TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Mental Illness in 20
th
Century American Society...................................................................1
1.2 American Literature in the 20
th
Century...............................................................................2
1.3 Biography of Sylvia lath......................................................................................................3
1.! Aims of the "esearch...........................................................................................................#
1.$ %&'ectives of "esearch.........................................................................................................#
1.# "esearch (uestions..............................................................................................................#
1.) Significance of the Stu*y.....................................................................................................)
1.+ Structure of the Stu*y............................................................................................................)
1., -elimitations..........................................................................................................................+
2. LITERATURE REVIEW9
2.1 -efinition of the term Mental Illness.....................................................................................,
2.1.2 -efinition of Suici*e.....................................................................................................10
2.2 -efinition of Alter ego......................................................................................................11
2.3 Mental illness over the ages.................................................................................................12
2.! Mental Illness as a .heme in Literature...............................................................................1+
2.$ Mental illness in lath/s poetry an* criti0ues....................................................................22
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 28
3.1 .ypes of research................................................................................................................2+
3.2 Metho*ological frame1or2...............................................................................................2,
3.3 Sample................................................................................................................................30
3.! Metho*s of -ata Analysis..................................................................................................30
4. MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE BELL JAR 32
!.1 Summary of the novel The Bell Jar.....................................................................................32
!.2 The Bell Jar u&lication 3istory..........................................................................................3!
!.3 Character Analysis of 4sther................................................................................................3$
!.! Influence of Ma'or characters on 4sther..............................................................................3)
!.!.1 Bu**y 5illar*...............................................................................................................3)
!.!.2 Mrs. 6reen1oo*............................................................................................................3+
!.!.3 -octor 7olan.................................................................................................................3+
!.$ Influence of Minor characters on 4sther..............................................................................3,
!.# Societal influences on 4sther...............................................................................................!2
5. PLATH AND HER ALTER EGO A COMPARISON45
$.1 .he sychoanalysis of 4sther 6reen1oo*...........................................................................!$
$.2 Mental Illness in lath/s life.................................................................................................#1
$.3 Comparison of lath an* her Alter 4go...............................................................................))
. CONCLUSION 83
!. REFERENCES
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
.his research revolves aroun* the concept of mental illness an* e8plores it &y loo2ing
into the life profiles of Sylvia lath an* her alter ego 4sther9 as sho1n in the novel The
Bell Jar in the conte8t of their relationships 1ith others an* the impact of societal
influences. In or*er to carry out this research9 it is important to e8plore the topic of
mental illness along 1ith the stan*ar*s of the time in 1hich the novel The Bell Jar 1as
1ritten9 in congruence 1ith Sylvia lath/s life9 especially the perio* 1hen she face*
mental illness in her life. .he research relates mental illness of lath to that of her alter
ego as they &oth face* common struggles of society an* relationships. .he first chapter
intro*uces the topic of the research in *etail.
1.1 M"#$%& I&&#"'' (# 2)
$*
C"#$+,- A.",(/%# S0/("$-
Mental illness 1as no ne1 phenomenon in nineteenth century America9 an* it *i* not
*iscriminate &et1een men an* 1omen9 afflicting &oth. Both suffere*9 &ut society place* a
particular emphasis on 1omen an* their mental frailty. :ntil the 1,
th
century9 mentally ill
people 1ere ta2en care of9 0uietly &y their o1n family mem&ers &ut 1ith the
a*vancement in technology in 1,
th
an* 20
th
century there 1as seen a gro1th of
speciali;e* facilities for people suffering from mental illness. Mentally ill people 1ere
sent to asylums an* mostly the patients in those asylums 1ere 1omen.
Moreover9 it 1as the time 1hen the impact of the in*ustrial revolution create* a
sharp *istinction &et1een the gen*er roles. Men an* 1omen ha* to have completely
1
*ifferent natures an* *ifferent functions in society. Men ha* natures suite* to the pu&lic
1orl* an* 1omen to the private. 5omen consi*ere* pure an* innocent9 if acte* against
the conventions of society9 1ere la&ele* as mentally ill.
1.2 A.",(/%# L($",%$+," (# $*" 2)
$*
C"#$+,-
American literature is the &o*y of 1ritten 1or2s pro*uce* in the 4nglish language in
the :nite* States. .he article American literature (2014) &y Morris -ic2stein traces the
history of American poetry9 *rama9 fiction9 an* social an* literary criticism from the early
1)th century to the late 20th century. In this article9 -ic2stein states that li2e other
national literatures9 the American history shape* the American literature. 3e further states
that the a*vancement of science an* in*ustry9 as 1ell as changes in approaches of
thin2ing &rought many changes in people/s lives. All these factors involve* in the
*evelopment of the :nite* States mol*e* the literature of the country <para.1=.
Lin*a 5agner Martin in her &oo2 A history of American literature, 1950s to
present states that &y 1,$0 >tra*itional aesthetic innovation 1as 1earing thin?. .he
:nite* States ha* gone through the 6reat -epression9 a long *eca*e of har*ship that not
only >*ampene* the promise of the American *ream &ut change* literary metho*s to a
surprising e8tent? <para. 2=. 5ith this >attitu*inal turn?9 a variety of genres in American
literature starte* to appear e.g. science fiction9 mystery an* *etective novels9 @e1ish A
&lac2 literature9 1omen/s 1ritings an* literature of se8ual 1ritings etc.
American literature flourishe* gra*ually an* starte* to &e inclu*e* in college
stu*ies as a su&'ect. A variety of 1or2s 1as pro*uce* involving feminist 1ritings a&out
class9 gen*er9 an* se8uality. .he fiction of 20
th
century reache* a ne1 height 1ith the
2
concept of originality9 fragmentation an* novelty. .he most significant names of this era
1ho contri&ute* in fiction inclu*e Betty Brie*an <The eminine !ysti"ue=9 7orman
MailerCs The Armies of the #i$ht <1,#+=9 Den DeseyCs *ar2ly comic %ne le& %'er the
(uc)oo*s #est <1,#2=9 .homas ynchonCs paranoi*9 &rilliant + an* The (ryin$ of ,ot 49.
.hey further inclu*e* @ohn BarthCs -iles -oat.Boy, @ohn Irving (The /orl0 Accor0in$ to
-arp, 1912), aul .herou8 (The !os"uito (oast, 1921), 5illiam Denne*y (3ron&ee0,
1924), Alice 5al2er (The (olor 5urple, 1922), 4.L. -octoro1/s The Boo) of
6aniel (1911), @ohn 6ar*ner/s -ren0el (1911)7
In terms of esta&lishe* literary circles9 the &est 1or2s 1ere a1ar*e* 1ith national
pri;es. Sylvia lath9 1ho ha* 2ille* herself in 1,#39 1as posthumously a1ar*e* the 1,+2
ulit;er ri;e for oetry to honor The (ollecte0 5oems of 8yl'ia 5lath9 1hich 1as
&elate*ly pu&lishe* in 1,+1. .his &rought thousan*s of ne1 rea*ers to her *iverseE
gentle9 angry9 an* comicEpoetry. She is a great name in the history of t1entieth century
American literature.
1.3 B(01,%2*- 03 S-&4(% P&%$*
Martin in T&o +ie&s of 5lath*s ,ife an0 (areer (1995) tal2s a&out lath/s life history an*
1rites that Sylvia lath 1as &orn in @amaica lain9 Massachusetts9 on %cto&er 2)9 1,329
&eing the ol*er chil* of %tto an* Aurelia Scho&ers lath. 3er father 1as professor of
6erman an* entomology <a specialist on &ees= at Boston :niversityF her mother9 a high
school teacher. Both parents love* their *aughter *early. In 1,!09 %tto *ie* of
complications from surgery after a leg amputation9 an* Sylvia/s gran*parents &ecame part
of the househol* to care for the chil*ren 1hen she returne* to teaching. SylviaCs
3
achievements in 1riting an* art continue* through her school years in 5ellesley9
Massachusetts9 an* at Smith College9 1here she atten*e* on scholarships.
3er e8tensive pu&lications of poems an* fiction le* to her selection for the
College Boar* of !a0emoiselle Maga;ine in 1,$3. .he *epression that 1as characteristic
of her fatherCs family trou&le* Sylvia too *uring her 'unior yearF 1hen her mother sought
treatment for her9 she un*er1ent traumatic electroconvulsive shoc2 treatments. In August
1,$39 she attempte* suici*e &y over*osing on sleeping pills.
Sylvia9 recovere*9 returne* to Smith an* her usual aca*emic success after her si8
months of intensive therapy. As a senior9 she 1rote an honors thesis on -ostoyevs2y/s use
of the *ou&le an* gra*uate* summa cum lau0e in 4nglishF she also 1on a Bul&right
fello1ship to stu*y at 7e1ham College9 Cam&ri*ge. In the fall of 1,$$9 she saile* for
4nglan*.
lath stu*ie* har* &ut her life in 4nglan* 1as also se8ual. As her 1riting sho1e*9
she 1as angry a&out *ou&leGstan*ar* &ehavior of society9 an* claime* for herself the
right to as much se8ual e8perience as men ha*. She &elieve* com&ining the erotic an* the
intellectual possi&le9 an* 1hen she met .e* 3ughes9 an e8 Cam&ri*ge stu*ent an* poet9
she felt that life 1ith him 1oul* &e i*eal. .he t1o 1ere marrie* in Lon*on on 1# @une
1,$#9 accompanie* &y SylviaCs mother.
.he marriage 1as for si8 years a strong union of supremely *e*icate* 1riters an*
passionate &eings. .hey live* in Massachusetts <Cam&ri*ge9 7orthamptonGG1here Sylvia
taught for a year at SmithGGan* Boston=9 then in Lon*on an* -evon. A *aughter9 Brie*a9
1as &orn in April 1,#0.
!
ersonal 'ealousies9 *ifferences in gen*er roles9 an* a return of SylviaCs
*epression complicate* the lathG3ughes marriage. -espite their happiness 1hen Sylvia
&ecame pregnant once more9 after an earlier miscarriage9 the marriage of t1o aspiring
1riters living in an isolate* village 1ith infant an* little money 1as *ifficult. After
7icholasCs &irth in @anuary 1,#29 Sylvia came to 2no1 a&out 3ughesCs infi*elity9
e8pressing herself through increasingly angryGGan* po1erfulGGpoems.
lath ha* learne* to fin* 'oy in her 1omenGcentere* 1orl*9 an* the care of her
chil*ren an* frien*ships 1ith other 1omen 1ere increasingly important for her. 3o1ever9
she coul* not tolerate male irresponsi&ility an* societal *ou&le stan*ar*s. Living 1ith the
chil*ren in lonely -evon9 lath 1rote many of the poems that later appeare* in Ariel7 3er
soGcalle* %cto&er poems9 1ritten *uring the month after 3ughes ha* left her9 are amongst
her most famousH ILa*y La;arus9I I-a**y9I IBever 1039I Iur*ah9I Ioppies in @uly9I
IAriel9I an* others 1ere poems that ma*e her name.
Moving 1ith the chil*ren to a Lon*on flat in -ecem&er 1,#29 lath trie* to ma2e
a ne1 life for herself9 &ut the 1orst 1inter of the century a**e* to her *epression.
5ithout a telephone9 ill an* trou&le* 1ith the care of the t1o infants9 she committe*
suici*e &y gas inhalation on 11 Be&ruary 1,#39 'ust t1o 1ee2s after the pu&lication
of The Bell Jar <pu&lishe* 1ith the pseu*o name IJictoria LucasI=. .hat novel9 an* the
various collections of her poems that appeare* *uring the ne8t t1enty years9 secure* for
lath the position of one of the most important 1omen 1riters in the States. She 1as
posthumously a1ar*e* 1ith a 1,+2 ulit;er ri;e for her (ollecte0 poems. 3er famous
1or2s inclu*e her t1o pu&lishe* collections9 .he Colossus an* %ther oems an* Ariel.
%thers 1or2 from lath inclu*es her volumes /inter trees an* (rossin$ the &ater 1hich
$
1ere pu&lishe* after her suici*e along 1ith Ariel. 3er prose inclu*es her ,etters home9
Johnny panic an0 the 9i9le 0reams along 1ith The Journals of 8yl'ia 5lath e*ite* &y
Brances McCullough an* .e* 3ughes. She also 1rote The Be0 Boo) for chil*ren. .he
main themes of her 1or2 inclu*e* *eath9 &eing victimi;e* &y men in a patriarchal
society9 nature9 struggle 1ith her o1n self9 motherhoo*9 *epression9 chil*hoo* an* 1ar.
1.4 A(. 03 $*" R"'"%,/*
.he aim of this research is to compare the life stories of Sylvia lath an* her fictional
alter ego 4sther 6reen1oo* 1hile loo2ing in *etail the events an* reasons 1hich lea*
them to &ecome a victim of mental illness in their lives.
1.5 O56"/$(4"' 03 R"'"%,/*
.he o&'ectives of this research are as follo1sH
1. .o e8plore mental illness in life profiles of &oth Sylvia lath an* her alter ego.
2. .o highlight9 the reasons an* events9 contri&uting to mental illness in their lives.
3. .o compare mental illness of lath 1ith her alter ego 4sther.
1. R"'"%,/* 7+"'$(0#'
Bollo1ing are the research 0uestions for the current stu*yH
1. 5hat are the reasons an* events contri&uting to mental illness in life of lathK
2. 5hat are the factors contri&uting to mental illness in life of her alter ego 4stherK
#
3. 3o1 *oes lath/s personal mental illness relate to 4sther/s *epiction of mental
illnessK
1.! S(1#(3(/%#/" 03 $*" S$+8-
.his stu*y is important &ecause through this stu*y one can analy;e the concept of mental
illness in 1or2s of literature. 6enerally9 mental illness is categori;e* un*er the fiel* of
me*icine. It is *ifficult to loo2 into me*ical pro&lems 1ith respect to people in a 1ay that
people coul* relate to them an* get a1are of those pro&lems. Literature provi*es a great
me*ium for having an insight into such pro&lem.
My stu*y is significant in the respect that it analyses a me*ical pro&lem through a
1or2 of literature an* through a close rea*ing of a 1riter/s life. .his research 1ill help in
un*erstan*ing ho1 mental illness is pro'ecte* in literature an* conse0uently 1ill pave
1ay for a &etter un*erstan*ing of the concept of mental illness an* its scope an* affect in
the 1,$0/s American society. Since literature reflects the society an* the people of a
specific time perio*9 It is anticipate* that the research 1ill a** to the perpetual chain of
2no1le*ge an* that the research 1ill thro1 light on the mental illness of lath an* 4sther
comparing the reasons of the mental illness in their lives an* *epicting 4sther as lath/s
alter ego.
1.8 S$,+/$+," 03 $*" S$+8-
.he research is organi;e* in the form of chapters 1ith Chapter 1 &eing the Intro*uction of
the research9 1hich has provi*e* a &rief &ac2groun* of the research an* intro*uce* the
topic.
)
Chapter 2 is entitle* Literature "evie1 an* has *ealt 1ith the previous researches
*one in relevance to the current stu*y. Chapter 3 *eals 1ith the "esearch Metho*ology
a&out ho1 the research has &een carrie* out.
Chapter ! is the first part of analysis provi*ing an overvie1 of the novel an*
*iscussing mental illness in the novel The Bell Jar for stu*y an* Chapter $ is the secon*
part of analysis mainly *ealing 1ith mental illness in life stories of &oth lath an* her
alter ego en*ing 1ith the comparison &et1een the t1o. .he chapter # conclu*es the
1hole research.
1.9 D"&(.($%$(0#'
-ue to the limite* time for the research an* specific 1or* limit9 the only prose 1or2 of
Sylvia lath i.e.9 The Bell Jar9 has &een selecte* for comparative analysis 1ith her
personal &iography provi*e* &y Lin*a 5agner Martin. .he una&ri*ge* 'ournals of Sylvia
lath e*ite* &y Daren J Du2il have &een also inclu*e*. In a**ition9 as for loo2ing into
lath/s personal mental illness9 through her 'ournals an* &iography along 1ith the
*etaile* stu*y of the novel The Bell Jar, is an e8tensive 1or2 itself so the stu*y is
*elimite* accor*ingly.
+
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
In or*er to9 fully un*erstan* the concept of mental illness9 it is important to have an
insight into previous 1or2s on mental illness an* its history over the ages. Moreover9 to
relate it 1ith lath herself9 it re0uires previous accounts of 1or2 relate* to lath an* her
mental illness to &e highlighte*. .o fulfill these o&'ectives9 a literature revie1 is
con*ucte* accor*ing to the conte8t of this research.
2.1 D"3(#($(0# 03 $*" T",. M"#$%& I&&#"''
The !erriam /e9ster 0ictionary (2014) *efines mental illness as >a mental or &o*ily
con*ition mar2e* primarily &y sufficient *isorgani;ation of personality9 min*9 an*
emotions to seriously impair the normal psychological functioning of the in*ivi*ual?.
Accor*ing to The (ollins :n$lish 0ictionary, (2014) mental illness is *efine* as >any of
various *isor*ers in 1hich a personCs thoughts9 emotions9 or &ehavior are as a&normal as
to cause suffering to himself9 herself9 or other people?.
The me0ical free 0ictionary 9y arle; (2012) *efines mental illness as >Any of
various psychiatric con*itions9 usually characteri;e* &y impairment of an in*ivi*ualCs
normal cognitive9 emotional9 or &ehavioral functioning9 an* cause* &y physiological or
psychosocial factors?. 5hereas9 The Thesaurus *efinition9 provi*e* &y The ree
6ictionary 9y arle; <201!=9 states that mental illness is >any *isease of the min*F the
psychological state of someone 1ho has emotional or &ehavioral pro&lems serious
enough to re0uire psychiatric intervention?.
,
Mental illness in the current research is *efine* as a serious mental im&alance of
min*9 &o*y9 &ehavior an* personality that affects the normal functioning of an in*ivi*ual
lea*ing him to suffering severe *epression an* suici*e. In this conte8t9 mental illness is
categori;e* in terms of ma'or *epression an* suici*e.
