The Bell Jar
Society often has its own rules and expectations a person should follow. Clearly stated in the novel, author of The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath addresses societal influence by exposing social pressures on people, particularly women. Esther Greenwood, the main character of the novel, is the victim of the heavy weight of other people's opinions; which in the end leads to her deteriorating mental instability. She attempts to live the life that is expected of her, but in the end she can not fulfill these requirements.
The book describes that being a woman of this time already places standards and ideals upon their shoulders at birth. Esther is the epitome of a classic woman and model of society. The ability to maintain this perfection takes it emotional …show more content…
The worthlessness from never being enough portrayed through the novel is what makes the book relatable. Although this novel is based in the 1950’s, some of the same crushing societal standards are still relevant today. It is a subconscious survival instinct to want to fit in and conform to those individuals around them; it is the human condition that has been present long before the 1950’s. The interaction of others are necessary to the successful formation of the survivalist instinct, but it is often through extreme actions that the end result will be met. Rejection goes against human nature itself and an individual’s longing for acceptance and positive relationships with others. The only apparent option, like the one Esther Greenwood faced, was to eliminate themselves completely from society and its pressures. A person cannot be judged to perfection when they have been beaten mentally, emotionally, and sometimes even physically down to the point of where there is just a shell of a person to judge. The outcome from standards are never positive. The individuality of a person wants to speak out and be heard; such as Esther's actions of no longer being who she was told to be. However, individuality is trumped by the underlying desire to be accepted even if that means masquerading around as something that a person is
The book describes that being a woman of this time already places standards and ideals upon their shoulders at birth. Esther is the epitome of a classic woman and model of society. The ability to maintain this perfection takes it emotional …show more content…
The worthlessness from never being enough portrayed through the novel is what makes the book relatable. Although this novel is based in the 1950’s, some of the same crushing societal standards are still relevant today. It is a subconscious survival instinct to want to fit in and conform to those individuals around them; it is the human condition that has been present long before the 1950’s. The interaction of others are necessary to the successful formation of the survivalist instinct, but it is often through extreme actions that the end result will be met. Rejection goes against human nature itself and an individual’s longing for acceptance and positive relationships with others. The only apparent option, like the one Esther Greenwood faced, was to eliminate themselves completely from society and its pressures. A person cannot be judged to perfection when they have been beaten mentally, emotionally, and sometimes even physically down to the point of where there is just a shell of a person to judge. The outcome from standards are never positive. The individuality of a person wants to speak out and be heard; such as Esther's actions of no longer being who she was told to be. However, individuality is trumped by the underlying desire to be accepted even if that means masquerading around as something that a person is