Scan barcode
A review by trish1oo1
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Languid prose that is sprinkled with dry humor and feminism. I think this solidifies that i just don’t like literary fiction.
esther’s journey is fascinating. initially she just feels empty when her life is seemly perfect and doesn’t not want to fit into the stereotypical 1950s feminine role. as the novel progresses she begins to show signs of depression and paranoia. unfortunate, she doesn’t get the correct treatment for it because she’s in the 1950’s (which makes me celebrate how far medicine has come.) she got lobotomies, like that’s insane. also there is this notion that the bell jar-a metaphor for her mental state- that is suffocating her lifts and “clears” directly after electroshock therapy. that has got to be a placebo right?
besides that Esther is selfish and demonstrates this multiple times through the novel. this could be partly due to her mental illness, her depression causing her to not care about anyone but herself. but i believe this behavior is a defining characteristic of her. she is self centered, early in the novel and later into it. i don’t particularly like Esther but i understand her. this was a bleak journey.
also should be mentioned Sylvia Plath wrote this as a Roman a clef and shortly after publishing this novel she committed suicide. I feel wrong judging this book because of that. this is basically an autobiography. but if im looking at this solely as a piece of literature it’s definitely not my favorite.
**also, Esther says so prejudiced things against a few marginalized communities. there’s undertones it’s not very overt and i do understand the time period this was written/set in but it’s a little uncomfortable to read
esther’s journey is fascinating. initially she just feels empty when her life is seemly perfect and doesn’t not want to fit into the stereotypical 1950s feminine role. as the novel progresses she begins to show signs of depression and paranoia. unfortunate, she doesn’t get the correct treatment for it because she’s in the 1950’s (which makes me celebrate how far medicine has come.) she got lobotomies, like that’s insane. also there is this notion that the bell jar-a metaphor for her mental state- that is suffocating her lifts and “clears” directly after electroshock therapy. that has got to be a placebo right?
besides that Esther is selfish and demonstrates this multiple times through the novel. this could be partly due to her mental illness, her depression causing her to not care about anyone but herself. but i believe this behavior is a defining characteristic of her. she is self centered, early in the novel and later into it. i don’t particularly like Esther but i understand her. this was a bleak journey.
also should be mentioned Sylvia Plath wrote this as a Roman a clef and shortly after publishing this novel she committed suicide. I feel wrong judging this book because of that. this is basically an autobiography. but if im looking at this solely as a piece of literature it’s definitely not my favorite.
**also, Esther says so prejudiced things against a few marginalized communities. there’s undertones it’s not very overt and i do understand the time period this was written/set in but it’s a little uncomfortable to read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Body shaming, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Homophobia, Racism, and Blood