The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (1963)

Dallas Plotline Page
Apr 12, 2024
4 min read

Welcome to the first edition of what I call "should have read it in college!" I have both a degree in literature and a minor in women's studies, which is the exact intersection of The Bell Jar categories, and somehow I had not read this story before now. In some ways I recognized my younger self in Esther, and wish I had read the story sooner to feel that personal connection. If you've ever felt unmoored or pessimistic about your future, this is the story for you. Let's talk all about it!

The Gist

Esther Greenwood is spending a summer in New York for a college internship at a ladies' fashion magazine. While in the hustle and swelter of the big city, Esther grapples with her waning ambitions and growing dread for the future. What results is a slow spiral into insanity with no apparent hope for a happy life.

The Take

The Bell Jar is at its core a feminist work, but its ingenuity is in a broader portrayal of the young adult crisis. This novel intimately explores the terrifying feelings so many of us experience, particularly in our teens and twenties, as we try to answer the age old question of what we want to be when we grow up. Esther is in New York for the summer to pursue her interest in writing, only to find herself consumed by a hollow feeling. She then has a crisis of identity, unable to relate to her fellow interns and ultimately questioning whether her directionless life is worth continuing. This overwhelming sense of inadequacy hits all of us at one point or another, making Esther infinitely relatable in her crisis of self.

I personally experienced this level of imposter syndrome and lack of direction during my graduate work. School had always been a point of pride for me, so barely squeaking into the program from the waitlist started me off on my back foot. Then I spent all but the first day of orientation panicking about what to do after my degree, because I quickly discovered that a doctorate was not my path. Esther has this growing sense of dread during her internship and then time at home, where she cannot fathom any future for herself. Even her laughable engagement - which is tenuously ongoing because she has the manners to not reject a man being treated for TB - contains a dark undercurrent of threat for an unsatisfying domestic life. It is no wonder Esther feels backed into a corner as she sees all of her options fade away.

At many points in this novel I was yelling (in my head, to myself), "Who among us hasn't?!" Esther's plight throughout the story, from her inability to fixate on her future plans to her inadequacy in comparison to the peers who seem more present and happy, matches the experiences of so many of us. Her fears are pervasive in our society, regardless of age or status. I saw so many of my past fears and current anxieties in Esther's situation. While I have self-assurance that I will not end up institutionalized like Esther, I did see facets of my most vulnerable self in her.

As I noted above, this is functionally a feminist focused novel. Esther has few career options before her, and has constant anxiety about becoming pregnant and trapping herself in the role of housewife - which she staunchly opposes as a viable path for herself. The intervention of contraception, a hotly debated topic even 60 years later, provides her with some relief, but she still must face the overwhelming ennui plaguing her. Taking this retrospective look at the women of the day, I noticed that many examples of the feminine limitations are blessedly past us, though the societal pressure is still thriving.

While I have been waxing poetic about the relatability of Esther's journey in the story, I want to point out that this is the darkest timeline version of these anxieties. Esther has pervasive thoughts about suicide and at multiple points tries to bring those ideas to fruition. She reaches a point of instability that requires time in mental hospitals where she undergoes electrotherapy and witnesses tragedies of her fellow patients. It is due to these factors that I suggest you exercise caution if you feel as though your mental health is in a fragile place.

On a smaller scale, I didn't like Esther's fixation on losing her virginity once she circumvented her fear of unintentional pregnancy. While I understand it is indicative of her transition into adulthood and independence, I felt as though too much time was dedicated to her pursuit when so many other important developments were taking place.

The Bell Jar is a novel I would recommend to many people, especially those who have felt pangs of indecision and lack of confidence. Esther goes through a perilous journey of self doubt and disintegration in her burgeoning adulthood that is reminiscent of many peoples' lives, and Sylvia Plath manages to provide an intimate view of this unraveling. While I hesitate to recommend it to those of you who are in a more precarious mental space, I think plenty of people can benefit from a twisted camaraderie with Esther.

Rating: 8/10

Memorable Moments

“The trouble was, I had been inadequate all along, I simply hadn't thought about it.” Re-la-ta-ble moment of imposter syndrome.
The skiing scene is such an apt metaphor for people telling you not to do something and being proven right, but not letting it stop you from making your own decisions.
The ending scene gave me an unexpected jolt of optimism for Esther.

Try It If...

You want a nuanced portrayal of a character descending into mental collapse.
You want to read about the navigation of femininity in the 1960s.
You too were supposed to read this in college and didn't.

Avoid It If...

You are sensitive to discussions of suicide or sexual assault.
You do not want to read about mental illness or institutionalization.
You prefer to read about characters who have a sense of purpose or direction.

Let me know in the comments below if you're thinking about picking up The Bell Jar!