2.1.1 D"3(#($(0# 03 D"2,"''(0#
The !erriam /e9ster 0ictionary <201!= *efines *epression as >a *istur&ance in moo*9
thought9 an* &o*y characteri;e* &y varying *egrees of sa*ness. It is *efine* as a
psychoneurotic or psychotic *isor*er mar2e* especially &y sa*ness9 inactivity9 *ifficulty
in thin2ing an* concentration9 a significant increase or *ecrease in appetite an* time spent
sleeping9 feelings of *e'ection an* hopelessness9 an* sometimes suici*al ten*encies?.
The /orl0 <ealth %r$ani=ation <201!= *efines *epression as >a common mental
*isor*er9 characteri;e* &y sa*ness9 loss of interest or pleasure9 feelings of guilt or lo1
selfG1orth9 *istur&e* sleep or appetite9 feelings of tire*ness an* poor concentration. It can
&e long lasting or recurrent9 su&stantially impairing a person/s a&ility to function at 1or2
or school9 or cope 1ith *aily life. At its most severe9 *epression can lea* to suici*e?.
2.1.2 D"3(#($(0# 03 S+(/(8"
The American 5sycholo$ical Association <201!= *efines suici*e9 as >the act of 2illing
yourself9 most often &ecause of *epression or other mental illness?. The :ncyclope0ia of
(hil0rens <ealth <201!= *efines suici*e as >the act of en*ing oneCs o1n life. Suici*al
&ehaviors are thoughts or ten*encies that put a person at ris2 for committing suici*e.
Bactors associate* 1ith a higher reGattempt rate inclu*e* chronic an* severe psychiatric
10
*isor*ers9 such as *epression an* su&stance a&useF hostility an* aggressionF nonG
compliance 1ith treatmentF poor levels of social s2illsF family *iscor*9 neglect9 or a&useF
an* parental psychiatric *isor*ers?.
6e&erth9 in his investigative assessment research9 The 5sycholo$y of 8uici0e
(199>), claims that the rationale &ehin* suici*e9 1hich is *efine* as the intentional ta2ing
of oneCs o1n life9 can &e as simple or as comple8 as life itself. .he person 1ho commits
suici*e may see his or her actions as some sort of solution to a severe physical or
psychological *ilemma. .he sychology of the suici*e is roote* in *epression.
2.2 D"3(#($(0# 03 A&$", E10
Accor*ing to The ree 6ictionary 9y arle; (2014)9 an alter ego is a su&stitute >self? for
a 1riter9 usually a protagonist in the 1riter/s story. It is another si*e of oneself9 a secon*
self. The %;for0 6ictionaries (2014) *efine alter ego as a person/s secon*ary or
alternative personality. .he origin of alter ego traces mi* 1#
th
century. Accor*ing to Les2e
at :7ho&7com <201!=9 Alter ego has its roots in a Latin phrase translate* as Isecon* selfI
<literally9 Isecon* II=. Aristotle populari;e* it. .he most common use of alter ego refers
to another si*e of a person. Accor*ing to 3arpe at ,i'estron$7com <201!=9 in the analysis
of literature9 the term alter ego can &e use* to *escri&e characters that are psychologically
i*entical9 or characters that intentionally represent the &ehaviors9 thoughts or i*eas of the
author.
In the conte8t of this research9 alter ego is the thinly *isguise* representation of
the 1riter. .he term alter ego in literature is use* for analysis an* comparison of personas
1ho are psychologically similar9 or sometimes to *escri&e a character as an alter ego of
11
the author9 a fictional character 1hose &ehavior9 speech or thoughts intentionally
represent those of the author.
2.3 M"#$%& I&&#"'' 04", $*" A1"'
.he history of the treatment of the mentally ill in the :nite* States is mar2e* &y various
changes an* shifts. .he early colonists &lame* 1itchcraft an* *emonic possession9 as
reasons of mental illness an* the mentally ill 1ere often imprisone*9 sent to almshouses9
or remaine* untreate* at home 0uietly separate* from the society.
Be1ley <200+= in his &oo2 !a0ness to !ental 3llness? A <istory of the @oyal
(olle$e of 5sychiatrists states that
In the 1+th an* early 1,th centuries9 people 1ith mental illness coul* &e cast out
from society. If harmless9 they 1ere ignore* an* left to cope as &est they coul*F if
consi*ere* *angerous9 they 1ere confine*9 sometimes in *egra*ing con*itions.
Confinement 1as a 1ay of removing them from society. <Be1ley9 200+9 p.!=
Bragg A Cohen in their article rom Asylum to <ospital to 5sychiatric <ealth (are
8ystem (2001) state that in the 1+th century9 patients 1ith mental illness 1ere most often
hi**en an* house* in 'ails9 almshouses9 an* private homes. 48isting -e*icate* settings
provi*e* little care an* fre0uently use* physical coercion9 inclu*ing chains9 to restrain
the actions of aggressive patients <ara. 1=. .o1ar*s the latter part of the 1+th century9 the
me*ical *octors also &egan to sho1 interest in the *iagnostic9 clinical9 therapeutic9 an*
legal aspects of the care of the mentally ill people. .here 1as a gro1th in the num&er of
me*ical asylums an* a *evelopment in the su&'ect 1ith increase in its concern. .he
&eginnings of a change to a more humane approach to mental illness coul* &e seen.
12
Bragg A Cohen further state that against this &ac2*rop in Be&ruary 1+119 the
Asylum 1as foun*e* as a *ivision of the Massachusetts 6eneral 3ospital an* as the first
psychiatric hospital in 7e1 4nglan*. McLean Asylum9 name* for its largest early
&enefactor9 accepte* its first patients in 1+1+ <ara.2=. .hey proclaim that the evolution
of the >moral treatment? philosophy lea* to the change of name from >asylum? to
>hospital? in 1+,2. <ara.3=
Breeman A Breeman in their article /omen /ho Are Ju0$e0 !entally 3ll !i$ht
Just Be !a0 <2013= are of the vie1 that there 1as seen formation of attitu*es to1ar*s
gen*er an* psychological *isor*er in the eighteenth century. .here 1as seen
*isproportionately high num&ers of 1omen tra*itionally treate* for mental illness. .his
highlighte* the fact that psychiatry 1as an over1helmingly maleG*ominate* profession
an* *istinctive social an* cultural pressures cause* 1omen to see2 treatmentF an* pointe*
to a longGstan*ing cultural association &et1een femininity an* mental illness. <ara. 1=
.he article refers a&out 4laine Sho1alterCs I.he Bemale Mala*yH 5omen9
Ma*ness an* 4nglish Culture9 1+30M1,+09I pu&lishe* in 1,+$ 1hile tal2ing a&out the
topic of mental illness an* 1omen. It mentions ho1 Sho1alter summari;e* her fin*ingsH
Ma*ness is a female mala*y &ecause it is e8perience* &y more 1omen than
men . . . &ut ho1 shoul* 1e interpret this statistical factK .here have al1ays &een
those 1ho argue* that 1omenCs high rate of mental *isor*er is a pro*uct of their
social situation9 &oth their confining roles as *aughters9 1ives an* mothers an*
their mistreatment &y a maleG*ominate* an* possi&ly misogynistic profession. By
far the more prevalent vie19 ho1ever9 sees an e0uation &et1een femininity an*
insanity that goes &eyon* statistical evi*ence or the social con*ition of 1omen . . .
1omen9 1ithin our *ualistic systems of language an* representation9 are typically
13
situate* on the si*e of irrationality9 silence9 nature an* &o*y9 1hile men are
situate* on the si*e of reason9 *iscourse9 culture an* min* . . . . NBeminist
philosophers9 literary critics9 an* social theoristsO have analy;e* an* illuminate* a
cultural tra*ition that represents I1omenI as ma*ness9 an* that uses images of the
female &o*y . . . to stan* for irrationality in general. <Breeman A Breeman9 20139
ara. 3=
Breeman A Breeman proclaim9 >Sho1alter argue* that this i*entification of ma*ness as
inherently female only truly too2 root at the en* of the 1+th century? <ara. $=. In
eighteenth century most people an* psychiatrists too9 &elieve* that a 1oman/s place 1as
in her home. She shoul* &e su&missive to her hus&an* an* *e*icate* to responsi&ilities of
family an* chil*ren. A 1oman 1ho re&elle* against maternal an* *omestic
responsi&ilities 1as *eclare* insane or mentally ill an* 1as sent to an asylum. .he
concept of mental illness gaine* its pea2 follo1ing the nineteenth century.
Mental illness in nineteenth century America affecte* &oth men an* 1omen
e0ually &ut 1omen 1ere victims more than men 1ere. Bloy*9 <2013=9 in her article
&omens health care, states9 >5omen 1ere especially vulnera&le to ina*e0uate *iagnoses
an* treatment in 1,th century America. It 1as commonly &elieve* that most physical
ailments of 1omen 1ere cause* &y their se8ual organs or mental *isor*ers9 resulting in
painful9 sometimes lethal treatments? <ara. 1=. 5omen 1ere consi*ere* mentally ill
more than men 1ere9 &ecause of the pressure on them impose* &y society to live their
lives 1ith limite* an* confining roles as *aughters9 1ives an* mothers. Bemale mental
health pro&lems 1ere generally vie1e* as pathological. .he Jictorian vie1 pro'ecte*
females as 1ea29 fragile an* suffering. A 1oman 1ho *are* to try to live outsi*e societal
norms 1as regar*e* as mentally ill.
1!
Lie*le <2012= in her article Beyon0 the /allpaper? /omen*s !ental 3llness in the
#ineteenth (entury is of the vie1 that an American 1omanCs primary role in 1,$0s 1as
&eing a homema2er an* a *utiful mother. .hese stereotypical roles 1ere society/s
e8pectations from 1omen an* this tren* 1as so enroote* into the fa&ric of American
society at that time that 1omen rarely coul* stan* against the society an* re&el against
the lo1er status in such a patriarchal system. Lie*le conclu*e* her article &y stating a
0uote &y Meyering that
In*ee*9 1omenCs ultimate goal in the nineteenth century 1as to learn ho1 to &e a
goo* 1ife an* motherF ho1 to live 1ith accepta&le passivity in a patriarchal
culture 1hile yet &eing aggressive enough to stay aliveP an* a&ove all9 sane9I
1hich un*er the circumstances9 prove* to &e a challenge. <Lie*le9 200)9
5e&page=
Sigur*ar <2013= in her *issertation /omen an0 !a0ness in the 19
th
(entury ? The effects
of oppression on &omen*s mental health e8plores 1ith connections to literature9 the
possi&le causes for mental illness in 1omen in the nineteenth century an* reasons
1hy it 1as so prevalent. In her thesis9 she is of the vie1 that in the mi* nineteenth
century9 1omen 1ere more prone to mental illness than men 1ere. Sigur*ar further
states thatH
In hin*sight9 it seems more li2ely that 1omen 1ere victims of circumstance an* it
is important to ta2e into account 1hat 1omenCs lives 1ere li2e at the time an*
1hat roles they 1ere e8pecte* to fill. A 1oman 1as suppose* to &e the *utiful
1ife9 not to 0uarrel 1ith her hus&an* or *eman* e0ual rights. 4ven an
in*epen*ent 1oman *i* not have the right to vote9 nor *i* she have any autonomy
over her o1n self. As 1omen &egan testing their &oun*aries an* vying for their
free*om9 some of the more po1erful opposition came from the scientific an*
1$
me*ical esta&lishment that speciali;e* in nervous an* mental illness. <Sigur*ar9
20139 p. #=
A hea*strong an* in*epen*ent 1oman coul* never fit into the confining roles set &y
society 1ithout sacrificing her in*epen*ence an* sanity. Mostly the mental illness in
the nineteenth century 1omen 1as the result of their oppression an* the pressure to
conform to the stan*ar*s of society.
Lhang in his article on 1950s in The 5ill? Birth of a #e& /oman is of the vie1
that in 1,$0s America9 6en*er roles 1ere very clearGcut. 5omen 1ere e8pecte* to care
for the chil*ren an* house 1hile men 1ere to &e the I&rea*1innersI. Any attempt &y
1omen against the norms of the society 1as consi*ere* a mental illness. She further
refers to Betty Brie*an an* her 1or2. Betty Brie*an analy;es the tren* in .he Beminine
Mysti0ue <1,#3= an* is of the vie1 that the pro&lem originates from the superficial
system create* &y society that forces 1omen to *omesticate themselves 1ithin househol*
chores an* chil*ren. She states that
The pro9lem that has no name9 1hich is simply the fact that9 American 1omen
are 2ept from gro1ing to their full human capacities is ta2ing a far greater toll on
the physical an* mental health of our country than any 2no1n *isease9 an* 1e can
no longer ignore that voice 1ithin 1omen9 that saysH A3 &ant somethin$ more than
my hus9an0 an0 my chil0ren an0 my home <Lhang9 n.*.9 1e&page=
An article 20th (entury !ental <ealthcare Architecture (2010) states that >the &eginning
of the 20th century foun* psychiatrists at a loss? <ara. 1=. .he asylums that 1ere
&uilt in the 1,th century 1ere full 1ith patients. Less space an* overGcro1*ing 1as
the issue. Shrin2ing state &u*gets ma*e it more an* more *ifficult to properly ta2e
1#
care of all the patients. .he article claims that >1ith pro&lems such as overGcro1*ing
an* lac2 of fun*s as 1ell as the *eteriorating con*itions le* to efforts to
*einstitutionali;e the typical asylum? <ara. 2=. .he *iscovery an* classification of
mental illnesses allo1e* asylum authorities to carefully segregate various patients
an* this lea* to the *o1nfall of the typical 1,th century asylum.
.he article tal2s a&out the a*vancement in the fiel* of mental health care &y
claiming that the 20th century 1as the gol*en age of *iscovery for mental healthcare.
>Many *ifferent types of mental illnesses 1ere *iscovere*. Bet1een the 1,20 an* the
1,#09 virtually all mo*ern mental illnesses 1ere i*entifie*. 5ith i*entification came
possi&le cures? <ara.3=. Many ne1 practices 1ere invente* *uring the early to mi* 20th
century. .he first ne1 practice 1as insulin shoc2 treatment *evelope* in 1,33. A&out the
same time car*ia;ol shoc2 therapy 1as *evelope*. Insulin shoc2 therapy 1as
*iscontinue* in the 1,)0Cs an* car*ia;ol 1as prohi&ite* in 1,+2. Burther9 the
electroconvulsive therapy also 2no1n as electroshoc2 1as invente*. .his treatment 1as
1i*ely use* after 5orl* 5ar II. Qet another metho* of treatment 1as lo&otomies that
1hen prove* as cruel an* traumatic 1ere *iscontinue*. <ara.3=
.he article further tal2s a&out the me*ical &rea2through that came &y the use of
*rugs for treatment of the patients that remaine* in mental healthcare facilities. .his
change* the 1ay of operation of the institution. atients felt no nee* to &e su&*ue* &y
force. atients &ecame calmer an* violent aggressive out&ursts &ecame rare. A ne1 phase
of mental healthcare &uil*ing 1as evi*ent *uring the 1,#0Cs an* 1,)0/s that even
flourishe* more in 21
st
century.
1)
5ith arrival of 20th century9 nothing much change* a&out the attitu*es an*
approaches to1ar*s feminity an* mental illness. Breeman A Breeman in their article
/omen /ho Are Ju0$e0 !entally 3ll !i$ht Just Be !a0 <2013= refer to the health
psychologist @ane :ssher 1hile tal2ing a&out the unchange* attitu*es. .hey state that in
her recent &oo2 I.he Ma*ness of 5omen9I @ane :ssher 1ritesH
5omen outnum&er men in *iagnoses of ma*ness9 from the ChysteriaC of the 1+th
an* 1,th centuries9 to CneuroticC an* moo* *isor*ers in the 20th an* 21st. 5omen
are also more li2ely to receive psychiatric CtreatmentC9 ranging from hospitali;ation
in an asylum9 accompanie* &y restraint9 electroGconvulsive therapy an*
psychosurgery9 to psychological therapy an* psychotropic *rug treatments to*ay.
5hy is this soK Some 1oul* say that 1omen are more ma* than men9 1ith
psychiatric treatment a &eneficent force that sets out to cure the *isor*ere* female
min*. I proffer an alternative e8planation that 1omen are su&'ect to mis*iagnosis
an* mistreatment &y e8perts 1hose o1n pecuniary interests can &e 0uestione*9 as
can their use <or a&use= of po1er. <Breeman A Breeman9 20139 ara. !=
.hus9 female mental illness ha* its roots in the earlier 1)
th
an* 1+
th
centuries. It gaine* its
momentum in 1,
th
century &ut *eeply roote* in the 20
th
century. Mental illness is a
psychological *isor*er that has al1ays &een more associate* 1ith 1omen from centuries.
2.4 M"#$%& I&&#"'' %' % T*"." (# L($",%$+,"
Mental illness 1hen ta2en as a me*ical term is a&out a *isor*er in a person/s emotions9
thoughts an* &ehaviors that lea*s him to *epression an* suffering. 3o1ever9 loo2ing into
mental illness as a theme in literature gives *ifferent insights a&out the topic itself.
Mental illness is an important an* significant aspect in literature. 5hen 1e tal2 a&out
mental illness generally9 the first thing that nee*s to &e ac2no1le*ge* is the fact that ho1
1+
relative is the term >mental illness? an* ho1 1e *eem someone >mentally ill? &ase* on
our un*erstan*ing of i*eas of sanity or &eing normal. .his 0uestion must &e ans1ere*
&efore tac2ling the theme as to 1hat is meant to &e mentally ill. eople 1ith mental
illness are often categori;e* as cra;y9 ma* or insane. %ften eople 1ho suffer from
*epression fall un*er the category of having a mental illness. Bullis in his 1or2 A (ra=y
5erspecti'e? An Analysis of !ental 3llness in ,iterature an0 <o& it (onnects &ith
8ociety <n.*.= states that Mental illness an* 1riters seem to go han* in han*. 5hether
they 1rite from a personal perspective or a socially conscious one9 the su&'ect of mental
illness an* insanity has al1ays hel* a place in literature <p. $=. Literature ai*s in
un*erstan*ing of the min* an* society 1hen it is &y or a&out the mentally ill.
