The Bell Jar

This is an amazing book and easy to read. Sylvia Plath has entered my life at a very crucial time, and in fact, her voice is spoken with an essence of raw honesty. It makes sense that I would prefer to receive the best advice from the viewpoints of authors from what they experienced rather than only receiving an opinion, which is all of what other people have to provide in current time. Sylvia Plath has the intellectual skill of finding a way into the reader’s head, and speaking up about topics one would not want to share with another soul. In her confessional poetry, it’s for the reason of giving your deepest desires, a genuinely profound insight that makes The Bell Jar positively haunting. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Esther Greenwood is a student from Boston and the first half of this slim modern classic is a rather pedestrian coming of age story centering around the search for purpose and direction in life. Knowing The Bell Jar is semi-autobiographical is part of the appeal and part of the problem. Sylvia Plath famously committed suicide just a month after The Bell Jar was published - under a pseudonym - by gassing herself in the kitchen with her children in the next room. The Bell Jar is a coming of age story that takes place in 1953 and centers around main character Esther Greenwood, a 21 year old college student. She is bright, but has a difficult time reconciling with the stifling world of the 1950’s. Esther works for a fashion magazine in NYC during the summer of 1953 and is fascinated with the news headlines of the day, including the execution of the Rosenbergs and a man’s suicide. It appears that Esther may be on the track to bigger and better things. But Esther is not as stable as she presents herself. This is a coming of age story, like The Catcher In the Rye, but it is through rebirth and pain. Esther begins a slow decline into mental illness, so slowly it’s almost impossible to remember what the “trigger” was for her. In her rejection of conventional models of women, like purity, relationships with men, and the fashion world of NYC, she finds herself on the outside looking in. I found myself, when reading of Esther’s first suicide attempt, wondering “Well, where did that come from?” Esther had no reason to try to kill herself, she even says that she wants to see if she can do it. Plath’s use of language, imagery, and tone in The Bell Jar allowed the reader into the mind and life of Esther Greenwood. Plath is simply a genius when it comes to weaving a story. A slim 264 pages, it was easy reading. Finding this book has inspired me to read even more of her poetry, a biography, or maybe some of her published journals. It historically common in my perspective that fame is often something short-lived. Sylvia Plath only made it to the young age of 30 but left behind her a timeless legacy.

I read this book almost a year ago now and I am just now getting around to writing my review. Luckily, I took some notes but it is still not super fresh in my memory, so I apologize for that, though, perhaps, I have a little more perspective on it now (that is what I am going to claim anyway). My overall impression of the book was of a somewhat flawed novel (more on the flaws later), but also a novel that transcends its flaws, to some degree at least, through raw emotional power. It may not be polished, or accomplished, or refined enough for the likes of a Harold Bloom (I hate Harold Bloom, by the way), but it is primal, and it is beautiful in the same way that a scream is sometimes more beautiful and powerful than the most refined poetry. The novel is dark, it deals with depression and suicide, but it also has humor, and it was in some of the humor that I felt like Plath’s voice really came through most convincingly. I will simply list what I think some of the virtues and some of the flaws of the novel are. One flaw, I think, is Plath’s over-reliance on metaphor. Plath often attempts to come up with a powerful metaphor to describe the state of mind of her protagonist. Her metaphors are sometimes powerful and beautiful but I think she uses them too much. I think there are generally more powerful ways to convey a character’s state of mind. For example, in The Catcher in the Rye - a novel I may be referencing a lot since there are a lot of similarities between the two novels and because I think Salinger’s novel is ultimately more successful - there is a scene where Holden is quite depressed and he is riding in a Taxi cab. He reaches back into his hair and feels that some of the dampness in his air has turned to ice. This physical description is actually a more powerful way to convey Holden’s depression than a metaphor (rather than saying “I felt a loneliness as deep as the ocean”, etc.). Tone of voice can also convey a great deal. If the novel is narrated in an hysterical tone of voice, or one of the characters takes on an hysterical tone of voice, it often draws the reader right into the state of mind of the character rather than using a metaphor to describe it from the outside. I will say that sometimes Plath's metaphors are right on the money. In one scene Esther is waiting in a waiting room to see Buddy Willard, who is a boy that she has been dating, and it is clear he is much more enthused about the relationship than she is. While she is waiting she sees a fountain and “The fountain spurted a few inches into the air from a rough length of pipe, threw up its hands, collapsed and drowned its ragged ribble in a stone basin of yellowing water.” I like this metaphor for two reasons. First, she is describing an actual physical object in the environment so its use as a metaphor here is disguised. Second, even though it is an actual object in the room it perfectly describes her feelings for Buddy Willard, it is an objective correlate in T.S. Eliot’s terms. She is trying to be excited about seeing Buddy but all she can muster is a spurt that winds up just dribbling down and drowning in its own depths. Plath is also sometimes able to convey mood powerfully without relying on metaphors: in her descriptions of her hot baths, for instance, I think we get a better feeling for her depression than in her metaphors. Another flaw is: I do not think that the character of Esther Greenwood is as well developed as Holden Caulfield. What was Esther like before her episode of depression? Throughout the novel she can sometimes be quite cruel. Is that a result of the distorting effects of the bell jar or was that always a part of her personality? We learn that she is ambitious, and a good student, and we pick up bits and pieces here and there, but the character is vague, and her voice as a narrator is too literary to reveal much about her character. Holden does not narrate in the voice of a writer but Esther does. It feels like it is written in third-person, by Sylvia Plath, even though it is written in first-person, and is supposed to be the first-person narration of Esther Greenwood the character. When Esther says, at the very beginning of the book, “By nine in the morning the fake, country-wet freshness that somehow seeped in overnight evaporated like the tail end of a sweet dream” (1) it does not feel like a character speaking to us, it feels like a writing exercise. It is a well written sentence but it is not in the voice of the character. It is generic literary language, as is the line “Slowly I swam up from the bottom of a black sleep” (50). Compare this to a writer like Celine whose narrators speak in colloquial language mos of the time but can also utter a passage of the most beautiful poetry without it seeming like a literary device; it feels like it comes from the character and is something they would actually say. The book is quite powerful in places. There is a scene where she is out with a man and he attempts to rape her. It was a frightening scene that I thought did a great job of conveying her helplessness and fear. I have often pondered the difference between seeing violence in a movie or reading about violence in a piece of literature and seeing violence in real life. A lot of the writers I like have a fairly violent aesthetic. Cormac McCarthy, for example. Violence in the works of Cormac McCarthy conveys some kind of aesthetic emotion that is difficult to describe but it is very different from the feeling one has when one sees violence in real life. I have been in a few situations in my life where violence suddenly erupted without warning and the adrenaline starts flowing immediately. It is not an aesthetic or contemplative emotion at all. I thought the scene where the man attempts to rape Esther succeeded in conveying the kind of emotion one feels when violence is actually witnessed. It made the reader feel, to some degree, what it would feel like to actually be in a situation, rather than contemplating it from an aesthetic distance. I thought Plath’s use of foreshadowing was also a mixed bag. Foreshadowing is a great way to draw the reader in and keep their attention and their interest. I will say, I never had trouble remaining interested in Plath’s novel, but there were some foreshadows that failed to pay off. Very early in the book Esther makes reference to a corpose that Buddy makes her see. I was sort of expecting a pay off, and while Esther does eventually narrate the scene, it does not have a huge impact. On the other hand, there is some brilliant foreshadowing in the opening when Esther is contemplating the execution of the Rosenbergs when Esther can’t help wondering what it would be like to be burned alive “along all your nerves”, which foreshadows her own electroshock therapy. All in all, I thought Plath’s novel was quite satisfying and powerful despite its flaws. I would liken it to blues music. I am not a music historian, and I actually know very little about the history of the blues, but the analogy to me is this: the blues musicians did not possess all the musical training or sophistication of the great composers. They were not composing music that was as complex or refined as Mozart or Beethoven. But, they managed to express themselves very powerfully with the means at their disposal. In some ways, more powerfully than the more refined composers. They were expressing real suffering, without filter, and people respond to it on a gut level. I think Plath’s novel is like blues music in that way. While there are some flaws in her technique no one can doubt that she is expressing something real and that connects with people. Which is why I think this novel is still so popular in spite of naysayers like Harold Bloom. Critics often attempt to tell artists how they should go about expressing themselves, as if they were trying to channel the waters of a flood, but water has a tendency to follow its own will and explode wherever it wants, and I think we should be grateful for that.

She could say so much with so little. She could punch you in the stomach with her words and inspire you on the next page. She could describe tragedy like it would be a relief. I read this book a bit skeptical of Plath. I avoided her my whole life cause loving Plath i saw as cliche. All the poets I’ve been around gawked and hung posters of her words on the walls. Or a feminist would chime in about Ted Hughes and rant about the patriarchy and how Plath was a martyr. But no, it is not cliche. I’d even dare say she wasn’t ABOUT feminism. She was a brilliant, beautiful, thoughtful and inspiring female writer of her time. A stand out. Using words so relatable and attainable, you swear you’re talking to her in this novel or should I say she’s talking to you. I’m caught, drowned in my love of Sylvia plath’s work now. I’m sorry I didn’t read it sooner. However life has so many twist and turns that had I not experienced some of my own life, I’d never believe this story or care for it in my younger years. Now having experienced a life and had my own bell jar loom over my head, this novel speaks truth to the feeling of the bell jar. I could go on and on. So I’ll summarize what I mean. She’s honest with her world and self and doesn’t hold back or pull punches. If you’ve ever had a stint or time of despair in your life, this book describes it so well you’ll begin to feel the bell jar all over again. I found this book reads more like a modern narrative poem than a novel. Her musings on baths, the bell jar, rebirth, and uncertainty is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I felt I was her….am her. It’s not a book you simply shake off. It sticks to you for a while. For those that have had similar trials in their life it will not only stick to you but it will make you feel as if for one moment in time lived a person who understood you. Simply it’s a masterpiece.

For years I avoided Sylvia Plath, especially “The Bell Jar”. I did not want to dwell in a world that I had known only to well with family and friends. Looking for some poetry to read, I decided after all this time to pick up “Ariel”. The initial poems of the collection left me wanting more and then I became fixated on a few that kept running through my head like a broken record. Next, I decided to read her novel. But, I found it’s relentless and myopic focus hard to internalize, for how can any have hope of recovery in world so limited and narrow minded as to regard every sorrow, every grief, and every dissatisfaction as part of the big “I”. To recover from depression or manic obsessions, one must acknowledge the collective unconscious presence of consciousness. It’s an essential step and platform from which to discover a self free to be happy in sad times, to be hopeful in times filled wit despair, most importantly to feel connected in times of despondent loneliness. There is a thin line between the choice to live and the the choice to die. Sometimes that choice can turned from negative to positive based upon the light of the mind. When turned off, the life goes black. When turned on, life can be full of light. There is a reality that no matter how hard you try for others, the choice might be disappointing to you. Regardless, the the ability to choose, or to be reminded of the choice is in itself the stuff of being a part of the active collective (un)conscious. “The Bell Jar” left me feeling depleted. There was little or no hope there, as there sadly was not in this great poet’s life. Her life wasn’t an act of unbridled narcissism. It was encased in a state of nihilism, where she where she wanted to happy-but her choices were limited. Often when a person is gifted and intellectually blessed, they are able to counter every effort of recovery by using those gifted aspects of their personality with authoritative negativity. In the end game, the down to earth choices to live or to die are measured against seemingly impossible odds which churn in their mind like a summer tornado, until that person becomes aware of the fragile nature of the “superior mind”. The discovery often comes too late. And the gradients of choice cannot be absorbed into a digestive tract that is healthy and fruitful in the final analysis. Or, it can work; that’s the beauty of choice.

"The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath is a powerful and poignant novel that delves into the mind of Esther Greenwood, a young woman grappling with her deteriorating mental health amidst the pressures of societal expectations. As a brilliant and talented individual, Esther appears to have everything going for her, but beneath her outwardly successful facade lies a profound sense of isolation and the creeping sensation of losing control. Plath expertly captures the intensity of Esther's breakdown, making her neurosis both relatable and tragically understandable, as she spirals deeper into despair. Through Esther's journey, Plath provides a raw and unflinching look at the dark corners of the psyche and the pervasive loneliness that many individuals face in modern society. "The Bell Jar" remains a haunting classic, celebrated for its compelling prose and its exploration of mental illness in a world that often fails to address it. This P.S. edition also offers additional insights, including author interviews and recommended readings, enriching the reader's experience and understanding of this timeless work that continues to resonate with readers today.

I finally dove into "The Bell Jar" and it left me completely cold in the most profound way. The story handles Esther Greenwood’s internal descent with an honesty that feels entirely too close to the bone. What makes the reading experience so heavy is the inescapable knowledge of the reality behind the fiction; knowing that while Esther is given a window of survival at the end of these pages, Sylvia Plath herself was running out of time. The contrast between the glamorous, fast-paced 1950s New York setting and the absolute isolation of Esther's mind cuts like a knife. The writing is beautiful and intentional; it builds an atmosphere so heavy that it physically shifts the air in the room while you read. The Aftermath 🌷 I gave this four stars upon my first pass. It is a brilliant story that demands your full attention and leaves you completely reeling long after the final page. I loved this experience so much that after originally checking it out from Libby, through my local public library, I had to purchase a hard copy for my shelf. 🤍🕊️

Good read. Just as interesting as when I read it 48 years ago, just different cover.

Sylvia put words to feelings I have never been able to describe. This book was alarmingly relatable. I can’t believe I had gone this long without reading it.

Came in good condition but smells terrible.

¿Qué puedo decir? Es un libro increíble de una autora increíble. Me lo inhalé en tres horas. Es una muy buena perspectiva de cómo las expectativas pueden arruinarte si no sabes cómo lidiar con ellas. Una de mis cosas favoritas fue la referencia del árbol de higos; queremos ser tantas cosas que a veces no terminamos siendo ninguna. Me gusta como explora la indecisión de la juventud y la sensación de fracaso que se puede sentir en ella, sentir que no llegas a nada. Solo queda esperar que la campana de cristal no baje.

Great

Goed boek, en in perfecte kwaliteit ontvangen

i like cover