What mental illness does The Bell Jar have?
The Bell Jar is a 1963 novel by Sylvia Plath describing the decline of main character Esther into a depressive episode and her stay in a psychiatric ward. Plath herself had recurrent depression and was hospitalised for this. She completed suicide a month after the book’s publication.
What is the message of The Bell Jar?
The Bell Jar addresses the question of socially acceptable identity. It examines Esther’s “quest to forge her own identity, to be herself rather than what others expect her to be.” Esther is expected to become a housewife, and a self-sufficient woman, without the options to achieve independence.
How long did it take Sylvia Plath to write The Bell Jar?
70 days
She completed a draft in 70 days.
What happens to Esther at the end of the book?
After being rejected for a writing class, Esther must spend the rest of her summer at home with her mother; Esther’s father died when she was young. She struggles to write a novel and becomes increasingly despondent, making several half-hearted suicide attempts. She ultimately overdoses on sleeping pills but survives.
Who is Doreen in The Bell Jar?
Doreen. Esther’s companion in New York, a blond, beautiful southern girl with a sharp tongue. Esther envies Doreen’s nonchalance in social situations, and the two share a witty, cynical perspective on their position as guest editors for a fashion magazine.
What is a bell jar a metaphor of?
In The Bell Jar, the main character uses the bell jar as the primary metaphor for feelings of confinement and entrapment. She feels that she’s stuck in her own head, spinning around the same thoughts of self-doubt and dejection, over and over again, with no hope of escape.
Why did Esther bleeding in The Bell Jar?
When she loses her virginity, she bleeds so copiously that she must seek medical attention. The presence of blood suggests a ritual sacrifice: Esther will sacrifice her body for peace of mind, and sacrifice her virginity for the sake of experience.
How old was Sylvia Plath when she died?
30 years (1932–1963)Sylvia Plath / Age at death
How much of The Bell Jar is true?
Although neither myth presents a wholly accurate picture, truth exists in both. The Bell Jar does not label its protagonist’s life as either martyred or heroic. Plath does not attribute Esther’s instability to men, society, or Esther herself, although she does criticize all three.
Who is Jay Cee in The Bell Jar?
Jay Cee is the editor of Ladies’ Day magazine. She skillfully manages all the difficult people whom she has to deal with, and she does it diplomatically; she is a good manager and organizer.
What kind of book is the bell jar?
The Bell Jar. Jump to navigation Jump to search. Novel by Sylvia Plath. The Bell Jar is the only novel written by the American writer and poet Sylvia Plath. Originally published under the pseudonym “Victoria Lucas” in 1963, the novel is semi-autobiographical, with the names of places and people changed.
Is the bell jar written by Sylvia Plath?
For the scientific apparatus, see bell jar. For the 1979 film, see The Bell Jar (film). First edition cover, published under Sylvia Plath’s pseudonym, “Victoria Lucas”. The Bell Jar is the only novel written by the American writer and poet Sylvia Plath.
What is the JSTOR number for the bell jar?
JSTOR 1207445. ^ a b Bonds, Diane (October 1990). “The Separative Self in Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar” (PDF). Women’s Studies. Routledge. 18 (1): 49–64. doi: 10.1080/00497878.1990.9978819. Retrieved March 19, 2012. ^ a b Tsank, Stephanie (Summer 2010). “The Bell Jar: A Psychological Case Study”. Plath Profiles. Indiana University. 3.
What is a bell jar in a bell jar?
A bell jar is a scientific device which encloses a space and draws the air out of it. Here, it stands for “Esther’s mental suffocation by the unavoidable settling of depression upon her psyche”. Throughout the novel, Esther talks of it suffocating her, and recognizes moments of clarity when it is lifted.