The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, I would consider now one of my favorite books. Esther is brought to life with Plath’s diction and syntax and is a real person that so many girls can relate to. Although there were times in her life that were really low, in my eyes, she can still be seen as a role model. At one point of her depression she had considered becoming Catholic because she thought they might talk her out of wanting to commit suicide, which I think is a sign that she wanted to be saved but did not know how. Fortunately Esther finally, how Sylvia Plath put it, was able to come out of the bell jar and breathe the air circulating in the sky around her. Esther’s life may not have been a real but there has been similar cases in which the depressed girl never comes out of the “bell jar” and ends up dying by old age or by committing suicide, which is probably the most common. That is why Esther can be a great role model, because she acknowledged her problem and accepted help. Through these great qualities she was able to come out healthy in the end.
My curiosity grew as I progressed in the book. How did Esther’s depression come to be? One can say it was because of her lack of direction. She had no where to look to and nothing to look forward to in her life, so she resolved to a big jar of emptiness and nothingness. I happen to think it is something much more than that. Somewhere in the story, Esther said she was never truly happy since she was nine years old. It was year after year of unhappiness in her life that kept catching up to her until she finally could not take it any longer. But, why was she not happy? The day Esther’s father died was not stated, but I think is important in playing a part in her depression. Esther once said that if her father was alive, he would have taught her how to speak and read different languages like German or Latin. My theory is that the death of Esther’s life had a huge impact on her, but since her mom paid no attention to it, neither did she. Esther silently grieved for her father for so many years until she found his grave and was able to pour out all her sadness. This still did not relieve her from all those years of pain, so rehabilitation became necessary in the eyes of professionals.
As I was reading, i began thinking about how alike my thoughts were to Esther's. It scared me as she got more insane, but I agree that she is a relateable character. I feel that that is a testament to Plath's style that so easily draws in a reader. The way that she delivers the story and what she chooses to divulge create and intimate relationship with her audience.
ReplyDeleteI questioned Esther's illness in this same way. I think that the mention of her father and the circumstances surrounding his death certainly play a role. Beyond that, I feel also that the pressure she put on herself to be successful must have been a contributing factor as well. To me, it seems a product of her personality and circumstance. She always thought of herself in relation to people and her surroundings (as evident by the plethora of metaphors and similes) and as she found herself overwhelmed or inadequate Esther became consumed by her thoughts.