In literature9 mental illness is ta2en synonymous of pro&lems li2e ma*ness an*
insanity. Many 1or2s in literature have &een categori;e* un*er the theme of mental
illness. %ne of such 1or2s is BThe Cello& /allpaperB &y (harlotte 5er)ins -ilman
<1+,2=. Cangialosi <2013= states that it is a story tol* from a first person perspective9 as
the narrator 1rites 1ithin her 'ournal. .he themes 1ithin the story are representative of
Jictorian 4ra gen*er roles an* cultural practices <ara. 1=. >.he Qello1 5allpaper? is a
short story a&out a 1oman 1ho suffers from mental illness &ut feels una&le to heal *ue to
her unsupportive hus&an* an* his lac2 of &elief. .he story appears to ta2e place *uring
the time 1hen 1omen 1ere facing oppression accurately portraying the thought process
of the society *uring that time. It has &een consi*ere* as a part of the 1omen/s movement
illustrating 1,th century societal attitu*es to1ar*s physical an* mental health of 1omen.
Another 1or2 1ith the theme of mental illness is %ne le& o'er the (uc)oo*s
#est &y Den Desey <1,#2= that accor*ing to Ama;on &oo2 revie1s is >at once a comic
1,
an* tragic novel that pro&es the nature of ma*ness an* sanity9 authority an* vitality?.
3ere ma*ness is closely relate* to the mental illness. >Intro*ucing many rea*ers to the
insi*es of a 1,#0s insane asylum9 Den Desey/s %ne le& o'er the (uc)oos #est thro1s
you into a 1orl* full of *e&auchery9 mental illness9 an* the politics of mental 1ar*s9 all
through the eyes of a soGcalle* *eaf9 mute In*ian?. <Boo2 "evie1H %ne Ble1 %ver the
Cuc2ooCs 7est9 -o something.org9 ara.1=
-irl, 3nterrupte0 (1994) accor*ing to 6oogle &oo2s <2012= is >a clearGsighte*9
unflinching *ocument that gives lasting an* specific *imension to our *efinitions of sane
an* insane9 mental illness an* recovery? <para. 2=. It is an auto&iographical account of the
1riter Susana 2aysen as in 1,#)9 after a session 1ith a psychiatrist9 eighteenGyearGol*
Daysen 1as sent to McLean 3ospital in a ta8i9 1here she spent her ne8t t1o years on the
1ar* for teenage girls. .his psychiatric hospital 1as reno1ne* for its famous clienteleGG
Sylvia lath9 "o&ert Lo1ell9 @ames .aylor9 an* "ay Charles an* for its progressive
mental health care metho*s an* treatment for those 1ho coul* affor* its sanctuary. <ara.
1=
3 #e'er 5romise0 Cou a @ose -ar0en <1,#!= &y @oanne 6reen&erg is another
e8ample of a piece of literature 1ith the theme of mental illness. Accor*ing to 8par)
notes <201!=9 it is a semiGauto&iographical account of a teenage girlCs threeGyear &attle
1ith a type of mental illness. .his novel provi*es an insight to the mental illness of
protagonist an* the e8perience of mental hospital patients9 as 1ell as a glimpse of the
emotional cost to the family of a mentally ill chil*. @aco& an* 4sther Blau commit their
si8teenGyearGol* *aughter9 -e&orah9 to the care of a 1ellG2no1n psychiatrist9 -r. Clara
Brie*9 after the girl has attempte* suici*e. .he novel presents the issue of mental illness
20
from multiple vie1points. It provi*es us 1ith a portrait of mental illness e8perience* &y
the patient an* -e&orahCs parents love for their *aughter an* their shame at the stigma of
her illness. -e&orahCs strongG1ille*9 empathetic9 &rilliant therapist9 Clara Brie*9 slo1ly
1ins her trust an* helps -e&orah gain the courage to fight her illness.
Another 1or2 1ith the same theme of mental illness is the novel ,ou0 in the
<ouse of !yself? !emoir of a 8tran$e -irl <2012= &y Stacy erGshall that is a firstGperson
account of a young girl/s struggle 1ith &i polar *isor*er. @oan 3anna revie1ing the &oo2
in 2012 claims that >it is one of those rare gems of a memoir that reaches out 1ith &rutal
honesty a&out the struggles of living 1ith an either un*iagnose* or un*er *iagnose*
mental health issue? <ara. 2=
+eronica 6eci0es to 6ie <1,,+= is a novel 1ritten &y aulo Coelho that is another
account of mental illness9 1hich is partially &ase* on Coelho/s e8perience in numerous
mental institutions evolving aroun* the topic of insanity. It is a story of a girl name*
Jeronica9 1ho *oes not really seem to &e missing a lot in her life &ut *espite it9 she
*eci*es to commit suici*e an* fails fin*ing herself in a mental institution. 3er presence
there affects all the patients an* she herself learns to live life at its fullest. At the en* of
the novel9 the rea*er *iscovers that Jeronica *i* not suffer from any serious mental
illness. It 1as an e8periment of her *octor9 1ho shoc2e* Jeronica &y *eath. 3is purpose
1as to ma2e her value the life she ha*. .his e8periment 1as fortunately successful
&ecause it helpe* Jeronica see the 1orl* in a ne1 light.
21
2.5 M"#$%& (&&#"'' (# P&%$*9' P0"$,- %#8 C,($(:+"'
Qaros in her article 8yl'ia 5lath? 5oetry an0 8uici0e <n.*.= in volume 1 of 5lath profiles
is of the vie1 that lath/s unfortunate suici*e on Be&ruary 119 1,#39 shoc2e* the
literary 1orl*9 an* her confessional 1riting helpe* to *issect her life an* to
un*erstan* her. Qaros states thatH
lath/s *epiction of a &ol*9 victimi;e* persona compelle* critics to consi*er ho1
the *etails of her personal life e8plaine* the su&'ect matter of her poemsF an*9
rightfully so9 since it/s un*enia&le that lath herself em&race* the i*ea of
*ivulging the *etails of her personal life an* feelings through her 1or2. At the
root of the struggles *escri&e* in lath/s poetry is the fact that she suffere* from
an un*erlying mental illness an* ha* a history of *epression9 suici*al ten*encies
an* mental therapy9 1hich inclu*e* electroGshoc2 treatments. 3er pu&lishe*
poetry an* 'ournals pu&licly e8pose ho1 she e8presse* 1hat it felt li2e to &e her.
<Qaros9 n.*.9 p.23)=
She further states that specifically9 in the poems compose* near the en* of her life9 Sylvia
lath pro'ects a persona that is preparing for suici*e <ara. 2=.
3ar*1ic2 <2013= in her essay %n 8yl'ia 5lath states that >In Sylvia lath/s 1or2
an* in her life9 the elements of pathology are *eeply roote*. 3er fate an* her themes are
har*ly separate an* &oth are singularly terri&le? <ara. 1=. .he article 1as an e8tract from
4li;a&eth 3ar*1ic2/s revie1 of Sylvia lath/s The Bell Jar an* (rossin$ the /ater9
1hich appeare* in The #e& Cor) @e'ie& in August 1,)1.
22
.he article on 8yl'ia 5lath (1942D19>4) in 5oetry oun0ation <201!= states some
critical revie1s on life an* 1or2s of Sylvia lath. It states thatH
Intensely auto&iographical9 lathCs poems e8plore her o1n mental anguish9 her
trou&le* marriage to fello1 poet .e* 3ughes9 an* her unresolve* conflicts 1ith
her parents an* her o1n vision of herself. <oetry Boun*ation9 201!9 ara. 1=
.he article further 0uotes *ifferent critical revie1s on lath. It states that In the #e& Cor)
Times Boo) @e'ie&, former American oet Laureate "o&ert ins2y *eclare*9 I.hrashing9
hyperactive9 perpetually accelerate*9 the poems of Sylvia lath catch the feeling of a
profligate9 hurt imagination9 thro1ing off images an* phrases 1ith the energy of a
runa1ay horse or a machine 1ith its throttle stuc2 1i*e open. All the violence in her
1or2 returns to that violence of imagination9 a fren;ie* &rilliance an* convictionI <ara.
2=. .he article 0uotes ins2y further that lath Isuffere* the airless egocentrism of one in
love 1ith an i*eal selfI <ara. 2=.
.he article states that Beminists portraye* lath as a 1oman *riven to ma*ness &y
a *omineering father9 an unfaithful hus&an*9 an* the *eman*s that motherhoo* ma*e on
her genius. Some critics *eclare* her as a confessional poet 1hose 1or2 Ispo2e the
hectic9 uncontrolle* things our conscience nee*e*9 or thought it nee*e*9I to 0uote
-onoghue <ara. #=.
6ill in his &oo2 The (am9ri0$e 3ntro0uction to 8yl'ia 5lath (2002) states that
>4arly an* influential rea*ings of lath/s 1or2 &y Al Alvare;9 M. L. "osenthal9 C. B. Co8
an* A. ". @ones9 among many others9 esta&lishe* the persistent ten*ency to rea* her
poetry as confessional. .o rea* lath/s poetry as Rconfessional/ in the terms of these early
23
*efinitions of the mo*e is to see it as *irect9 imme*iate an* auto&iographical. It is to
imagine that it gives us unme*iate* access to the trou&le* min* of the poet?. <p. 11!G11$=
.he poetry foun*ation <201!= article on 8yl'ia 5lath (1942.19>4) mentions the
vie1 point of McClanahan a&out Ariel collection of lath/s poetry. Accor*ing to
McClanahan9
.he poems in Ariel are personal testaments to the loneliness an* insecurity that
plague* her9 an* the *esolate images suggest her apparent fi8ation 1ith selfG
annihilation. . . . In Ariel, the every*ay inci*ents of living are transforme* into the
horrifying psychological e8periences of the poet. <oetry Boun*ation9 201!9 r. )=
McClanahan is further 0uote* in the article that he felt that lathCs legacy Iis one of pain9
fear9 an* traumatic *epression9 &orn of the nee* to *estroy the imagistic materiali;ation of
C-a**y.CI 7evertheless9 the critic conclu*e*9 I.he horrifying tone of her poetry
un*erscores a *epth of feeling that can &e attri&ute* to fe1 other poets9 an* her nearG
suici*al attempt to communicate a frightening e8istential vision oversha*o1s the sha2y
techni0ue of her final poems. lath 1rites of the human *rea* of *ying. 3er primitive
honesty an* emotionalism are her strength.I <ara. 11=
oems of Sylvia lath &eautifully reflecte* the o&sessive inner life that ma*e her
1rite them. Moses in her article The @eal 8yl'ia 5lath <2000= states that
5hen lath an* 3ughes separate* traumatically in Septem&er 1,#2 after si8 years
of marriage9 the couple 1as parents of a 2GyearGol* *aughter9 Brie*a9 an* an +G
monthGol* &a&y son9 7icholas9 3ughes move* to Lon*on9 1hile lath remaine*
1ith the chil*ren at their house in the 4nglish countrysi*e. 5ith responsi&ility of
chil*care an* often ill 1ith fevers9 flu an* infections9 lath 1rote the &ul2 of the
2!
>Ariel? poems in a sevenG1ee2 rush *uring the preG*a1n hours &efore her
chil*ren a1o2e. <Moses9 20009 r. 10=
Moses e8claims that >Ariel? an* the relate* final poems 1ere the voice of her true self.
oems such as C-a**yC an* CLa*y La;arusC contain unsettling *irect references to lathCs
emotional state. She further is of the vie1 that in the fall of 1,#29 *uring the final floo*
of creativity that prece*e* her *eath &y a fe1 months9 Sylvia lath allu*e* to her first
suici*e attempt in >-a**y9? she 1roteH
At t1enty I trie* to *ie9
But they pulle* me out of the sac29
An* they stuc2 me together 1ith glue.
lath 1as a1are of the psychological manipulation 1ithin her 1riting. 3er use of RI/ in
her poems invite* the rea*ers to un*erstan* her *eeply tormente* soul through her 1or*s.
She ha* an enhance* sensitivity *ue to her mental illness9 1hich also *epicte* in her
1or2s.
Qaros in her article 8yl'ia 5lath? 5oetry an0 8uici0e <n.*.= in volume 1 of 5lath
profiles is of the vie1 that >Bive poems from .he Collecte* oems 1ith final *raft *ates
close to the time of her *eath9 >4lm9? >La*y La;arus9?9 >5or*s9? >Contusion? an*
>4*ge9? e8emplify a progression of suici*al in*icators in chronological or*er? <p. 2!0=.

2$
:roff in his essay E8yl'ia 5lath an0 (onfessional 5oetry? A @econsi0eration,B in
3o&a re'ie& <1,))= repro*uce* in -ale 6ata9ase 0uotes lath that Sylvia lath herself
has sai*9
I thin2 my poems imme*iately come out of the sensuous an* emotional
e8periences I have9 &ut I must say I cannot sympathi;e 1ith these cries from the
heart that are informe* &y nothing e8cept a nee*le or a 2nife9 or 1hatever it is. I
&elieve that one shoul* &e a&le to control an* manipulate e8periences9 even the
most terrifying9 li2e ma*ness9 &eing torture*9 this sort of e8perience9 an* one
shoul* &e a&le to manipulate these e8periences 1ith an informe* an* intelligent
min*. <:roff9 1,))9 r. !=
3am*an in her thesis 8yl'ia 5lath*s ,iterary /or)s? A 5sycholo$ical +ie& <2010=
su&mitte* to *epartment of 4nglish literature of Mi**le 4ast :niversity states that
Sylvia lath tries to reconcile the *ar2 forces of her o1n psyche 1ith the &rilliant
creative forces of her intellect. .hus9 her poetry e8presses the various reflections
of that conflict of the self as 1ell as the enigmatic 1orl* 1ithin the self. <3am*an9
20109 p. #0=
3am*an claims in her thesis that
lath is often consi*ere* to &e a confessional poet. Jie1e* as &eing a cathartic
response to her *ivi*e* personae as an artist9 mother9 an* 1ife9 lathCs vivi* an*
often shoc2ing verse reveals the psychological torment associate* 1ith the
feelings of alienation9 ina*e0uacy9 an* a&an*onment <p. 2!=.
3am*an further states In Sylvia lath/s poetry9 it is clear that such 1or2s9 1hich are full
of past memories of the *ea* father9 appear li2e a Colossus from time to time. Last of all9
inG&et1een the paternal an* maternal torturing imagesF there emerges a ne1 voice9 1hich
is that of the creative artist9 her true self <p. ,=. She proclaims that nearly all poems of
2#
lath convey a sense of melancholy9 gloom an* *eath. In a case li2e this9 poetry is a
*efensive 1all against mounting *espair an* pain. Sylvia lathCs poetry em&o*ies the
profoun* interrelationship of *estruction an* creation <p. 2=.
2)
CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
.o carry out any research9 esta&lishing a research metho*ology is very important. .he
research metho*ology gives an account of the structure in 1hich the research 1oul* &e
carrie* out i.e.9 &y 0ualitative metho* or 0uantitative metho*. .he research metho*ology
of this research provi*es a fashion in 1hich the research has &een structure*.
3.1 R"'"%,/* M"$*08
"esearch metho*ologies are of t1o 2in*s that can &e classifie* as 0ualitative research an*
0uantitative research. 5ith a*vancement in research s2ills9 another type of research i.e.
mi8e* metho* research has also gaine* popularity.
An*erson in <200#= states that >(ualitative "esearch is collecting9 analy;ing9 an*
interpreting *ata &y o&serving 1hat people *o an* say. 5hereas9 0uantitative research
refers to counts an* measures of things9 0ualitative research refers to the meanings9
concepts9 *efinitions9 characteristics9 metaphors9 sym&ols9 an* *escriptions of things? <p.
3=. 3e further states that (ualitative research is much more su&'ective than 0uantitative
research an* uses very *ifferent Metho*s of collecting information9 mainly in*ivi*ual9 inG
*epth intervie1s an* focus groups. .he nature of this type of research is e8ploratory an*
openGen*e* <p. 3=. (uantitative research is o&'ectiveF 0ualitative is su&'ective.
.he current research is a 0ualitative stu*y as it analyses the reasons an* effects of
a phenomena of mental illness in the selecte* sample of the research. It ans1ers the ho1
an* 1hy 0uestions of the research. It *oes not involve any numerical *ata for analysis
2+
rather it e8amines the te8t of the novel >The Bell Jar? along 1ith the 1ritten manuscripts
of lath/s 'ournals an* her &iographies.
3.2 M"$*080&01(/%& F,%.";0,<
.he current research is a 0ualitative research that involves a comparative analysis of
Sylvia lath an* her mental illness 1ith that of her alter ego 4sther green1oo* in her
semi auto&iographical novel >The Bell Jar?. .his comparative stu*y is place* un*er the
frame1or2 of &iographical criticism an* psychoanalysis. Biographical criticism 1ill
focus on analy;ing Sylvia lath in accor*ance to her 1or29 1hereas the psychoanalytical
approach 1oul* &e ta2en out to stu*y the character of 4sther green1oo*. .he character of
4sther 1oul* &e analy;e* in accor*ance to her relationships 1ith other ma'or an* minor
characters an* the societal influences. %n the other han*9 the &iography of Sylvia lath
1ill &e thoroughly stu*ie* in or*er to e8plore the reasons of mental illness in her life &y
analy;ing her relationships an* events lea*ing to her mental illness.
Accor*ing to ar2rose9 online courses support <2012=F Biographical criticism
e8amines the effect an* influence of the 1riterCs life on his or her 1or2. It helps in getting
2no1le*ge a&out hisSher life an* to fully un*erstan* his or her 1or2 *iscovering the
authorCs inten*e* meaning. Biographical criticism *oes not retell the authorCs lifeF rather9
it applies information from the authorCs life to the interpretation of the 1or2. .he focus
remains on the 1or2 of literature9 an* the &iographical information is use* only as a
means of enhancing our un*erstan*ing.
sychoanalytic criticism involves some techni0ues of psychoanalysis in the
interpretation of literature 1or2s. It o1es its origin to psychoanalytic theory of Sigmun*
2,
Breu* an* its *evelopment to @ac0ues Lacan. Dumar -as in T&entieth century literary
criticism <2010= states that sychoanalytic criticism can &e un*ergone in t1o 1ays i.e.9
either &y stan*point of unconscious or &y the stan*point of author/s point of vie1 an*
hisSher personality.
