A Review of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath: A Raw Exploration of Depression, Societal Expectations, and Identity

The most striking aspect of The Bell Jar is its raw exploration of mental illness and societal expectations and female identity.

For Esther Greenwood, her downward spiral seems to begin with her failure to gain a place in an exclusive writing program. Having tied her identity to her academic and literary success, she is left adrift when that opportunity disappears. She loses her ability to write, struggles to read anything complex, and begins to doubt her future. This leads her into a deep depression and multiple suicide attempts, ultimately landing her in a sanatorium, where she undergoes electroshock therapy.

Sylvia Plath’s depiction of Esther’s suicidal thoughts and attempts is chillingly realistic and detailed, exposing the logistical considerations and even the body’s resistance to death. For example:

• Esther contemplates cutting her wrists in the bath but fears someone will interrupt her before she finishes.

• She tries drowning herself at the beach, but her body instinctively floats back to the surface.

• At her mother’s house, she struggles to hang herself—she doesn’t know how to tie a proper knot, and there’s no suitable place to attach the rope. In desperation, she tries choking herself by pulling the rope with her hands, but her hands go numb, forcing her to stop.

The novel also delves into Esther’s fears of societal expectations, particularly those placed on women. She dreads losing her identity to marriage and motherhood, viewing them as traps that strip away independence. To avoid this fate, she begins using birth control, determined to reject the traditional roles expected of her. Esther is especially frustrated by the double standards of her time: men are free to enjoy sexual freedom while women are judged harshly for doing the same. This hypocrisy infuriates her, as she questions why women are held to stricter standards than men.

This theme is captured in one of the book’s most memorable quotes:

“So I began to think maybe it was true that when you were married and had children, it was like being brainwashed, and afterwards you went about numb as a slave in some private totalitarian state.”

Esther’s struggles with identity and choice are beautifully expressed through the fig tree metaphor. She imagines each fig on the tree as a different life she could lead: one fig represents marriage and children, another a successful writing career, another a brilliant academic path, and so on. Esther wants all of them but knows she can only pick one. Paralyzed by the fear of making the wrong choice, she waits too long, and the figs rot and fall to the ground. This image poignantly captures her indecision and the resulting loss of all her options.

However, there are aspects of the book that made it difficult for me to fully enjoy. Esther is often judgmental and cruel, making harsh remarks about people’s appearances. The book also contains racist and fat-shaming comments, which detract from the narrative. For instance, Esther refers to fat men as people “only a mother could love.” Her own self-image suffers as well after gaining 20 pounds during insulin injection treatments at the sanitarium. These remarks feel jarring and out of place in an otherwise insightful exploration of mental illness and societal pressures.

Despite these flaws, The Bell Jar remains a thought-provoking novel. Its vivid portrayal of Esther’s mental health struggles and her defiance against societal constraints makes it a compelling read and worth exploring.