and Lady Lazarus are poems written in 1963, by Sylvia Plath and were shortly released after her death. Sylvia Plath is a famous American poet born in October 27, 1932. Plath was really depressed since at the age of 10 after her Father's death. She tried to commit suicide multiple times and failed.Plath's famous Poems “Daddy” and “Lady Lazarus” are mainly influenced on her depression and her complex relationship with her Dad and her husband Ted Hughes. Ted hughes leaving Plath left her…