.his research focuses on &oth the stan*points of unconscious relate* 1ith Breu*/s
theoretical frame1or2 of psychoanalysis an* the stan*point of author/s point of vie1 an*
her personality in relation to &iographical criticism for un*erstan*ing the relation
&et1een lath an* her alter ego 4sther green1oo* in >The Bell Jar?.
3.3 S%.2&" 03 $*" S$+8-
Bor the purpose of this research9 the sample that has &een ta2en inclu*es the novel >The
Bell Jar? an* lath/s &iography &y Lin*a 5agner Martin an* her una&ri*ge* 'ournals
e*ite* &y Daren J Du2il. .he novel is semi auto&iographical an* is in*irectly an account
of lath/s o1n *epression. 5hereas stu*ying closely lath/s &iography an* 'ournals
1oul* give an insight into reasons an* nature of mental illness of Sylvia lath.
3.4 M"$*08' 03 A#%&-'('
.his research 1as con*ucte* using the comparative an* character analysis that are the
metho*s of 0ualitative analysis of *ata. Mental illness in lath an* her alter ego is
e8amine* &y loo2ing into their life profiles an* the reasons an* events associate* 1ith
them contri&uting to their mental illness. .he life histories of &oth lath an* her alter ego
are e8plore* in terms of their relationships 1ith other characters associate* 1ith them
along 1ith the society in 1hich they live*. Birstly9 psychoanalysis of the personality of
30
lath/s alter ego is *one an* then through &iographical criticism9 mental illness in lath/s
life is e8plore* lea*ing to the comparison &et1een the mental illness of lath an* her
alter ego. .he analysis is *ivi*e* into t1o parts 1ith first part &eing an overvie1 on The
Bell Jar an* the secon* part provi*ing psychoanalysis of 4sther9 mental illness in lath
an* their comparison. .hrough this stu*y9 the researcher hope* to ascertain that the novel
>The Bell Jar? 1as a fictionali;e* account of lath/s o1n life. Mental illness of 4sther
*epicte* lath/s o1n mental illness.

31
CHAPTER 4
MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE BELL JAR
.his is the first part of the analysis of the research that gives a complete overvie1 of the
novel The Bell Jar along 1ith the focus on mental illness9 1hich is the sample of the
stu*y. It gives *etail of the &ac2groun* history of the novel an* the plot of the novel. It
provi*es an insight into the character profiles of the novel an* their influences on the
main protagonist along 1ith the societal influences that lea* to the mental illness of
lath/s alter ego.
4.1 I#$,08+/$(0# $0 The Bell Jar
The Bell Jar opens in the summer of 1,$3. 4sther 6reen1oo* is a &right nineteenGyearG
ol* girl 1or2ing as an e*itorial intern at a popular 1omenCs maga;ine in 7e1 Qor2 City.
-espite all her aca*emic achievements an* passion to get ahea* in life9 4sther feels
*isillusione*. She feels her life static an* gets *iscourage* a&out her future. She feels a
lot of pressure to conform to e8pectations of society of 1hat a young 1oman shoul* &e
li2e i.e.9 a virgin until marriage9 an* after marriage9 a *utiful 1ife an* a mother.
48periences at La*ies -ay shoc2 her largely. eople *isappoint her at every step. 4sther
escapes from there after a horri&le e8perience of a *ate in 1hich the man name* Marco
tries to assault her9 an* returns to her motherCs house in the su&ur&s outsi*e Boston.
Besi*es all these events happening9 4sther fre0uently flashes &ac2 to her
pro&lematic relationship 1ith her &oyfrien* Bu**y 5illar*9 a me*ical stu*ent. .he
flash&ac2s *epict that Bu**y is the perfect person in every one/s eyes. 4sther is &oun* to
32
i*oli;e Bu**y at first &ut she &ecomes a1are of the hypocrisy of Bu**y 1hen he reveals
that he ha* a se8ual affair 1ith a 1oman. Later Bu**y is *iagnose* 1ith .u&erculosis so
he has to live in a sanatorium for recovery. 4sther visits Bu**y there. She feels relieve*
that she has a reason to en* her relationship 1ith him. 4sther follo1s Bu**y to the s2i
slopes after that9 1here she meets an acci*ent an* &rea2s her leg.
Bac2 in Boston9 4sther fin*s out that she 1as not accepte* into a summer creative
1riting program. She feels *isappointe* after 1hich she 0uic2ly spirals *o1n into a
suici*al *epression. .he e8periences in 7e1 Qor2 get over her an* the re'ection from the
course a**s to her *epression. 4sther/s mother *oes not un*erstan* her illness an*
suggests psychiatric treatment for her. .hus9 4sther consults -r. 6or*on. 3e also fails to
un*erstan* her pro&lem completely. 3e *irects her to get electroshoc2 therapy9 after
1hich 4stherCs illness increases even more. Binally9 4sther *eci*es committing suici*e.
She tries to en* her life in *ifferent 1ays. She tries to cut her 1rists9 *ro1n herself9 an*
'ump off from the &ri*ge &ut fails. .hen finally9 she ta2es sleeping pills an* hi*es a1ay in
a cra1lspace un*er her home. She proves to &e 0uite fortunate as she is rescue* a fe1
*ays later. Again9 she is a*ministere* to psychiatric hospitals9 &ut luc2ily9 &ecause of Mrs.
hilomena 6uinea9 4sther is ta2en to a private psychiatric institution9 1here she meets
-r. 7olan9 a compassionate female *octor. 5hile her stay there9 4sther un*ergoes a series
of successful electroshoc2 an* insulin therapy sessions that help her in recovering her
sanity. She also encounters @oan9 a high school frien* 1ho also *ate* Bu**y there at the
hospital. 3o1ever9 4sther again encounters a horri&le e8perience of se8ual encounter
1ith a professor name* Ir1in she meets in Cam&ri*ge *uring a visit out of the institution
as she hemorrhages. @oan helps 4sther to the emergency room an* so she gets ai*. After
33
this event9 @oan commits suici*e near the institutionCs groun*s. %n the other han*9
4sther/s con*ition improves. .he novel en*s in the 1inter of 1,$! as 4sther 1aits for her
*ecision ta2en &y *octors 1ho 1ill *etermine if she is rea*y to leave the institution or
not.
4.2 The Bell Jar P+5&(/%$(0# H('$0,-
6ill in his &oo2 The (am9ri0$e 3ntro0uction to 8yl'ia 5lath (2002) in chapter $H The Bell
Jar an0 Johnny 5anic an0 the Bi9le of 6reams states that
.he *ifficulty of assessing the literary merit of The Bell Jar is compoun*e* &y its
complicate* pu&lishing history. 3einemann first pu&lishe* it in 4nglan* on 1!
@anuary 1,#3 un*er the pseu*onym that lath ha* chosen9 Jictoria Lucas. <6ill9
200+9 p. )3=
6ill further 0uotes -iane Mi**le &roo2 that accor*ing to his opinion9 the *ecision of
using a pseu*o name for the author 1as influence* &y the semi auto&iographical nature of
the novel. It 1as use* as a *isguise. 6ill states that Mi**le &roo2 also 1as of the vie1
that lath inten*e* to create a separate persona from her o1n that 1oul* appeal to a
popular au*ience. lath herself calle* her &oo2 as a pot&oiler. 5ith its pu&lication in :D9
it receive* great success an* ac2no1le*gment. Soon after achieving reasona&le sales9 the
&oo2 *isappeare* from the mar2et scenario. It achieve* very *ifferent results 1ith its
reissuance 1ith name of lath on it as the author. Large amount of copies 1as pro*uce*
after i*entification of the author as Sylvia lath.
3!
4.3 C*%,%/$", A#%&-'(' 03 E'$*",
4sther green1oo* is the protagonist an* the narrator of the novel The Bell Jar. She is a
young highly intelligent college stu*ent an* has a selfGcritical o&servant attitu*e. She
0uestions the 1orl* aroun* her. She gets *istur&e* 1ith the electrocution of the
"osen&ergs as she has a personality that gets o&sesse* 1ith the 1orst things in life. 3er
main conflicts concern marriage an* motherhoo* versus her literary am&itions. .he novel
revolves aroun* her *escent into mental illness an* its recovery. 4sther has an
unconventional &ehavior to1ar*s the society in 1hich she lives. 4sther feels that she
cannot fulfill the e8pectations that the society imposes on her to &e cheerful an* happy
en'oying the time of her life9 &eing a virgin until marriage an* after marriage a *utiful
1ife an* a mother. 4sther sees the hypocrisy of this rule that is only applica&le on 1omen
&y the society. .hus in an attitu*e of re&ellion9 4sther *eci*es that she 1ants to lose her
virginity &efore marriage. .he set stan*ar*s of society *istur& 4sther an* she falls into
*epression. 5ith *escent into mental illness9 4sther/s attitu*e &ecomes even more erratic.
4sther is confuse* in lea*ing her life in *ifferent possi&le 1ays. She seems to fail
choosing one *irection for her life. Moreover9 she faces many pro&lems 1ith her i*entity.
She 1ants to have a closer vie1 of the reality of the 1orl* hi**en &eneath the artificiality
of people an* mo*ernism so she tries to *etach herself from her i*entity. She a*opts
personas li2e 4llie 3iggin&ottom9 4e 6ee an* 4laine. 3er frien*ships 1ith other female
characters *isappoint her. She sees them as role mo*els &ut they all fail her e8pectations
in one an* the other 1ay. 5ith men9 she has confusion too. She sees all men in her life as
can*i*ates either for potential hus&an*s or to lose her virginity. She also faces many
pro&lems 1ith her family relationships. She lost her father at an early age an* so resents
3$
that she never crie* for her father 1ho *ie* 1hen she 1as a chil*. She has a pro&lematic
relationship especially 1ith her mother 1ho *oes not seem to un*erstan* her. She reacts
against the i*eals her mother sets for her. 5hether it is a&out her mother/s practical an*
unemotional treatment of her father/s *eath or her mother/s 1ish for her of getting
marrie* an* have chil*ren. 3er relationship 1ith Bu**y 5illar* is al1ays of a po1er
struggle &ecause he *oes not un*erstan* 4sther/s am&itions. Moreover9 as she see2s
perfection in every 1or2 an* every relationship9 she seems una&le to stan* the hypocrisy
of Bu**y that he 1as not loyal 1ith 4sther. 3e ha* a se8ual affair 1ith some other
1oman &esi*es relationship 1ith 4sther. 4sther/s life seems to &e a completely confuse*
one. She is in*ecisive. She *oes not really 2no1 1hat she 1ants from life. .he pressures
of conforming to the stan*ar*s of society ma2e 4sther mentally ill. She fin*s herself
una&le to eat9 sleep9 rea* or 1rite. She tries to en* her life many times9 as she cannot
tolerate her life &eing static. Suici*e seems to her the most appropriate escape. 3er
mother feels psychiatric treatment to &e the most suita&le option for her. .he e8periences
in the psychiatric institutions 1orsen her con*ition &ut she is a strong person &y nature.
She trusts her -octor 7olan 1ho proves to &e a motherly figure to her. 3er support for
her recovery helps 4sther regain her sanity. .he title of the novel The Bell Jar is an
e8planation for 1hat her insanity felt li2e. It is suffocating. It closes her off from the
1orl*. 5hen it *escen*s9 she cannot see or hear clearly an* she is trappe* alone.
3o1ever9 the novel en*s 1ith her ascen*ing from *espair 1ith hopes of leaving &ehin*
her ma*ness. In the en*9 she represents a 2in* of a survivor although the e8tent of her
mental an* emotional recovery is *e&ata&le.
3#
4.4 I#3&+"#/" 03 O$*", C*%,%/$",' 0# E'$*",
4sther/s life is a 'ourney from her psychosis to recovery as a survivor. In her 'ourney9 her
relationships have a great influence on her min*. 3er relationships mostly *isappoint her
an* lea* her to *epression. Bu**y 5illar*9 Mrs. 6reen1oo* an* -r. 7olan are the three
main characters in the novel 1ho have the most part in 4sther/s mental illness an*
recovery.
4.4.1 B+88- W(&&%,8
Bu**y 5illar* is 4stherCs &oyfrien* an* a me*ical stu*ent. Bu**y is an unpleasant
character. 3e li2es instructing 4sther on me*icine9 science9 an* s2iing than giving her an*
her am&itions importance. 3e has feelings of superiority regar*ing him. After learning
that 4sther has &een in a mental hospital9 Bu**yCs reaction is B3 &on0er &ho you*ll marry
no&, :sther,B implying very fe1 men 1oul* fin* her *esira&le anymore. In spite of his
o1n &eing hospitali;e* for tu&erculosis for a long perio*9 he remar2s such statement for
4sther that sho1s &oth his hypocrisy an* insensitivity. Bu**y is a sym&ol of 4stherCs
struggle 1ith men. Bu**y 5illar* is a perfect portrayal of the i*eal 1,$0s American
male. 3e is nearly fla1less accor*ing to the society an* its stan*ar*s.
Bu**y spen*s a summer sleeping 1ith another 1oman 1hile *ating 4sther an*
this hurts her. 4sther also reali;es that Bu**y *oes not un*erstan* her *esire of 1riting
poetry9 telling her that poems are li2e *ust9 an* that her passion for poetry 1ill *iminish
as soon as she 1oul* &ecome a mother an* *omesticate herself. 3e lea*s his life
accor*ing to his mother/s conventional i*eas. Bu**y is una&le to respect 4stherCs literary
3)
aspirations. 3e seems to vie1 4sther mainly as someone 1ho is *estine* to &e his 1ife
an* the mother of his chil*ren. .he hypocrisy of Bu**y *epresses 4sther largely.
4.4.2 M,'. G,""#;008
Mrs. 6reen1oo* is 4sther/s mother an* 4sther has a great influence of her mother/s
character on her. Mrs. 6reen1oo* conforms to society/s i*eas an* stan*ar*s a&out
1omen. 4sther feels great &itterness to1ar*s her mother9 as she says9 B3 ha0 al&ays 9een
my father*s fa'orite, an0 it seeme0 fittin$ that 3 shoul0 ta)e on a mournin$ my mother
ha0 ne'er 9othere0 &ith7B A teacher of shorthan*9 Mrs. 6reen1oo* 1ants her *aughter to
learn shorthan* too so she 1ill have a 'o& after college. She *oes little to encourage
4stherCs literary am&itions. She 1ants her *aughter to fit into the society/s pre set gen*er
roles of a 1ife an* mother after marriage. 4sther sho1s her hatre* to1ar*s her mother
an* consi*ers her responsi&le for her pain that she goes through in the psychiatric
institutions.
4.4.3 D0/$0, N0&%#
-r. 7olan is 4sther/s psychiatrist at the private mental hospital. 4sther comes to trust an*
love -r. 7olan9 1ho acts as a 2in* an* un*erstan*ing motherly figure. rogressive an*
unconventional9 she proves to &e a compassionate *octor an* encourages 4sther. Bor
4sther9 -r. 7olan is everything her mother is not. :nli2e Mrs. 6reen1oo*9 -r. 7olan
un*erstan*s ho1 the am&itions of a &right young 1oman such as 4sther might &e
*estroye* un*er the societal pressures an* e8pectations for 1omen to &e su&missive to
men. Significantly9 -r. 7olan i*entifies 4stherCs pro&lematic relationship 1ith her mother
as a contri&uting factor in her mental illness. .hrough -r. 7olanCs influence9 4sther
3+
comes to un*erstan* her o1n motivations an* reconciles 1ith her *epression. She has a
great contri&ution in 4sther/s recovery.
4.5 I#3&+"#/" 03 M(#0, C*%,%/$",' 0# E'$*",
Along 1ith the three ma'or characters9 there are minor characters that come from time to
time in 4sther/s life for short spans yet they have a great impact on 4sther. .he
relationships of 4sther 1ith these minor characters mostly lea* her to frustrations an*
*epression.
D0,""# is 4sther/s companion in 7e1 Qor29 a &lon*9 &eautiful southern girl 1ith
a sharp tongue. She is consi*ere* the &a* girl in everyone/s eyes. Although sophisticate*
1ith 4sther9 -oreen *issolves into se8ual relationship 1ith the *is2 'oc2ey9 Lenny. After
-oreen parties too much an* passes through a horri&le con*ition9 4sther further *istances
herself from her. -oreen is a re&ellion against societal conventions. 4sther a*mires
-oreen/s &ol* an* strong attitu*e against society &ut *espite this9 she seems una&le to
entirely em&race -oreen/s vie1s. =0%# G(&&(#1 is 4sther/s companion in the mental
hospital. Accor*ing to 4sther9 she 1as a large9 horsy 1oman an* 1as a year ahea* of
4sther in college. 4sther envie* her social an* athletic success. @oan *ates Bu**y 5illar*
for a 1hile9 &ut later goes through a personal crisis an* &ecomes suici*al. She is a*mitte*
to the private psychiatric hospital 1here 4sther is also a patient. In the mental hospital9
they share some affinity. %ne night she goes into the 1oo*s an* hangs herself. 4sther
fin*s commonness in herself an* @oan yet @oan someho1 *epresses 4sther. 4sther 2no1s
she can never &e li2e @oan9 as at her funeral9 4sther seems confi*ent that she *i* not lose
her life an* *eci*e* to listen to the &rag of her heart that ha* hopes to live.
3,
=%- C"" is 4sther/s &oss at the maga;ine9 an am&itious professional 1ho
encourages 4sther to &e am&itious too. She is physically unattractive &ut confi*ent. @ay
Cee *oes sho1 some genuine concern for 4sther &y *irectly as2ing a&out her plans an*
&y giving her some a*vices. 3o1ever9 @ay Cee/s strict attitu*e an* *iscouraging 1or*s
hurt 4sther an* she feels ina*e0uate of her a&ilities sli*ing into *epression. B"$'- is one
of the guest interns at ,a0ies* 6ay along 1ith 4sther an* -oreen. She represents the
ultimate Inice girlI opposite to -oreen 1ho is consi*ere* the &a* girl. She is an AllG
American girl from Dansas 1ho 1ill 1ait patiently for a hus&an* 1ithout losing her
virginity &efore marriage an* 1ill conform to e8pectations of society &y serving her
hus&an* an* raising his chil*ren after marriage. 4sther thin2s that she has ultimately the
same nice nature as of Betsy &ut she feels una&le to go 1ith the conforming attitu*e of
Betsy to1ar*s society. .his *epresses 4sther.
