Plath’s The Bell Jar: A quick review of a disappointing read…
About the book
Title: The Bell Jar
Author: Sylvia Plath
Publication Date: 1963 (under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas)
Page count: ~244
Genre: Semi-autobiographical Fiction, Psychological Fiction
What’s it about
We follow 19-year-old Esther Greenwood during a summer internship at a New York City magazine. Disconnected and disillusioned, she struggles with her mental health. After returning home to Massachusetts, her depression deepens, leading to suicide attempts and hospitalization. With the help of Dr. Nolan and proper treatment, Esther begins to recover, ultimately facing the prospect of returning to school and resuming her life.
The novel explores themes such as mental illness and depression, detailing Esther‘s sense of hopelessness amid her mental stuggle and her journey thorough psychiatric treatment, isolation and alineation, for she doesn’t relate to her surroundings, and the woman societal role, highlighting Esther‘s resitance to traditional paths like marriage and motherhood.
Favourite passage:
I was sitting under the same glass bell jar, stewing in my sour air. I had tried to make a deal with the sun, and I could not feel the heat. The shadows on the glass were so long and so high. It was like a bubble, with nothing outside it but a shiny, yellowish black. I was like a freak, a thing that ought to be killed. I had felt so empty and so cold, that I could hardly stand it.
My Thoughts
tHE WRITING style
“The Bell Jar” is written from Esther’s perspective, offering an intimate look into her thoughts and emotions. Accompanied by vivid imagery that portrays Esther’s inner emotional turmoil, the book is supposed to provide a unique experience. However, it did not for me. While the refined poetic language and lyrical prose reflect Plath’s background as a poet, this beauty in writing creates a barrier for readers like me, a literature novice. Instead of deepening my connection with Esther, the complex language distanced me from her pain.
The pace
The novel is a quick read with moments of reflection that dive into Esther’s feelings, thoughts, and surroundings. While it’s not packed with constant action, it’s definitely not a long, descriptive book that drags on with ideas. The story follows Esther’s journey from her summer job at “Ladies’ Day” magazine in New York, through her college days, her struggles with mental health, and her experiences in different asylums. Despite finding the language challenging at times, I kept turning the pages because I was eager to find out what would happen to Esther in the end.
Recommendation
I wouldn’t recommend “The Bell Jar” to someone new to literature or anyone who’s easily unsettled by intense topics. The book deals with heavy subjects like mental health and suicide, which might be overwhelming and confusing if you’re sensitive to these issues. And as I said, if you’re just starting out with literature, this book might not be the best choice. Personally, I didn’t connect with the book or its main character, and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped. Definitely a book that made me question my TBR List…