The Bell Jar Study Guide
New York City, New York,1953(United States)
Sylvia Plath wrote only one novel and it was enough for her to make a name for herself as a great writer. “The Bell Jar” is in part an autobiographical book that talks about the mental state of the protagonist who tried to take her own life.
The novel concerns the life of Esther Greenwood, who is a student living in Massachusetts. At the beginning of the plot, she is in New York going through an editorial internship and getting a very good treatment from her supervisor and the organizers of the trip. Despite all that, she doesn’t feel comfortable. She has trouble understanding her friends, has a difficult relationship with men and questions her abilities and future.
The girl is torn between a desire to get married and devote herself to the husband and kids and the urge to fulfill her potential and ambitions. She has a very acute sense of justice and can’t forgive her boyfriend for cheating on her. As a result of many small upsetting events and a cruel psychological treatment, the girl decides to kill herself.
Her attempt fails and she is sent to a number of mental hospitals and clinics. The reader follows the ups and downs of her treatment progress and, in the meantime, Esther manages to live her life, builds friendships and loses her virginity. She goes back to school but knows that it’s only a matter of time until the madness comes back to hunt her.
“The Bell Jar” is a dark novel that nevertheless deserves to be read and discovered. Our society often underestimates the effects depression can have on a person and tends to stigmatize people who ask for help. It’s important to understand that mental illness is a condition, and in no way it is a sign of weakness or cowardice.
Author: Wayne Byrd
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