C0#'$%#$(# is a :7 simultaneous interpreter 1ho is referre* &y Mrs. 5illar* to
4sther after 1hich 4sther *ates him. 3an*some9 thoughtful9 an* successful9 he seems
se8ually unintereste* in 4sther9 1ho is 1illing to let him se*uce her &ut ultimately gets
*isappointe*. 4sther sees Constantin as a potential person 1ith 1hom she can lose her
virginity to lessen her &ur*en that she gets after 2no1ing a&out Bu**y/s hypocrisy.
3o1ever9 she is *isappointe* &y the thought of a *omestic life she 1oul* have if she
marrie* a man li2e Constantin. M%,/0 is a tall9 *ar29 1ellG*resse* person from eru 1ho
ta2es 4sther on a *ate to a country clu&. 3er frien* -oreen refers him to 4sther. Marco
e8presses great selfGconfi*ence9 &ut also a hatre* for 1omen. 3e &elieves that all 1omen
are sluts. 4sther *escri&es him as a I1omanGhaterI. 4sther has a horri&le *ate e8perience
1ith Marco 1ho tries to rape her. 4sther recues herself someho1. She is so *eeply
!0
terrifie* &y the inci*ent that she feels completely *ishevele*. D0/$0, G0,80# is the first
psychiatrist to e8amine 4sther after her &rea2*o1n. She visits him 1hen she gets into
*epression. She *istrusts him. Sho1ing little un*erstan*ing or concern for her9 he
a*ministers her electroconvulsive shoc2 treatments 1ithout getting a secon* opinion. 3e
*oes not 2no1 ho1 to help 4sther9 an* en*s up *oing her more harm than goo*. 3e *oes
not seem at all intereste* in 1hat 4sther has to say. 4sther vie1s -r. 6or*onCs cruel
a*ministration of electroshoc2 therapy for her as a punishment9 an* rather than feeling
heale*9 she feels punishe* for not fitting into social stan*ar*s of InormalI &ehavior.
P*(&0."#% G+(#"% is a famous9 1ealthy novelist 1ho gives 4sther a scholarship
to atten* college an* pays for 4sther/s stay in the private mental hospital. She is
generous9 un*erstan*ing9 compassionate an* successful. .he support of hilomena helps
4sther to un*ergo proper psychiatric treatment. 4sther/s mother also relies on her help.
Qet 4sther feels una&le to &e than2ful to her helper. She thin2s hilomena too responsi&le
of the pain she un*ergoes at the psychiatric hospitals. I,;(# is the young professor 1hom
4sther meets an* loses her virginity. 3o1ever9 this e8perience proves to &e horri&le one
as 4sther in result hemorrhages &a*ly. Ir1in &ecomes to &e the one 1ho fulfills 4sther/s
am&ition of losing her virginity. 4sther recovers an* *eci*es not to ta2e her relationship
further 1ith Ir1in in future. M,'. W(&&%,8 is a frien* of 4sther/s mother an* the mother
of Bu**y 5illar*. Mrs. 5illar*9 1ho seems to influence her son largely9 has tra*itional
i*eas a&out the gen*er roles. 4sther has very opposing vie1s as that of Mrs. 5illar*. 3er
tra*itional i*eas frustrate 4sther.
!1
4.4 S0/("$%& I#3&+"#/"' 0# E'$*",
.he novel tal2s a&out the hollo1ness of society an* *epicts the conventional stan*ar*s of
1,$0s America. 4sther9 the protagonist of the novel9 o&serves the *ifference &et1een
1hat society e8pects from her in contrast to 1hat she really *oes e8perience9 an* this gap
increases her illness. Society e8pects 1omen to act cheerful. 4sther9 on the other han*9
2no1s that the 1orl* of fashion she inha&its in 7e1 Qor2 shoul* ma2e her feel
glamorous an* happy9 &ut she fin*s herself *epresse*. 3er relationships prove to &e &ase*
on *istrust an* hypocrisy. 4sther feels that she is very *ifferent from others. .his sense of
unreality &ecomes un&eara&le for her an* intensifies her mental illness.
.he novel further tal2s a&out the situation of gen*er roles in 1,$0s America.
4sther feels alienate* from the 1orl* aroun* her an* this isolation results from the
e8pectations of society from her as a young 1oman living in 1,$0s America. 4sther feels
*ivi*e* &et1een her literary aspirations an* the pressure of society to *omesticate
herself. 5hile 4sther/s intellect earns her pri;es an* scholarships9 society e8pects her to
get marrie* an* raise chil*ren. 3er college fello1s *o not respect her &ecause of her
stu*iousness &ut appreciate her 1hen she &egins *ating Bu**y. 3er relationship 1ith
Bu**y earns her approval an* respect. Bu**y assumes that 4sther 1ill *rop her poetic
am&itions 1hen she 1oul* get marrie* an* &e a mother. 4sther *esires of se8ual
a*ventures that society *oes not allo1 her. She *oes not see2 se8ual e8perience for her
pleasure rather to get off the &ur*en of her virginity.
The Bell Jar also ta2es a critical vie1 of the psychiatric treatments in 1,$0s
America. 5hen 4sther meets her first psychiatrist9 -r. 6or*on9 she fin*s him
!2
unsympathetic to1ar*s herself. 3e *oes not listen to her an* un*erstan* her. 5ithout any
secon* opinion9 3e prescri&es a traumatic electroshoc2 therapy treatment for 4sther.
3o1ever9 the novel *oes not paint an entirely negative picture of psychiatric care. It
proves that proper treatments can &e helpful for patients 1ith mental illness as 4sther
&egins to heal un*er the care of -r. 7olan9 a progressive female psychiatrist &ecause she
listens to her an* un*erstan*s her. .he three metho*s of 1,$0s psychiatric treatment i.e.9
tal2 therapy9 insulin in'ections9 an* electroshoc2 therapy proves to &e helpful for 4sther
as she regains her normal &ehavior.
.he primary theme of the novel is a feminist one9 &ut it is closely relate* to the
theme of mental illness an* sanity. The Bell Jar sho1s if a 1oman is am&itious an*
talente*9 she 1ill fin* no place in the society of the 1,$0s. 4sther on the other han* hates
the i*ea that a 1oman/s place is in service to a man.
.he secon* theme of the novel concerns mental illness. .he novel also *epicts that the
primary clientele of psychiatry from its foun*ing 1as the female gen*er. 5omen 1ere
force* to a*opt certain specific roles set for them &y society. .hey have no status or
i*entity of their o1n. 4sther is also &eing pushe* har* &y society to a*apt herself to those
roles that ma2e her feel mentally ill. .hus9 lath s2illfully connects the theme of
feminism an* mental health in her novel The Bell Jar. 4ven the title can relate to themes
of the novel. 5omen are place* in a constricte* gen*er roles &y society as if they are
trappe* in a suffocating &ell 'ar. .his ma2es them mentally ill 1ith feelings of alienation
an* una&le to escape the *istorte* vie1 of the 1orl* seen 1hile &eing un*er The Bell Jar.
Another aspect of the novel is its tra*itional &il*ungsGroman style in 1hich a young girl
faces i*entity issues an* she fights a &attle against all the po1erful forces of the society9
!3
its stan*ar*s an* in particular men. She feels oppresse* &y the *ominant patriarchal
culture. .he novel is a 'ourney from 4sther/s selfGalienation from the society9 her
&rea2*o1n9 an* *escent into mental illness9 suici*al attempts9 treatment an* recovery.

!!
CHAPTER 5
PLATH AND HER ALTER EGO A COMPARISON
.his is secon* part of the analysis that gives a *etaile* insight into the mental illness in
lives of &oth lath an* her alter ego 4sther. sychoanalysis is con*ucte* to loo2 into the
life of 4sther 6reen1oo* to e8plore the reasons of mental illness in her lives &y loo2ing
at her conscious an* unconscious impulses. Moreover9 the life profile of lath is e8plore*
in *etail for loo2ing into the reasons an* events that lea* her sli*e into mental illness.
.his chapter en*s 1ith a comparison of mental illness of lath an* 4sther proving that
4sther is the fictional alter ego of lath in the novel The Bell Jar.
5.1 P'-/*0%#%&-'(' 03 E'$*", G,""#;008
.he psychoanalysis of 4sther 6reen1oo* is *one un*er the frame1or2 of Breu*/s theory
of conscious an* unconscious. It covers the events of 4sther/s life that 1ere the part of
her conscious an* that contri&ute* in her *escent into illness. Moreover9 it also involves
4sther/s motivations an* impulses that constitute her unconscious thoughts that lea* her
to1ar*s *epression an* suici*al attempts.
McLeo* in his article Fnconscious min0 <200,= is of the vie1 that Accor*ing to
Breu*9 .he unconscious contains all sorts of *istur&ing yet significant 2no1le*ge that 1e
nee* to 2eep out of a1areness &ecause that is too threatening to ac2no1le*ge fully. %ur
feelings9 motives an* *ecisions are po1erfully influence* &y our e8periences9 store* in
the preGconscious an* instincts from the unconscious. 5hereas Breu* <1,1$= *escri&e*
conscious min*9 1hich consists of all the mental processes of 1hich 1e are a1are.
!$
Cherry in her article /hat 3s 5sychoanalysisG The 5sychoanalytic Approach to
5sycholo$y <201!= *efines the conscious an* unconscious given &y Breu*. She tal2s
a&out conscious that In Breu*Cs psychoanalytic theory of personality9 the conscious min*
inclu*es everything that is insi*e of our a1areness. .his is our mental processing that 1e
can thin2 an* tal2 a&out in a rational 1ay. .he :nconscious is a reservoir of feelings9
thoughts9 urges an* memories that are outsi*e of our conscious a1areness. Accor*ing to
Breu*9 the unconscious continues to influence our &ehavior an* e8periences even though
1e are una1are of these un*erlying influences.
5hile 1e tal2 a&out 4sther an* her mental illness9 1e can classify some events as
her conscious an* some thoughts9 1hich 1ere in her unconscious9 that lea* her to1ar*s
*escent into mental illness. .he e8periences in 7e1 Qor2 1ere apparently very lu8urious
an* perfect. 3o1ever9 in 4sther/s unconscious9 these lu8uries ha* a negative effect. .he
artificiality an* the reality of this life arouse* an8iety an* frustration in 4sther/s
unconscious min*. .hese feelings 1ere suppresse* until she 1as there9 &ut once she
reaches &ac2 Boston an* is re'ecte* for the summer course9 she feels una&le to rea*9
1rite9 &ath or eat. .hus9 those suppresse* negative feelings of the unconscious get over
her. :ntil 4sther 1as in 7e1 Qor29 she 2ne1 that something 1as 1rong &ut 1as una1are
of the un*erlying influences of the 1rongs she e8perience* there. .he life of 7e1 Qor2
1as unpleasant for her. 3o1ever9 she 1as not a1are of the un*erlying feelings of pain
an* conflict in her unconscious. She felt confuse* a&out everything in her life. It 1as
then9 1hen she 1ent to Boston that she starte* to un*erstan* her unconscious thoughts.
.he *istur&ing e8periences at 7e1 Qor29 1hich 4sther 1ante* to leave &ehin* 1hen
coming &ac2 to Boston9 starte* to haunt 4sther. She never ac2no1le*ge* those horri&le
!#
threatening e8periences9 1hich 1ere in her unconscious9 &ut they ha* too strong
influences on her that she coul* not get them out of her min*. .hey prevaile* every1here
an* *istur&e* her. .hey lea* her to get into *epression. .he negative feelings are
intensifie*. 4sther then feels inescapa&le of them an* falls *eep *o1n into *epression.
3er unconscious min* inclu*e* her father/s memory9 her feelings of ina*e0uacy9 her
faile* motivation of &eing perfect9 her hatre* for her mother9 the un*erlying influences of
7e1 Qor2 life9 her negative impulses in relation to her e8periences 1ith people9 her
*esire of &alance* literary an* family life an* the societal pressures on her accor*ing to
the 1,$0s era. All these threatening influences of unconscious get the form of suici*al
impulses in 4sther/s min* an* she tries to en* her life in *ifferent 1ays. 3er conscious
min* involve* her rational mental processing that she has to 1or2 har* an* a*opt a
literary career. She has to stan* against the oppressive patriarchal system of society. In
her conscious min*9 4sther 2ne1 something 1as going 1rong 1ith her. .hese feelings of
conflict 1ere present in her conscious min* &ut actually9 the influence of all e8periences
too2 control over her completely.
In 4sther/s life at La*ies -ay in 7e1 Qor29 4verything 1as simply perfect an*
lu8urious ho1 every&o*y 1oul* have 1ante* to &e li2e. 3o1ever9 all this *i* not satisfy
or attract 4sther. She felt herself &oun* to &e happy an* cheerful although in real or in her
unconscious9 she 1as not. As she says in the novel9 >I 1as suppose* to &e having the time
of my life.? <p.2=
She came from a mi**le class family. It shoul* have &een a &ig thing for her to &e
a&le to get scholarships an* pri;es &ut this *i* not seem to &e a &ig *eal to her. She 2ne1
that every&o*y envies her for the life she 1as lea*ing an* >4very&o*y 1oul* thin2 I must
!)
&e having a real 1hirl? &ut 1hat 1as attractive for others 1as ina*e0uate for 4sther <p.
2=. 3er reactions 1ere unGnatural an* reflection of her unconscious. .hese things *i* not
ma2e her happy. She felt her life very artificial an* ro&otic. As if9 she 1as in a stasis. All
these feelings 1ere getting collecte* in her reservoir of unconscious min*. Although
&eing surroun*e* &y many people an* hustle &ustle of the attractive 7e1 Qor2 life9 she
coul* not &ring herself to react e8cite*ly. She e8claimsH
I guess I shoul* have &een e8cite* the 1ay most of the other girls 1ere &ut I coul*
not get myself to react. I felt very still an* very empty9 the 1ay the eye of a
torna*o must feel9 moving *ully along in the mi**le of a surroun*ing hulla&aloo.
<lath9 1,#39 p.2=
She coul* have en'oye* the lu8urious e8perience at its fullest an* coul* have ma*e it
memora&le for her life. 3o1ever9 she 1as 'ust passing her *ays *ully 1ithout any
e8citement7 >It 1as my first &ig chance9 &ut here I 1as9 sitting &ac2 an* letting it run
through my fingers li2e so much 1ater? <p.!=. She 1as conscious that it 1as a &ig
achievement of hers to &e a part of this e8perience an* she coul* learn an* get a lot ahea*
&ecause of it. Someho19 even 2no1ing of its importance9 she seeme* una&le to avail it
thoroughly.
4sther claims9 >I guess one of my trou&les is -oreen?. <p.!= -oreen 1as 0uite a
*ifferent person 4sther ha* met in her life *uring these *ays. 3er persona struc2 4sther
an* surprise* her largely. 4sther felt very shoc2e* 1hen she has to see the real ugly
hypocrite picture of the society from a closer vie1 1hile &eing 1ith her9 1hich ha* a
great impact on her unconscious min*. -oreen 1as very carefree an* un&othere*
!+
personality. She mostly 1ent against the norms of society. 3er evil si*e influence* 4sther
largely.
4sther felt *um& an* insulte* after the e8perience of accepting Lenny/s offer to
&ar an* having glimpse of the fran2ness of Lenny an* -oreen in private. She coul* not
seem to *igest 1hat she ha* seen an* e8perience*. It struc2 her har* so she felt very
*epresse* an* silent. She e8presses this in her 1or*s as, >.he silence *epresse* me. It
1as not the silence of the silence. It 1as my o1n silence?. <p. 1)=
Although it 1as a great achievement for a young girl li2e her to &e a&le to get
high gra*es an* scholarships an* lea*ing lu8urious life such as at La*ies -ay &ut it 1as
not sufficient for 4sther to &e satisfie*. She 1ante* something more than all these mar2s
an* pri;es. :ltimately9 she e8claims9 >After nineteen years of running after goo* mar2s
an* pri;es an* grants of one sort an* another9 I 1as letting up slo1ly *o1n9 *ropping
clean out of race? <p. 2)=. she felt e8hauste* after so much har* 1or2 in life for goo*
gra*es an* mar2s.
She ha* lost interest in the things she ha* to *o as normal girls 1ere *oing there at
,a0ies 6ay. 4ven she 1as so *isguste* &y -oreen/s attitu*e to life that she *i* not get
herself to *o that too. .his *epresse* her too much. She puts a1ay this thought in 1or*s
an* says?
After -oreen left9 I 1on*ere* 1hy I coul* not go the 1hole 1ay *oing 1hat I
shoul* anymoreF this ma*e me sa* an* tire*. .hen I 1on*ere* 1hy I coul* not go
the 1hole 1ay *oing 1hat I shoul* not9 the 1ay -oreen *i*9 an* this ma*e me
even sa**er an* more tire*. <lath9 1,#39 p. 2)=
!,
4sther seeme* a1Gfully &ore* from the e8travagance of the lifestyle of girls at La*ies
-ay. She thought all these activities an* lu8uries ina*e0uate for her life. She felt that
these things ha* no purpose. Life 1as much more than parties an* shoots. .he
aimlessness of other girls at La*ies -ay *istur&e* 4sther as she sai*9 >6irls li2e that
ma2e me sic2.? <p. !=
4sther 1as confuse* an* uncertain a&out her plans too. Accor*ing to her
conscious min*9 she coul* have tal2e* a&out some options she ha* thought of &ut 1hen
the real time came9 she felt *um& an* in*ecisive as if she ha* no purpose or plan in life to
move ahea* an* loo2 for1ar* to. In her conversation 1ith @ay Cee9 her in*ecisiveness is
evi*ent as follo1sH >@ay CeeH 1hat *o you have in min* after you gra*uateK >I *on/t
really 2no19? I hear* myself say. I felt a *eep shoc2 hearing myself say that9 &ecause the
minute I sai* it9 I 2ne1 it 1as true? <p. 30=. 3er unconscious ma*e her say so an* she 1as
una1are of 1hat it 1as that ma*e her so speechless.
