LITERARY ANALYSIS- The Bell Jar and Symbolism
Symbolism in The Bell Jar
An idea of individuality is imperative when dealing with the numerous emotional and physical trials in life. The ability to express ourselves plays a key role in understanding and responding to the things that surround people. In “The Bell Jar”, Esther’s mental health problems and staunched individuality are symbolized through the bell jar metaphor. Ester is a young woman who feels oppressed by societies views and responsibilities placed on women. The weight she feels not only results in her mental and social isolation, but also her growing mental instability. Esther is profoundly troubled by the hypocritical, “cookie-cutter” views she is surrounded by and feels overwhelmed and powerless. She feels as though she is trapped in her own inner world of alienation, a personal “bell jar” if you will. Instead of holding tight to her original identity however, becoming like everyone around her is the only way she can end her breakdown. Another factor that contributes to her accruing discomfort is her unclear plan for her future. She is pressured on all sides to become certain things, and all the ideas float around in her head forming a tree-like diagram: each limb representing a different path her life could take. “One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet… and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn 't quite make out. I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn 't make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.” (Plath 77) Esther notices a gap between what society says she should experience and what she does experience, and this gap intensifies her growing insanity. 1950’s society expects women of Esther’s age to act
An idea of individuality is imperative when dealing with the numerous emotional and physical trials in life. The ability to express ourselves plays a key role in understanding and responding to the things that surround people. In “The Bell Jar”, Esther’s mental health problems and staunched individuality are symbolized through the bell jar metaphor. Ester is a young woman who feels oppressed by societies views and responsibilities placed on women. The weight she feels not only results in her mental and social isolation, but also her growing mental instability. Esther is profoundly troubled by the hypocritical, “cookie-cutter” views she is surrounded by and feels overwhelmed and powerless. She feels as though she is trapped in her own inner world of alienation, a personal “bell jar” if you will. Instead of holding tight to her original identity however, becoming like everyone around her is the only way she can end her breakdown. Another factor that contributes to her accruing discomfort is her unclear plan for her future. She is pressured on all sides to become certain things, and all the ideas float around in her head forming a tree-like diagram: each limb representing a different path her life could take. “One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet… and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn 't quite make out. I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn 't make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.” (Plath 77) Esther notices a gap between what society says she should experience and what she does experience, and this gap intensifies her growing insanity. 1950’s society expects women of Esther’s age to act
Cited: Bonds, Diane. "The Separative Self in Sylvia Plath 's The Bell Jar." Women 's Studies. Vol. 18. Gordon and Breach Science, 1990. 49-64. Print. Plath, Sylvia. The Bell Jar. New York City: Harper & Row, 1971. Print.