Themes: All Themes
Themes: Culture Clash
In contrast to many women attending Smith College in the 1950s, Esther Greenwood from The Bell Jardoes not come from a privileged background. Her family depends on her mother's salary as a typing instructor and Esther's full scholarship, which deprives her of luxuries such as pricey clothing, travel, and vacation homes. Consequently, Esther is left out of the college's primary social scene and can only truly integrate by marrying into it. Aware...
(Read more)Themes: Sex Roles
The Bell Jarexplores the economic struggles of a gifted student with limited financial resources while also examining the gender roles of the 1950s. During this time, women typically did not attend college to become self-sufficient; they were expected to eventually marry. The novel introduces three women who have crafted their own paths: the plain editor Jay Cee, who has sacrificed some femininity for career success; the writer Philomena Guinea,...
(Read more)Themes: Search for Self
In The Bell Jar, Esther is on a constant quest to discover her true self, yet she faces significant restrictions as a young woman with limited financial freedom. After a discouraging summer working as a guest editor in New York City, she is turned down for an esteemed writing program, leading to a gradual decline in her mental health and aspirations. She imagines numerous wild scenarios for achieving happiness and fulfillment, such as becoming a...
(Read more)Themes: Point of View
The Bell Jaris told entirely from Esther Greenwood's perspective, using a first-person narrative. This viewpoint immerses the reader in Esther's experience as a guest editor during the bleak summer of 1953, her selective memories from childhood and college, her romantic entanglements, her mental breakdown, and her subsequent period of institutionalization and recovery. Despite her sharp intellect, discerning readers might question the...
(Read more)Themes: Setting
The majority of The Bell Jar is physically set in New York City and the Boston region. The story mainly takes place in the latter half of 1953. However, Esther sometimes mentions earlier events in her storytelling. Metaphorically, much of the novel takes place within the mind of the main character, Esther Greenwood.
(Read more)Themes: Symbolism
At its core, The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath's sole novel, explores the societal pressure on young women in the 1950s to marry. Esther's depression is partly driven by her anxiety that she won't be a suitable wife for various reasons: she lacks cooking skills, is too tall, and is not a good dancer. Unfortunately, she sees her strengths—intelligence, ambition, and literary talent—as drawbacks in the marriage market. At times, Esther feels she could...
(Read more)Themes: Coming-of-Age Story
One way to view The Bell Jar is as a coming-of-age narrative where Esther, after facing a series of intense challenges, achieves a brief moment of clarity that helps her navigate a world she is all too familiar with.
At the age of nineteen, Esther is invited to New York City as one of twelve "guest" editors for a renowned women's magazine. Despite her "fifteen years of straight A's," her academic achievements have not prepared her for the new...
(Read more)Themes: Mental Health and Recovery
After returning to her suburban Boston home, Esther's condition worsens; the disillusionment and decline that began in New York continue without pause. Estranged from her nagging, moralizing mother and Buddy Willard, a tuberculosis-afflicted medical student to whom she is loosely engaged, Esther spirals into severe depression. Her encounters with Dr. Gordon, an incompetent psychiatrist, and a poorly administered electroshock therapy session drive...
(Read more)Themes: Critique of Modern Culture and Feminism
The Bell Jar presents the "American Dream" as ordinary, unforgiving, and superficial, offering a critique of contemporary culture. Additionally, it acts as a feminist critique of a society dominated by men. Most importantly, though, The Bell Jar delves into the challenges faced by a young woman as she seeks to find harmony with her environment and her evolving identity.
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