The Bell Jar

The Bell Jar is written by Sylvia Plath and published by William Heinemann Limited in London in 1963. This is the only novel written by American author and poet Plath and was first published under the name Victoria Lucas. This semi-autobiography based in New York City in 1953 tells the story of Esther Greenwood and her journey in the city and road down depression. Plath focuses on theme such as restricted roles of women in the 50’s in America and with sub-themes like success equals career. Esther Greenwood is from the suburbs of Boston that won a summer internship at a magazine called Ladies Day. Her and eleven other college ladies had specific schedules that include work, fashion events and parties. There she meets good girl Betsy, reckless and careless Doreen and Jay Cee Greenwoods hardworking manager. I think each of these characters…

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…

The Bell Jar, written by Sylvia Plath, is an outstanding piece of work that focuses on the story of a young woman developing into adult. However, it does not follow the usual procedures of adolescent development into adulthood. Rather than undergoing the progressive education about the world affairs and making a transitioning into adulthood, Esther takes a step back and regresses into madness. All the beginnings of this lady are usually disastrous and disorienting including her first time in New…

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…

In this section of The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath I chose to focus on how Esther feels about herself, and her life so far. Esther does not really know what she wants to do with her life anymore, and she is really unsure about a lot of things. Esther wants to do a lot in life, but she realizes that she can’t and gets disappointed. Esther is really confused about where her life is going, which brings on a lot of self-doubt. Esther is really confused about where her life is going, and is confused…

Pressure on Women in the 1950s Can Lead to Depression In the Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath the nineteen-year-old college student, Esther, wins guest editorship at a fashion magazine called Ladies’ Day. Although she seems to be living her dreams in New York, her plans unexpectedly change. Plath uses the magazine, relationships with men, friends, marriage, and her mother to illustrate that social pressure on women in the 1950s could lead to depression. Plath shows how Esther’s job at Ladies’ Day, the…

Plath’s content reactions were recorded throughout her experiences at a hospital in which she was confronted with things that the average person may find completely gruesome and morbid. While observing mental patients and dead fetuses held in jars, she becomes increasingly curious and fascinated. Plath’s strange perception and obsession different from the typical person becomes obvious to readers when she responds to a question by saying, “Wonderful, I could see something like that every day”…

The Bell Jar The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath, is a realistic, and shocking novel of a woman falling into the grips of insanity. The novel is a semi-autobiography, which means some of the things that happened in the book did happen. Sylvia Plath, will play the character Esther Greenwood, while as all the other characters had been people she met that gave her an idea of that character. The Bell Jar, is about a 19 year old girl named, Esther Greenwood, who undergoes a series of events before finding…

The Bell Jar was written around the 1950’s and 1960’s, when women were expected to adhere to specific societal norms. Often, these norms included being a mother of children, staying at home cleaning or cooking, and being an obedient wife. Society placed high importance, along with these expectations/behaviors, on the women while they were at home or in public. Society accepted women who met all these factors. Esther, a character in The Bell Jar, and Sylvia’s autobiographical figure, lacks all of…

“In a society that tries to standardize thinking, individuality is not highly prized” - Alex Grey, American visionary artist and author. Written in 1963 by Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar is a stunningly intricate novel that tells the story of Esther Greenwood, a 19-year-old woman who has just been awarded an internship at Ladies Day Magazine in New York city. Although her life seems beautiful and full of opportunities, Esther comes to despise it as she slowly loses her mind upon returning from New…