4sther is an am&itious an* an e8tremely talente* intellectual girl 1ho strives to &e
the &est in everything she *oes. 3o1ever9 her accomplishe* life &ecomes unstea*y9
un&alance* an* completely *ishevele*. She fights her o1n &attle for i*entity. BloomCs
6ui*es on Sylvia lathCs The Bell Jar <Comprehensive "esearch an* Stu*y 6ui*e9 200,=
refer to Critic @anet Ba*ia 1ho argues thatH
Brom her relationship 1ith Bu**y 5illar* an* her mother9 to her e8perimentation
1ith suici*e metho*s9 to her fight to escape The Bell Jar9 nearly all the plot
episo*es 1ithin the novel reveal 4sther/s struggles to gain control over her o1n
life9 to *etermine her o1n choices9 rather than merely to accept those that society
presents to her. In fact9 one coul* argue that it is 4sther/s *esire an* search for
$0
control that threa*s together the many i*entities 4sther struggles 1ith9 inclu*ing
her i*entity as a young 1oman9 a patient9 a *aughter9 a successful stu*ent9 an
aspiring 1riter9 an*9 of course9 a potential 1ife an* mother. <Bloom/s gui*es9
200,9 p.20=
Spen*ing a month as a guest e*itor at a fashion maga;ine in 7e1 Qor2 City9 4sther has
the opportunity of en'oying life li2e most girls her age 1oul* envy. She ha* lu8uries li2e
free clothes9 e8pensive foo* an* fancy parties9 &ut 4sther is not satisfie*. 7ot only is she
in*ifferent of the 1orl* aroun* her9 she is in*ecisive of her future9 tormente* &y her
mother/s pressures to get marrie* an* her o1n literary aspirations. She consi*ers each
choice as e8clusive. She feels enormous pressure to get marrie* a*opting 1ifely *uties
an* starting a family &ut also longs *eeply to &e an in*epen*ent 1riter. As she saysH
I sa1 my life &ranching out &efore me li2e the green fig tree in the story. Brom the
tip of every &ranch9 li2e a fat purple fig9 a 1on*erful future &ec2one* an* 1in2e*.
%ne fig 1as a hus&an* an* a happy home an* chil*ren9 an* another fig 1as a
famous poet an* another fig 1as a &rilliant professor9 an* another fig 1as 4ee
6ee9 the ama;ing e*itor9 an* another fig 1as 4urope an* Africa an* South
America9 an* another fig 1as Constantin an* Socrates an* Attila an* a pac2 of
other lovers 1ith 0ueer names an* off&eat professions9 an* another fig 1as an
%lympic la*y cre1 champion9 an* &eyon* an* a&ove these figs 1ere many more
figs I coul*n/t 0uite ma2e out. I sa1 myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree9
starving to *eath9 'ust &ecause I coul* not ma2e up my min* 1hich of the figs I
1oul* choose. I 1ante* each an* every one of them9 &ut choosing one meant
losing all the rest9 an*9 as I sat there9 una&le to *eci*e9 the figs &egan to 1rin2le
an* go &lac29 an*9 one &y one9 they ploppe* to the groun* at my feet. <lath9
1,#39 p. )3=
$1
@ay Cee reali;es that 4sther is going through confusion a&out choosing a *irection in her
life. She en0uires 4sther a&out her plans an* 4sther has no ans1ers. .hus9 @ay Cee
comments that9 >Qou 2no19 4sther9 you/ve got the perfect setup of a true neurotic. Qou/ll
never get any1here li2e that9 you/ll never get any1here li2e that9 you/ll never get
any1here li2e that? <p. 1!1=.
4sther has high stan*ar*s for herself. Anything less than i*eal as she has
perceive* in her su&Gconscious9 *isappoints her. 4stherCs vision for herself clearly leaves
no room for the possi&ility of error or failure.
5ith so much lu8ury an* achievement in han* 1hich other girls 1oul* *ie for9
4sther seems to &e not attracte*. She feels her life is unstea*y an* unsta&le. She has no
control on her o1n self an* her life. As she says9 >%nly I 1asn/t steering anything not
even myself? <p. 2=. .his fact *epresses her.
She 1as so into stu*ies all the time that she never got time to *o activities that she
yearne* for. .he i*ea of not &eing a&le of *oing them *epresse* 4sther. She felt
ina*e0uate an* un&alance* as she herself e8claims in the novel that9 >I 1as a terri&le
*ancer. I coul* not carry out a tune. I ha* no sense of &alance9 an* 1hen 1e ha* to 1al2
*o1n a narro1 &oar* 1ith our han*s out an* a &oo2 on our hea*s in gym class I al1ays
fell over. I coul* not ri*e a horse or s2iP I felt *rea*fully ina*e0uate. .he trou&le 1as9 I
ha* &een ina*e0uate all along I simply ha*n/t thought a&out it? <p. )2=. .his i*ea ma*e
her feel less sufficient9 less a&le an* thus left her *epresse*.
4sther often contemplates a&out the *ou&le stan*ar*s that she faces in society in
terms of the free*om of se8. 3er min* is constantly occupie* 1ith thoughts a&out her
$2
se8ual status. She is a virgin for most of the novel9 an* this constantly 1eighs on her
min*. Being virgin is li2e a &ur*en on her 1hich she 1ants to let *o1n.
Brom her chil*hoo* an* pu&erty9 she 1as &rought up 1ith i*eas that a 1oman
must &e a virgin until she gets marrie*. She assume* the same stan*ar* 1as applica&le
for men. .hen9 she *iscovere* that his &oyfrien* Bu**y 1ho preten*e* to &e pure 1as
not virgin. In fact9 he ha* slept 1ith a 1aitress a couple of times a 1ee2 for a 1hole
summer. She coul* not stan* this se8ual *ou&le stan*ar* an* hypocrisy9 so she 1as
*etermine* to fin* a man an* lose her virginity. She thought that if it 1as all right for a
man9 then it 1as all right for a 1oman as 1ell.
.he attitu*e of men to1ar*s 1omen an* the stan*ar*s set &y society for female
gen*er angere* 4sther. In 1,$0/s 1omen 1ere e8pecte* to &e a *utiful 1ife an* mother
after marriage9 satisfying their hus&an*s at home &y *oing house1or29 raising up their
chil*ren9 ti*ying up the house an* coo2ing. 5hile on the other han*9 4sther 1as against
this i*ea of serving men an* losing your i*entity as an in*epen*ent 1oman. She 1as
conscious of the fact that 1omen 1ere &oun* to a*opt this role &ecause of the pressure of
society impose* on them. As she saysH
An* I 2ne1 that in spite of all of the roses an* 2isses an* restaurant *inners a
man sho1ere* on a 1oman &efore he marrie* her9 1hat he secretly 1ante* 1hen
the 1e**ing service en*e* 1as for her to flatten out un*erneath his feet li2e Mrs.
5illar*/s 2itchen mat. <lath9 1,#39 p. +0=
$3
She simply hate* serving men. She coul* not stan* the i*ea that am&itious potential girls
li2e her 1aste their life &eing a *utiful 1ife an* mother after marriage. 3er statement
supports this thought of her thatH
It 1oul* mean getting up at seven an* coo2ing him eggs an* &acon an* toast an*
coffee an* *a1*ling a&out in my nightgo1n an* curlers after he/* left for 1or2 to
1ash up the *irty plates an* ma2e the &e*9 an* then 1hen he came home after a
lively9 fascinating *ay he/* e8pect a &ig *inner9 an* I/* spen* the evening
1ashing up even more *irty plates till I fell into &e*9 utterly e8hauste*. .his
seeme* a *reary an* 1aste* life for a girl 1ith fifteen years of straight A/sP
<lath9 1,#39 p. +0=
She 1ante* her life to &e something more than &eing engage* in househol* an* raising
chil*ren7 She 1as of the vie1 thatH
.he last thing I 1ante* 1as infinite security an* to &e the place an arro1 shoots
off from. I 1ante* change an* e8citement an* to shoot off in all *irections myself9
li2e the colore* arro1s from a Bourth of @uly roc2et. <lath9 1,#39 p. ),=
Moreover9 4sther completely faile* to stan* the hypocrisy an* *ou&le stan*ar*s of
society 1ho gave se8ual free*om to men &ut not to 1omen. She coul* not help &eing
angere* &y the i*ea of 2no1ing that Bu**y 1as a hypocrite &ut he preten*e* to &e
innocent. She says9 >5hat I coul*n/t stan* 1as Bu**y/s preten*ing I 1as so se8y an* he
1as so pure9 1hen all the time he/* &een having an affair 1ith that tarty 1aitressP?
<lath9 1,#39 p. #)=
She ha* a strong vie1point a&out the *ou&le stan*ar*s of society. She 1ante*
e0uality in the rights of men an* 1omen. She hate* the concept that men e8pecte* their
girls to &e a Jirgin until marriage conveying that she 1as pure. %n the other han*9 men
$!
may lose their virginity &efore marriage &ecause their free*om 1as not restricte* li2e that
of 1omen/s. 4sther e8claimsH
It might &e nice to &e pure an* then to marry a pure man9 &ut 1hat if he su**enly
confesse* he 1as not pure after 1e 1ere marrie*9 the 1ay Bu**y 5illar* ha*K I
coul* not stan* the i*ea of a 1oman having to have a single pure life an* a man
&eing a&le to have a *ou&le life9 one pure an* one not. <lath9 1,#39 p. ))=
5hen 4sther returns from 7e1 Qor2 to her mother/s place in Boston9 she fin*s out that
she coul* not ma2e it to the summer 1riting course she ha* applie* to. She feels very
*isappointe* an* thin2s of the 1ays to spen* her summer. Birst9 she *eci*es to 1rite a
novel &ut soon she feels that she *oes not have enough life e8perience that 1oul* help
her in 1riting a novel successfully. .hen she *eci*es to learn shorthan* from her mother
&ut this also seems pointless &ecause she *oes not 1ant any 'o& li2e that of her mother.
Binally9 she *eci*es to spen* the summer 1riting her honors thesis. 3o1ever9 she fails
even in this attempt. She coul* not gather herself properly to rea* or 1rite. She e8claims
I5or*s9 *imly familiar &ut t1iste* all a1ry9 li2e faces in a funhouse mirror9 fle* past9
leaving no impression on the glassy surface of my &rain.I .he fact that she can no longer
1rite convinces 4sther that she is losing her &attle 1ith mental &rea2*o1n. .hus9 she
*escents into *epression. After that9 she is una&le to sleep at all9 an* she *oes not see the
point in sho1ering an* changing clothes &ecause she 1ill 'ust have to *o it again
tomorro1. .hus9 she says9 II ha* nothing to loo2 for1ar* toI. <p. 113=
4sther tries to en* her life in many 1ays. She thought of *ifferent 1ays through
1hich she coul* en* her life. She *eci*es that cutting her 1rists in a peaceful time 1hilst
sitting in a &athtu& 1oul* &e an easy 1ay to finish her life. >It 1oul* ta2e t1o motions.
$$
%ne 1rist then the other 1rist. .hree motions9 if you counte* changing the ra;or from
han* to han*. .hen I 1oul* step into the tu& an* lie *o1n? <p. 1!2=
.he *eath of her father is a strong reason of hers to feel li2e &eing mentally
unsta&le. She thin2s that she ha* never &een happy after her father/s *eath as she
e8claims in the novel9 >I thought ho1 strange it ha* never occurre* to me &efore that I
1as only purely happy until I 1as nine years ol*.? <p. )1= an* this 1as such a &ig loss &ut
she never reali;e* it earlier an* so she says9 >.hen I remem&ere* that I ha* never crie*
for my father/s *eath.? <p. 1#1=
5hen 4sther/s mother fin*s her *aughter/s life completely *ishevele*9 she fin*s
no other option suita&le for her than *irecting her to psychiatrist treatments. -r. 6or*on
seems to *epict the con*ition of psychiatric treatments in the era of 1,$0s. 3e *i* not
un*erstan* the nature of 4sther/s illness. .he conscious min* of 4sther tells the rea*ers
ho1 she 1as *escen*ing *o1n in *epression an* ho1 insensitive the *octor &ehave*
1hile treating her. She supports her thought in the novel saying >So I tol* him again9 in
the same *ull9 flat voice9 only it 1as angrier this time9 &ecause he seeme* so slo1 to
un*erstan*9 ho1 I ha*n/t slept for fourteen nights an* ho1 I coul*n/t rea* or 1rite or
s1allo1 very 1ell? <p. 12,=
.he electroshoc2 treatment9 that she 1as a*ministere* to9 1as a frightening an*
horri&le e8perience for 4sther that only increase* her illness. She e8plains ho1 she felt
1hen she 1as *irecte* to the electroshoc2sH
-octor 6or*on 1as fitting t1o metal plates on either si*e of my hea*. 3e &uc2le*
them into place 1ith a strap that *ente* my forehea*9 an* gave me a 1ire to &ite. I
$#
shut my eyes. .here 1as a &rief silence9 li2e an in*ra1n &reath. .hen something
&ent *o1n9 too2 hol* of me9 an* shoo2 me li2e the en* of the 1orl*. 5heeGeeGeeG
eeGee9 it shrille*9 through an air crac2ling 1ith &lue light9 an* 1ith each flash a
great 'olt *ru&&e* me until I thought my &ones 1oul* &rea2 an* the sap fly out of
me li2e a split plant. I 1on*ere* 1hat a terri&le thing it 1as that I ha* *one.
<lath9 1,#39 p. 13+=
A traumatic treatment left her even more *epresse*. She perceive* it as punishment for
her failure to get normal rather than a serious attempt to help her get &etter. Because
1hen in the start of the novel she tal2s a&out the electrocution of "osen&erg/s she feels
terrifie* &y mere thought of &eing electrocute*. Ironically9 she has to go through it in the
future herself. As in the start9 she saysH
.he i*ea of &eing electrocute* ma2es me sic29 an* that is all there 1as to rea*
a&out in the papers. NPO It ha* nothing to *o 1ith me9 &ut I coul* not help
1on*ering 1hat it 1oul* &e li2e9 &eing &urnt alive all along your nerves. <lath9
1,#39 p. 1=
At the ne1 hospital9 4sther has a ne1 *octor that she almost trusts9 -r. 7olan. She
consi*ers her as a motherly figure replacing her 1ith Mrs. 6reen1oo*9 4sther/s real
mother for 1hom 4sther ha* negative feelings. She consi*ere* her responsi&le for her
&eing at the psychiatric hospitals. 4sther/s mother surely loves her &ut there is some lac2
of un*erstan*ing &et1een the t1o. 4sther has not goo* feelings for her in heart as she
says9 >My mother 1as the 1orst. She never scol*e* me9 &ut 2ept &egging me9 1ith a
sorro1ful face9 to tell her 1hat she ha* *one 1rong.? <p. 1,$= But she 2ne1 as 1ell the
fact that she9 her only *aughter in an asylum9 1as a great hurt for her mother. 3o1ever9
1hen her mother ha* &rought her roses for her on her &irth*ay9 4sther ha* sai*9 >Save
$)
them for my funeral.? She tells -r. 7olan9 >I hate her.? -r. 7olan smilesH >I suppose you
*o.? <p. 1,$= so this sho1s 4sther/s feelings of ina*e0uacy an* anger for her mother.
4sther un*ergoes successful electroshoc2 treatments at the hospital an* &egins to
feel The Bell Jar of mental illness lifting. As she claims9 IThe Bell Jar hung9 suspen*e*9 a
fe1 feel a&ove my hea*. I 1as open to the circulating airI <p. 20#=. 4sther 2no1s that she
1ill &e release* from the hospital if she passes her intervie1 1ith the &oar* of *irectors
1ho have to ta2e the *ecision a&out her. 4sther 2no1s that she 1ill &e release* &ut she
also 2no1s in her unconscious min* that she 1ill never &e normal. She feels that The
Bell Jar a&ove her hea* 1oul* 2eep on hanging rea*y to *escen* an* perhaps it 1ill
*escen* at any time of her life. She thin2sH
3o1 *i* I 2no1 that some*ayGGat college9 in 4urope9 some1here9 any1hereGG that
&ell 'ar9 1ith its stifling *istortions9 1oul* not *escen* againK <lath9 1,#39 p.
230=
4sther feels her illness as >incura&le? &ecause she thin2s9 >1herever I satG on the *ec2 of
a ship or at a street cafT in aris or Bang2o2G I 1oul* &e sitting un*er the same glass &ell
'ar9 ste1ing in my o1n sour air? <p. 1)+=. Moreover9 1hen she recovers an* thin2s of the
&ygone *ays in 1hich she ha* the most traumatic an* horri&le e8periences of her life
collecte* in the reservoir of her su&conscious9 she says that9 >.o the person in The Bell
Jar9 &lan2 an* stoppe* as a *ea* &a&y9 the 1orl* itself is the &a* *ream?. <p. 22)=
4sther changes from &eing a successful young 1oman to mentally ill &eing an*
finally a mere survivor. .he pressures an* stan*ar*s impose* &y society *eman* many
sacrifices from her an* thus she feels herself trappe* un*er a &ell 'ar that is suffocating.
$+
:ltimately9 she regains her sanity through &elief in herself that she reG*iscovers 1ith the
help of her compassionate psychiatrist -r. 7olan.
In the novel9 4sther/s ina&ility to cope 1ith social pressures &rings her *o1n into
an inescapa&le 1orl* of incura&le an* profoun* *epression. 4sther feels that there is no
connection rather a great *ifference &et1een the 1ay other people vie1 her life an* the
1ay she e8periences it &eing un*er The Bell Jar. Apparently9 it is e8pecte* that 4sther
shoul* feel happy an* e8cite* &ecause she came from a mi**leGclass &ac2groun* an*
achieve* a lot of success. 4sther feels uncertain a&out her achievements. 4ventually the
gap &et1een societal e8pectations an* her personal feelings an* e8periences 1i*ens. She
feels she can no longer escape *escen*ing into *epression. She strives for perfection an*
1hen she seems una&le to get perfect results in any fiel* of her life9 she gets *epresse*.
4sther &egins to thin2 that she must fin* that perfect person insi*e her that lea*s her to
selfGsatisfaction9 success an* in*epen*ent i*entity so she uses alter egos for herself9
1hich lea* her into confusion an* selfG*enial.
