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A review by juliec617
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sylvia Plath's semi-autobiographical bookThe Bell Jar, follows Esther Greenwood who is a college student with dreams of becoming a poet. She first has an internship in New York, which is unfulfilling and leaves her issues regarding her sense of self and societal expectations.
**SPOILER**
When Greenwood is back in Massachusetts she is under strong psychological distress, including a suicide attempt, causing her mother to send her to a psychiatric hospital.
As Greenwood improves, psychologically, she is given more freedom from the hospital to go out and stay out late, which allows her to loose her virginity. One of her friends in the hospital kills herself and Esther is allowed to appeal the board of doctors in an attempt to leave and go back to college.
The last scene is Ester entering the room.
**SPOILER**
When Greenwood is back in Massachusetts she is under strong psychological distress, including a suicide attempt, causing her mother to send her to a psychiatric hospital.
As Greenwood improves, psychologically, she is given more freedom from the hospital to go out and stay out late, which allows her to loose her virginity. One of her friends in the hospital kills herself and Esther is allowed to appeal the board of doctors in an attempt to leave and go back to college.
The last scene is Ester entering the room.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt