The Meaning of the Bell Jar
Sylvia Plath uses the bell jar as a metaphor for Esther Greenwood’s general mental and emotional state. A bell jar, physically speaking, is a glass jar that isolates a specimen for scientific study. By the same token, the bell jar represents Esther’s disconnect and isolation from the rest of the world. She feels alone in her depression and suicidal ideation, which ultimately stem from questions about her identity as a woman, specifically an educated woman. She dreads the prospect of becoming an ordinary housewife without a meaningful job, but it seems like no one around her thinks the same. She tells Dr. Nolan, “What I hate is the thought of being under a man’s thumb. A man doesn’t have a worry in the world, while I’ve got a baby hanging over my head like a big stick, to keep me in line” (Plath 221). Everyone else seems content to become Dodo Conway, Esther’s Catholic neighbor who has six kids and counting.
Furthermore, a bell jar creates a vacuum, or a space where nothing from the outside can enter. Although one might argue that her mother’s attempts to reach out aren’t the most helpful or effective, she genuinely reaches out to Esther, only to be rudely dismissed and rebuffed to the point where Esther doesn’t want anyone to visit her in the mental hospital (202). The bell jar creates a barrier, causing most of the attempts to reach Esther to be futile. (The exception being Dr. Nolan).
Finally, and perhaps most important, the bell jar distorts Esther’s perspective. Since the novel is written from Esther’s perspective, we don’t actually know how reliable her descriptions of characters and events actually are. For example, when Esther returns to the suburbs, she thinks that Dodo Conway is spying on her and looking at her naked through the window while walking her dog (116). In all likelihood, Dodo Conway is simply walking her dog, but Esther’s paranoia distorts reality.
I think you make some very interesting points and I would expand on what you've said because I think it's possible the bell jar also represents the mental facility. In the mental facility she's being very closely monitored and looked after almost as if she's a specimen herself. The bell jar in the room is a reminder to her of her "condition" and of the fact that she's trapped there. Anyway, I agree with what you've said and I think it's very interesting to look at the novel that way.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your description of the bell jar's meaning. It traps her, separates her from others, and distorts her perspective. But, it also makes her believe that what she is seeing is the truth, which is a very important part of what makes up depression. Not only is she seeing the world in this way, she believes that this is what the world is actually like. It's as if she was under a bell jar, but she didn't know it and she believed that the world she was seeing was the real thing.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is such a great analysis of the bell jar metaphor and the points that you raise are really compelling. I especially found it interesting how you brought up the distortion of Esther’s perspective and compared it to her interaction with Dodo Conway. I definitely agree. In addition, when we discussed the bell jar’s meaning in class and combining with your analysis here, I also think that perhaps the “caricatures” or monster and cartoon-like features of Esther’s depictions of others (such as with Hilda) may perhaps also be the people as seen through her bell jar?
ReplyDeleteOnce again, I think that this analysis is super clear and strong. Throughout the novel, I found it fascinating how Esther kept revisiting this powerful metaphor, and it’s so interesting to see that the bell jar can be representative of so many things and themes at once.
I really liked how you talked about how the bell jar also prevents other people from entering into Esther's world. Although it goes hand-in-hand with being isolated, I've never really thought about the bell jar keeping others out. I think it's also interesting to see how Esther reacts to Joan, who is in a very similar situation as Esther. With their similarities, it seemed like Joan and Esther would be able to break through the barriers created by their bell jars together, but Esther pushed her violently pushed her away for the exact same reason that I thought they would be closer to each other.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great analysis of the symbolism behind the bell jar! I liked how the meaning behind the title wasn't introduced until later in the book, otherwise I don't think I would've understood the metaphor. Esther is trapped, like you mentioned, in her own world where her perspective is distorted, and she's separated from the rest of society. I wonder if all of us are stuck in our own bell jar of sorts that influences the way we see and interact with the world.
ReplyDeleteI really like the way you explained the symbolism and meaning behind the title, The Bell Jar. I especially think the connection you made with one of a bell jar's common uses: a scientific study. You mentioned how she is isolated from the rest of the world, like a specimen in a bell jar, and unable to share her feelings, but the metaphor could further include the "researchers" who might observe what's in the bell jar (this is not a fully fleshed out idea by the way, just throwing it out there). Overall, great analysis and put most of my thoughts on this topic into words.
ReplyDeleteI really like your analysis. What's especially interesting is that when Esther describes having the bell jar removed, it seems like she's able to look at the world more clearly. That would make sense considering that the bell jar distorts her thoughts and outlook
ReplyDeleteI think another way this metaphor works is to emphasize how out of control her situation is. She at first thinks all her anxiety is due to her own internal shortcomings, but I believe when she sees it as being "under the bell jar" it points to external forces as the cause of her suffering.
ReplyDeleteThis metaphor is really fitting, especially noting the lack of understanding surrounding mental health at the time. Esther really was on her own for the most part and a case study in a sense.
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