3er time an* e8periences in 7e1 Qor2 provi*e her 1ith an e8posure to the
1orl*/s ugly reality that she is una&le to confront or a&sor&. .he city of 7e1 Qor29 1hich
is a *reamlan* of thousan*s of people9 turns out to &e an airless suffocating 'ar for 4sther.
In Bloom/s gui*es section of critical vie1s9 essay of 3o1ar* Moss on Illness an*
*isclosure in the novel The Bell Jar <200,= e8plains a&out The Bell Jar an* its relation to
4sther &y saying thatH
A thin layer of glass separates her from everyone9 an* the novel/s title9 itself
ma*e of glass9 is evolve* from her notion of *isconnectionH the hea* of each
$,
mentally ill person is enclose* in a &ell 'ar9 cho2ing on its o1n foul air. <Moss9
200,9 p. #2=
Moss further e8claims9 >A &ell 'ar is an archaic la&oratory tool9 an airtight9 *ustGfree 'ar
use* for *isplaying specimens. 4sther feels trappe* in The Bell Jar9 separate* from the
1orl* of the living. She has trou&le empathi;ing 1ith others &ecause she cannot escape
the confines of her o1n mental an* psychological 1orl*. She also feels as if she is &eing
constantly 1atche* &y those aroun* her? <p. $0=. Critic a**s9 >4sther is cut off from the
instinct for sympathy right from the &eginningEfor herself as 1ell as for others. . . . A
thin layer of glass separates her from everyone? <p. $0=.
In the final scene9 4sther is a&out to &e intervie1e* &y the *octors9 after 1hich
she 1ill &e free. Most critics feel the en*ing is positive. 3o1ever in the article Moss
e8claims that the critic -iane S. Bon*s 0uestions 1hether 4sther/s i*entity is really no1
1hole an* un fragmente* or if the en*ing >leaves 4sther prey to *efining herself
un1ittingly an* un1illingly in relation to all that remains to herH culturallyGingraine*
stereotypes of 1omen? <p. $,=. Moss further proclaims that Critic .im Den*all also
asserts that >the opening an* the en*ing of the novel un*ercut any possi&ility of full
recoveryH In fact9 The Bell Jar provi*es no *efinitive means of 'u*ging the success of
4sther/s treatment. .he effect is profoun*ly unsettling. 6iving herself the &enefit
of hin*sight9 4sther soun*s li2e an omniscient narrator9 until it &ecomes clear that she
remains implicate* in the &rea2*o1n of her younger self9 an* is still not freeH she reveals
a fear in the final pages that her recovery may only have &een temporary?. <p. $,=
In contrast to the critics9 the researcher is of the vie1 that it is true that the illness
may return9 &ut for no19 4sther emerges from these traumatic e8periences as a more
#0
confi*ent 1oman. She is rea*y to face life an* its realities. .hough The Bell Jar9 1ith its
suffocation an* illness9 may return9 the en*ing is hopeful9 signifying 4sther/s recovery9
in*epen*ence9 an* reclaiming of her i*entity. She consi*ers the release from the hospital
as her re&irth &ut also 2no1s that she is not perfect rather >patche*9 retrea*e* an*
approve* for the roa*.? <p.$,=
5.2 M"#$%& I&&#"'' (# P&%$*9' &(3"
Sylvia lath 1as the *aughter of highly e*ucate* parents an* accor*ing to Martin in
8yl'ia 5lath? A 9io$raphy (1921)F she 1as >the center of a ten*er universe?. Sylvia9 as
the first chil*9 of her parents 1as *early love*. %tto lath9 &eing 0uite 1ith*ra1n from
the *aily family life9 love* lath *eeply. 3e al1ays insiste* that she &e treate* as a
uni0ue personality <p.1$=. She ha* an i*yllic chil*hoo* 1hen she 1as &orn. 3er parents
*evote* their utmost care to her up&ringing. She 1as very active9 smart as a chil*9
intelligent to a surprising e8tent9 an* *aring too. %ne of her first memories 1as cra1ling
out on the san*y e*ge of the 1ater9 hea*ing into those 1aves9 an* &eing save* from
e8ploring right into the ocean &y her mother/s firm hol* on one foot. She 1as alrea*y the
curious *aring Sylvia she 1oul* &e later in her life <p. 1)=.
5hen her &rother 1as &orn9 she felt 'ealous an* insecure that the love of her
parents 1oul* &e *ivi*e*. Sylvia en'oye* her family life 1ith her gran*parents an*
neigh&orhoo* frien*s. 3o1ever9 her time 1ith the Scho&ers increase* 1hen *uring mi*
1,30s9 her &rother 1arren got sic2 an* his father ha* &egun to suffer from an
un*iagnose* illness. .he illness of her &rother an* father *ivi*e* Aurelia/s *evotion
to1ar*s the t1o instea* of Sylvia. 3er mother still trie* to create a &alance an* she
#1
1or2e* har* to give Sylvia special attention. -espite &eing ill9 %tto motivate* his
*aughter &y praising her intellect. 3e starte* to remain ill most of the times 1hen he
suffere* from asthma an* &ronchial pneumonia an* so he *i* not spen* much time 1ith
the family. .his *istur&e* Sylvia. 3e suspecte* that he ha* cancer &ut *i* not see2
me*ical help. 3is health starte* to *eteriorate an* thus he completely 1ith*re1 from
normal life of the family. .his ma*e Sylvia feel left a&an*one* an* lonely.
.he illness gre1 1orse &y 1,!0s 1hen %tto suffere* from *ia&etes mellitus an*
gangrene in his foot. 3e ultimately *ie* an* 1hen Sylvia hear* this ne1s9 she sai*9 I/ll
never spea2 to 6o* again. She coul* not a&sor& the i*ea of her loss an* this got even
more complicate* 1hen Aurelia sho1e* little grief on her hus&an*/s *eath. Moreover9
she *i* not let the chil*ren atten* their father/s funeral9 1hich angere* Sylvia. She felt
completely *isoriente* after her father/s *eath. She *eeply love* him an* he love* her
even more *early.
5ith %tto/s *eath arose the family/s financial pro&lems that really affecte* Sylvia.
Sylvia &ecame *epen*ent on her mother an* so she ma*e her mother promise that she
1ill never marry again. Sylvia 1as eight years ol* 1hen her father *ie*. She 1rites in
The Bell Jar that she reali;e* she 1as only happiest &efore she 1as nine. .he family
shifte* to 5ellesley soon after %tto/s *eath. Sylvia felt utterly sa* of &eing *eprive* of
her loving father an* her home an* neigh&orhoo* frien*s. Sylvia starte* to loo2 for1ar*
to achieve success in aca*emics. She 1as getting maturity 1ith time &ut she ha*
numerous fears in her heart that ha* surface* after her father/s *eath. She 1rote many
poems an* stories an* su&mitte* her material in various maga;ines. .his ma*e her earn
money. She ha* set high i*eals for herself an* a&out her a&ilities an* potential. She
#2
1ante* to e8cel in everything she *i*. 5hatever she *i*9 it ha* to &e *one perfectly an*
anything less than perfect *epresse* her. >Anything less than complete success in all
areas 1as failure for her? <p. #0=. -espite achieving success9 she felt ina*e0uate an*
1rote in her 'ournals9 >7ever never never 1ill I reach the perfection I long for 1ith all
my soulG my paintings9 my poems9 my stories.? She 1or2e* so har* to achieve high
gra*es that she often fell sic2 1ith fevers9 sore throats9 sinusitis an* fatigue. She *i* not
li2e surprises. She al1ays 1ante* her life to &e pre*icta&le. If anything happene*
spontaneously or une8pecte*ly9 it ma*e Sylvia *istur&e* an* ill. .here 1as a core of
i*ealism to Sylvia/s oftenGstu&&orn character9 an* her anger usually flare* 1hen her
i*eals 1ere not respecte* <p. $,=.
Sylvia 1as often concerne* a&out the cultural norms a&out se89 virginity9
marriage9 motherhoo* an* career for 1omen. She *i* not plan to &e an unmarrie*
professional. .o choose not to marry 1oul* &e to la&el her unfeminine. .hroughout high
school9 Sylvia e8amine* &oys as possi&le future hus&an*s <p. $0=. But along 1ith &eing
an approach of not 2eeping her o1n self unfeminine9 Sylvia ha* strong vie1s a&out
in*epen*ent life of young girls 1ho 1ante* to have a career. She hate* the i*ea of
*omesticating herself an* confining herself to househol* *espite &eing so am&itious an*
potential. She 1rote in one 'ournal entry that spare me from the relentless cage of routine
an* rote. Instea*9 she 1ishe* for po1er an* free*om. %nce she sai* a&out herself that I
thin2 I 1oul* li2e to call myself >.he girl 1ho 1ante* to &e 6o*?. In another entry of her
'ournal9 she sai* that I love free*omF I *eplore constrictions an* limitationsP I am I G I
am po1erful.
#3
Accor*ing to Martin in9 8yl'ia 5lath? A 9io$raphy9 <1,+)= >3er attitu*es 1ere too
conventional for her to &e a re&el9 an* too re&ellious for her to &e a part of the
mainstream? <p.#1=. She further states that art of her anger came from her sense of &eing
confine* to choose &et1een marriage an* a career. She 1ante* &oth.
4ntering smith 1as an important event in Sylvia/s life. Atten*ing Smith9 ho1ever
glamorous9 meant increase* financial 1orry for &oth Sylvia an* her mother <p.$3=.
Sylvia/s lifelong &enefactor %live 3iggins routy 1ho 1as also a 1ellG2no1n author
helpe*. routy provi*e* Sylvia 1ith the scholarship an* ai*e* her fello1ship fun* at
Smith.
Sylvia/s main am&ition in her life 1as to &ecome a 1riter. She often penne* *o1n
her thoughts a&out 1hat it meant to &e a 1riter. She9 in one of her 'ournal entry a**resse*
to Bo& "ie*eman9 her &oyfrien*9 1rites thatH
At home on my *es2 is the &est story I have ever 1ritten. 3o1 can I tell Bo&
N"ie*emanO that my happiness streams from having 1renche* a piece out of my
life9 a piece of hurt an* &eauty9 an* transforme* it to type1ritten 1or*s on paperK
3o1 can he 2no1 I am 'ustifying my life9 my 2een emotion9 my feeling9 &y
turning it into printK <Du2il9 20009 p. 22=
Being in Smith9 Sylvia felt very happy. She prou*ly acclaime* to her mother in letters
that I am Smith girl no1. 3o1ever9 1ith this came immense pressure on Sylvia to e8cel
an* succee* in her aca*emic career. She felt 1or2 loa* at Smith 1as much more than she
ha* e8pecte* an* she *esire* to get over all this successfully. In a 'ournal entry of hers9
she e8claims >PIf I rest9 if I thin2 in1ar*9 I go ma*. .here is so much9 an* I am torn in
*ifferent *irections9 pulle* thin9 taut against hori;ons too *istant for me to reach? <Du2il9
#!
20009 p.2)=. %nly A/s on her assignments9 tests an* papers coul* ma2e her happy an*
satisfie*. Sylvia felt high ina*e0uacy for herself. She state*H
I am afrai*9 I am not soli*9 &ut hollo19 I feel &ehin* my eyes a num&9 paraly;e*
cavern9 a pit of hell9 a mimic2ing nothingness. I never thought9 I never 1rote9 I
never suffere*. I 1ant to 2ill myself9 to escape from the responsi&ility9 to *ra1
&ac2 a&'ectly into the 1om&. I *o not 2no1 1ho I am9 1here I am goingP >.
<Du2il9 20009 p.1!,=
.houghts a&out her future often ma*e her *epresse*. She as2e* herself repeate*lyH
5hat is my life for an* 1hat am I going to *o 1ith itK I *o not 2no1 an* I am
afrai*. I can never rea* all the &oo2s I 1antF I can never &e all the people I 1ant
an* live all the lives I 1ant. I can never train myself in all the s2ills I 1ant. An*
1hy *o I 1antK I 1ant to live an* feel all the sha*es9 tones an* variations of
mental an* physical e8perience possi&le in my life. I have much to live for9 yet
unaccounta&ly I am sic2 an* sa*. <Du2il9 20009 p. !3=
lath/s rage an* her resulting *epression 1as more li2ely the pro*uct of her chil*hoo*
years of loss an* perceive* a&an*onment9 emotions al1ays hi**enP? <Martin9 1,+)9
p.#$=
7ot only *i* high gra*es 1ere crucial to ma2e Sylvia happy &ut also her motive
of &eing given attention an* &eing love* &rought her contentment. She felt satisfie* 1hen
various &oys as2e* her for *ates. She 2ne1 she 1as in search of a perfect person as her
hus&an* 1ho coul* un*erstan* her literary am&itions. 3o1ever9 society ha* its o1n
stan*ar*s of a perfect hus&an*. In eyes of society9 -ic2 7orton9 son of a family frien*9
1as an i*eal person. 3e 1as &lon*9 tall9 han*some9 a*mire*9 am&itious9 1ellGe*ucate*
senior science stu*ent 1ho 1as going to &e a me*ical *octor. Sylvia felt hemme* &y the
#$
family nature of the romance 1ith -ic2 7orton &ut she least e8presse* it. -ic2 remaine*
the most e8citing9 smartest9 &estGloo2ing &oy she 2ne1. 3o1ever9 she got completely
*isillusione* 1hen 7orton turne* up at Smith as rom *ate of some other 5ellesley girl
name* @ane An*erson. She *i* not inform Sylvia a&out his arrival at Smith9 1hich hurt
her the most. Sylvia felt enrage* an* *isguste*. She trie* to get normal 1ith time.
3o1ever9 1ith the revelation of 7orton/s a*ultery that he 1as having an affair 1ith a
1aitress 1as something Sylvia coul* not come to terms 1ith. She calle* it his *ou&le
stan*ar* an* &etrayal. She felt *eeply hurt &ecause of her *isillusione* i*eali;ations
a&out 7orton She 2ne1 1hat other girls *eman*e* from men 1as not 1hat she e8pecte*.
Most 1omen echoe* 1hat Mrs. 7orton ha* tol* Sylvia9 >6irls loo2 for infinite securityF
&oys loo2 for a mate. Both loo2 for *ifferent things? <p. #,=. Security 1as not 1hat
Sylvia nee*e* the most. She 2ne1 she 1as very *ifferent from the conventional girls 1ho
conforme* to the stan*ar*s of the society. >Sylvia 1as face* 1ith the ever 1i*ening
*ifference &et1een 1hat she 1ante* for herself an* 1hat everyone else inclu*ing her
family an* &oyfrien*s seeme* to thin2 1as appropriate for her. It 1as a time of
*epressing recognition? <p. )2=.
She 1ante* her life to &e a perfect com&ination of a literary career an* an i*eal
hus&an*. She often thought a&out her *ilemma of choosing one *irection in life after her
*isgusting e8perience 1ith -ic2.
6o*9 I hope I/m never going to massacre myself that 1ayP the most sa**ening
thing is to a*mit that I am not in love. I can only love <if that means selfG*enial or
*oes it mean selfGfulfillmentK %r &othK= G By giving up my love of self an*
am&itionsG 1hy9 1hy9 1hy9 can/t I com&ine am&ition for myself an* anotherK
<Du2il9 20009 p.102=
##
Burthermore9 she continue* to &lame herself for her *ilemmaH >I am vain an* prou*9 I
1ill not su&mit to having my life fingere* &y my hus&an*P. I must have a legitimate
fiel* of my o1n9 apart from his9 1hich he must respect?. <Du2il9 20009 p.,,=
3er e8perience of guest e*itorship at Ma*emoiselle College Boar* &rought her in
a state of confusion an* *isgust in totality. She hate* the artificiality of mo*ern life. 3er
1or2 routines an* *esignation gave her tough time an* re0uire* immense har* 1or2. .he
hea* e*itor of the maga;ine critici;e* her for her 1or2 often. She even got sic2 *ue to
foo* poisoning there9 1hich a**e* to her *isgust. Moreover9 the last *ay there 1as the
1orst one as in a late night party9 she 1as paire* 1ith a 1omen hater 1ho trie* to rape
her. She felt &e1il*ere* an* *epresse*. %ut of her fury9 she thre1 all her clothes from the
1in*o1 of her hotel. She simply hate* an* re'ecte* the 1orl* of fashion.
After returning to home9 she came to 2no1 that she ha* &een re'ecte* to atten* the
3arvar* summer school fiction course taught &y Bran2 % Connor. .his re'ection 1as
shattering for Sylvia. She felt herself a complete failure. .his 1as a great &lo1 to her
sli*e into *epression. She coul* not get herself to sleep. She felt herself &eing insomniac.
She 1as so *istraught that she faile* to rea*9 1rite or concentrate. She trie* to
concentrate on her thesis &ut coul* not get herself to *eci*e a topic. Being highly
*esperate9 she even trie* to hurt herself. Mrs. lath *escri&e* the horror of the summer in
Letters 3ome9 recounting the morning in @uly 1hen she sa1 gashes on Sylvia/s legs.
Sylvia a*mitte* that she ha* trie* to 2ill herself9 >I 'ust 1ante* to see if I ha* the gutsU?
<p. 103=
#)
Sylvia/s mother thought of *irecting her to1ar*s their family *octor &ut she coul*
not help Sylvia an* referre* them to a psychiatrist. .he psychiatrist thought of no other
option than recommen*ing shoc2 treatments. Sylvia un*er1ent electroconvulsive shoc2s
given 1ith no preparation an* no follo1 up counseling. 3er e8perience 1ith shoc2
treatments horrifie* her. %ne of her poems *escri&e* the e8perience in the follo1ing 1ayH
By the roots of my hair9 some 6o* got hol* of me
I si;;le* in his &lue volts <.he 3anging man9 1,#09 Ln. 1G2=
Sylvia felt intense pain. She 1as frightene* &eyon* the 1or*s left to her at this point in
her *epression <p.103=. 3er mother thought that this type of treatment 1oul* ma2e a
*ifference in her con*ition &ut it *i* not prove to &e helpful. Aurelia/s *ecision for her
&ecame the source of Sylvia/s anger. Sylvia felt so *istur&e* that she *eci*e* to en* her
life. Martin in her &iography of Sylvia lath recounts the suici*al attempt of Sylvia that
Sylvia &ro2e opene* a ca&inet that ha* sleeping pills an* too2 the full &ottle9 along 1ith
1ater9 to the cra1l space un*er the first floor 1hose entrance 1as usually &loc2e* &y a
pile of fire1oo*. She 1as 1earing @anet 5agner/s green *irn*l s2irt an* 1hite peasant
&louse. She left a note that she has gone for a long 1al2 an* 1ill &e home tomorro1.
.hen she cra1le* insi*e that space an* too2 sleeping pills. :ltimately9 she lost
consciousness for more than t1o *ays.
Aurelia reporte* Sylvia missing. .he search for Sylvia starte* an* it got national
coverage. Beautiful Smith 6irl 1as missing at 5ellesley along 1ith sleeping pills. After
t1o *ays9 1arren hear* moaning voices coming from &elo1 the house. .he am&ulance
1as calle* an* Sylvia 1as foun* semiconscious an* &ruise* in a pathetic con*ition of her
#+
in'ure* right eye &a*ly festering. .he nurse atten*ing Sylvia *escri&e* her as >more *ea*
than alive? <p.10$=. 5hen Sylvia &ecame conscious9 her first 1or*s 1ere of
*isappointment on her failure of en*ing her life. >%h9 7oU? after 1hich she faintly sai*
that it 1as her last act of love. If she coul* only &e a freshman again &ecause she so
1ante* to &e a Smith 1oman.
Aurelia9 *istur&e* &y her *aughter/s illness9 1rote a letter to her &enefactor %live
3iggins routy 1ho replie* &y assuring that she 1oul* &e a constant support of &oth
fun*s an* encouragement for Sylvia/s treatment. She 1as concerne* for Sylvia &ecause
she herself ha* suffere* a &rea2*o1n earlier in her life an* she 2ne1 Sylvia nee*e* help
of a 1ise *octor. Sylvia/s mental illness coul* not get &etter an* so she 1as sent to the
psychiatric 1ing of Massachusetts 6eneral 3ospital in Boston. After some time9 Sylvia
1as move* to the McLean 3ospital in Belmont9 in Mrs. routy/s car. .here her treatment
1as ta2en over &y -r. Beuscher. Sylvia starte* to consi*er her as a motherly figure an*
truste* her. -r. Beuscher continue* the insulin therapy 1ith the properly a*ministere*
shoc2 treatments that helpe* Sylvia regain her sanity. Sylvia returne* to Smith an* calle*
her recovery as her reG&irth. Sylvia spo2e to her ne1 frien*s a&out the sheer pain
connecte* 1ith her illness. She sai* that >everything hurt?9 that she 1as >on fire un*er
her s2in?. She vo1e* that if she ever 1ere insane again9 she 1oul* 2ill herself &ecause
>the pain is 'ust too great. I cannot live through it again? <p. 111=. Although Sylvia felt
herself cure*9 she still 1as insecure9 still trappe* in her family/s value system9 1hich
even if she learne* to 0uestion it9 she coul* not re'ect entirely. <p. 11,=
Sylvia then 1ith the help of Bul&right scholarship 1ent to 4nglan* for stu*y. She
1as e8cite* an* 1ante* to ma2e her name there. 3o1ever9 she starte* facing pro&lems
#,
very soon. 3er gran* plan M to con0uer Cam&ri*ge aca*emically an* socially M seeme*
as impossi&le as her *ream of con0uering 7e1 Qor2 ha* &een *uring the summer of
1,$3. She felt crushing pressure to *o everything &est &ut coul* not get herself to achieve
it. She ha* pro&lems 1ith men9 1riting9 girls an* her aca*emic life too. She 2ne1 she
1ante* help of her *octor. She ha* a &ur*en on herself that she 1as of 23 age an* still
single. She 2ne1 she ha* not &een a&le to fin* her compati&le love yet. She 1rote in one
of her entries thatH
My 6o*9 I/* love to coo2 an* ma2e a house9 an* surge force into a man/s *reams9
an* 1rite9 if he coul* tal2 an* 1al2 an* 1or2 an* passionately 1ant to *o his
career. I can/t &ear to thin2 of this potential for loving an* giving going &ro1n
an* sere in me yet the choice is so important9 it frightens me a little. A lotP
<Du2il9 20009 p.20,=
It 1as this very night at the 8t7 Botolphs cele&ratory party in Balcon Qar*F she met .e*
3ughes 1ho 1as going to &e her ultimate love. .hey ha* an intensely passionate first
encounter9 1hich le* into fre0uent meetings &et1een the t1o. Sylvia9 happy for fin*ing
her &la;ing love9 1rote to Aurelia that she ha* fallen terri&ly in love 1ith the strongest
man in the 1orl* for her 1hich coul* lea* her to great hurt.
She felt ecstatic in her life &ut she 2ne1 that .e* 1as a *ifficult person to love.
She often note*9 >.e*/s &ehavior 1as sometimes unruly an* she suspecte* that he love*
to *rin2 an* ma2e con0uests of 1omen?. She name* it his >ruthless force?. She 1rote to
Mrs. routy >3e is a &rea2er of things an* people.? Mrs. routy replie* 1arning Sylvia to
marry .e* not so soon. She replie*9 >Qou *o not really &elieve. -o you9 that the
)0
characteristics 1hich you *escri&e as R&ashing people aroun*/9 un2in*ness an* I thin2
you sai* cruelty can &e permanently change* in a man of 2#K? <Martin9 1,+)9 p.133=
3o1ever9 Sylvia love* .e* to e8tremes. She *eci*e* to marry him an* *i* so. It
1as a personal secret marriage 1ith only Aurelia as the 1itness. She poure* all her
energy into this relationship an* i*eali;e* it. .hey soon 1ent for honeymoon to Spain.
.here 1ith all the pleasant times spent together9 Sylvia also ha* some pro&lems *oing
househol* 1or2 at the return. She *evoure* coo2ing an* house1or2. %ften 1ith .e* &usy
in his 1or29 Sylvia felt each other as t1o silent strangers. Sylvia 1as in angry turmoil9
sorting through feelings of love marre* &y *isappointment. She felt alone apart from her
family9 therapist an* country. >Being marrie* to the most 1on*erful man in the 1orl*
1as not the consistent &liss she ha* envisione*? <p. 13$=
Sylvia felt .e*/s 1riting important more than her o1n. She shoppe*9 coo2e*9 2ept
house9 type* .e*/s manuscripts an* stu*ie* for e8ams too. She often 1rote in her 'ournal
entries a&out her frustration 1ith no time to *o anything right9 feeling her min* >shut off
li2e an unti*y corpse un*er the floor&oar*s *uring the last half year of e8am cramming9
slovenly 4ltisley living9 tight &u*getingP a space of paralysis? <p. 1!1=. Apart from
helping .e*9 Sylvia *esperately 1ante* to 1rite &ut she 1as *issatisfie* 1ith 1hat she
1as *oing i.e.9 >not touching on my *eep self.? She felt e8hauste* an* felt herself to &e in
1orst physical an* mental con*ition. Bor her9 only &eing a&le to 1rite coul* &e relief. She
1as not happy an* if she coul* not 1rite9 nothing else seeme* meaningful to her. Sylvia9
1ho consi*ere* .e*/s 1riting more important than her o1n9 no1 reali;e* ho1 much
important 1riting 1as for her o1n self. She 1as &ecoming 'ealous of .e*/s 1riting. She
even complaine* a&out having to vacuum the rug un*er his *es2 1here he sat to *o his
)1
1or2. 5hile Sylvia 1as a teacher9 .e* 1as a pu&lishe* 2no1n poet. It 1as 1hen they
starte* having arguments an* got *isplease* from each other. Sylvia ha* arrange* a
meeting for cele&ration of some sorts 1here .e* coul* not ma2e up to. .his angere*
Sylvia &ecause she foun* him coming up later 1ith a stu*ent. She accuse* him faithless
li2e all men. She 2ne1 she *eserve* &etter treatment from .e* 1ho 1as the love of her
life. She ha* given him her complete self 1ith love an* trust. 3o1ever9 he *i* not
un*erstan* her emotions. .e*/s protestations of innocence only a**e* to her fury. .hen
after a fight complete 1ith physical in'ury to each9 everything 1as all right once more <p.
1$1=. Sylvia 1as sli*ing into *epression &ecause of her ina&ility to 1rite.
-uring this time9 her reali;ation of her father/s loss a**e* to her illness. She
visite* the grave of her father9 reliving her father/s a&an*onment of her through his *eath.
Being pregnant 1ith her first &a&y9 Sylvia/s moo*s change* from severe *epression to
calm tran0uility. 5ith Brie*a/s &irth9 Sylvia felt ecstatically happy9 as she ha* felt never
&efore. 3o1ever9 as homema2er an* mother &ecame Sylvia/s i*entity in pu&lic9
maintaining her i*entity as a 1riter at home 1as *ifficult. Someone ha* to 1atch the
&a&yF that responsi&ility more an* more often &ecame Sylvia/s <p. 1)#=. She starte* to
envy her hus&an* for his privacy an* space for 1or2ing. She convince* .e* to share the
&orro1e* stu*y of frien* Mer1in 1ith her. Still this coul* not 1or2 or ma2e a *ifference.
.en 1ee2s after Brie*a/s &irth9 Sylvia lamente* that she got tire* easily. .he fee*ings of
&a&y9 househol* chores9 coo2ing an* ta2ing care of voluminous mail of .e* an* her o1n
ma*e her feel e8hauste*.
In the fall of 1,#09 Sylvia felt restless. She nee*e* change. .e* ha* &een &usy in
his 1riting. It 1as a year of struggle for Sylvia 1ith Brie*a starting teething. >Marriage
)2
might have &een easier ha* either .e* or Sylvia &een less am&itious9 or ha* either of them
&een more 1illing to ta2e on tra*itional gen*er roles? <p. 1+1=
Sylvia/s fury on .e* starte* to increase 1ith passing time. %ne *ay9 1hen .e*
1ent to BBC to &e intervie1e* &y Moira -olan 1hom Sylvia *isli2e* &ecause of her
voice9 Sylvia9 &urnt .e*/s notes an* *rafts of ne1 1or2. Shortly after this episo*e9 Sylvia
ha* a miscarriage. .his une8pecte* loss *eeply sa**ene* her. She 1as frightene*. .his
phase of *epression 1as relieve* &y her first rea*ing contract 1ith .he 7e1 Qor2er. She
starte* to 1or2 har* on her poems9 1hich she ha* to sen* to the maga;ine. 3er frustration
ha* &een resolve* a little an* she starte* 1or2ing on her first ever semi auto&iographical
novel The Bell Jar. 5riting The Bell Jar 1as a li&erating e8perience for Sylvia as she
1rote on it seven mornings a 1ee2 in Mer1in/s stu*y. She felt very e8cite* a&out it more
than any other thing she ha* 1ritten.
Sylvia an* .e* shifte* to -evon 1hile Sylvia 1as conceiving her secon* &a&y.
She felt much pressure to atten* to househol* matters. In @anuary 1,#29 7icholas 1as
&orn. -espite her physical 1eariness9 she felt rela8e*. 3o1ever9 1ith arrival of ne1&orn
&a&y9 the 1or2loa* got intense. She trie* to catch up &ut the &ur*en of caring for a large
house 1ith t1o chil*ren 1as over 1helming. Bragile as she 1as psychologically *uring
these 1inters9 Sylvia coul* not ma2e herself to un*erstan* the reason of her *istur&ance
an* unrest. Caring for t1o chil*ren 1as stressful along 1ith the *uties of househol*.
A&stractly9 Sylvia may have love* all the parts of &eing a homema2er an* mother9
physically9 to maintain home an* family left her no time for herself9 or for her 1riting9 or
even for her relationship 1ith .e* <p. 201=. Sylvia 1as not sure of 1hat 1as causing the
*istance &et1een her an* .e* &ut she 2ne1 that something 1as going 1rong. Sylvia ha*
)3
an i*ea of .e*/s seeing Assia 5e1il 1ho 1as the 1ife of the &uyer of their previous
house. Assia 1as a &eautiful 1oman 1ho 1as en'oying her thir* marriage an* she
a*mire* .e* openly. She &oaste* that she 1oul* se*uce .e*. Sylvia suspecte* .e* of
infi*elity. 3o1ever9 perhaps 1orse in some 1ays9 she also suspecte* him of not caring
ho1 much she nee*e* their marriage to 'ustify her e8istence as a 1oman M perhaps to
'ustify her life. Infi*elity 1as less the issue than 1as Sylvia/s almost o&sessive nee* to
live perfect life9 love the perfect man9 create the perfect househol*9 as a means of proving
that she 1as a success in all areas9 1omen 1ere suppose* to e8cel in <p. 20#=. She trie* to
repress her anger at a series of mysterious phone calls 1hich she 1as sure of coming
from Assia for .e*. %ne *ay after such call9 she tore the telephone 1ires9 an* 1ept a great
*eal. She also &urnt her *raft of &oo2 of love she 1as 1riting for .e*. Sylvia in those
*ays felt emotionally *istraught. .e*/s a&sences ma*e Sylvia emotionally *istur&e*. She
felt she 1as *escen*ing into another mental illness. She 2ept crying an* analy;ing herself
through their relationship as2ing her 1hat she ha* *one 1rong9 she shoul* not have
*oneK She *eci*e* to have a separation from .e*. Sylvia thought .e* ha* &etraye* her
an* lie* to her repeate*ly. She 2ne1 the *ecision of separation 1oul* &e *ifficult9 as she
1oul* have to raise her chil*ren alone lea*ing an isolate* life. Again9 Sylvia starte* to
*escent into *epression 1ith symptoms of insomnia an* 1eight loss. She neither 1as not
1riting nor eating. She starte* to remain ill 1ith high temperature. She often thought of
1ays of reconciliation 1ith .e* &ut faile*. She planne* for legal separation an* 1hen
*iscusse* 1ith her psychiatrist frien* -r. Beuscher9 she a*vise* Sylvia to get *ivorce than
&eing separate*. She thought *ivorce 1oul* &e &etter legally an* financially. Sylvia
state* her immense grief at losing her hus&an* in one of her letters to Mrs. routy saying9
)!
she love* the man she ha* live* 1ith # happy years 1ith all her heart9 &ut there 1as
nothin$ of that left. She thought herself as a victim of .e*. .e* ha* left her an* her life
seeme* to &e completely *ishevele*. -uring this time9 she concentrate* on her 1riting
an* pro*uce* some &rilliant poems of her lifetime. By this time9 she ha* reache*
reconciliation 1ith herself. Although she 1as 1orn an* anguishe* 1ith9 struggling life of
her still she manage* herself strongly. %ver the perio* of seven months after .e*9 she 1as
accustome* to live alone. It ha* &ecome her life. She 1rote to her mother that I am a
1riter9 a genius of a 1riterF I have it in me. I am 1riting the &est poems of my lifeF they
1ill ma2e my name. She a**e* almost 1il*ly that I amP full of plans9 &ut *o nee* help
for the ne8t t1o months. I am fighting no1 against har* o**s an* alone. Soon a nurse
1as arrange* for Sylvia 1ho 1as rea*y to ta2e care of her chil*ren. Sylvia focuse* on her
1riting more seriously. 3er 1or2 1as getting successful. 3er frien*s note* that she
loo2e* ill9 thin having coughs9 temperature an* flu9 &ut flushe* 1ith 'oy of successful
1or2. She 1as preparing herself to shift to Lon*on. 3er *octor as2e* her to come to
America an* live 1ith her &ut she reassure* her that she 1as strong enough to cope 1ith
the changes of her life an* she 1as a&le to ma2e a life for herself an* her chil*ren in
Lon*on. @anuary of the 7e1 Qear 1,#3 1as a *epressing month for Sylvia. She 1as sic2
again 1ith temperature an* her chil*ren 1ith col*. At the &eginning of their illness came
the 1orst sno1fall in Lon*on in 1$0 years. Because of consistent *ifficulty9 starting the
car9 Sylvia an* the chil*ren 1ere at times completely house&oun*. 4verything 1as too
much trou&le for her these *ays. She 1ante* to &e free to 1rite an* &ecome famous &ut
she felt angere* at her responsi&ilities of caring for chil*ren an* house an* of her
frustration an* grief &ecause for her hus&an*. She felt terri&ly fatigue* an* emotionally
)$
e8hauste*. She 1as &ecoming *epresse* 1ith reali;ation of 1hat she 1as facing in her
life as a single parent 1ith t1o chil*ren to care for the rest of her life. It 1as an immense
&ur*en on her to carry out her life in a &alance* 1ay. 3o1ever9 she 1as 1illing to fight
this &attle alone. She starte* to see -r. 3or*er 1ho urge* Sylvia to &e hospitali;e*.
Sylvia remem&ere* the electroshoc2 treatments of past an* so al1ays refuse* him. She
continue* ta2ing anti *epressants.
So much9 &oth goo* an* &a*9 ha* happene* in those short years. Sylvia ha*
learne* a great *eal. She ha* &ecome a mother an* a homeo1nerF she ha* learne* to
share her life9 an* she ha* come into her o1n as a 1oman. In *oing so9 she ha* &ecome a
stronger 1riter. Moreover9 'ust 1hen she 1as at the height of these accomplishments9
&ecause of changes in her personal life that revive* earlier fears an* *epressions9 her
momentum stoppe*. .he 1oman 1ho ha* 1ante* nothing else &ut to 1rite 1on*ere*
1hy she ha* 1or2e* so tirelessly. >5or*s *ry an* ri*er less9? finally9 seeme* not to &e a
1ay out of her *ilemma M at least not 1hile she struggle* un*er the 1eight of acute
*epression <p. 2!3=.
4arly on the morning of Be&ruary 119 1,#39 Sylvia *eci*e* to en* her life. She
gasse* her hea* in the oven of her secon* floor 2itchen of the rimrose hill flat. She ha*
left &rea2fast for her chil*ren near their &e*s. She carefully put tape aroun* the *oors to
protect her chil*ren from the fumes. She ha* ta2en sleeping pills an* ha* left a note
saying to call her *octor. .he nurse came late that *ay. Sylvia 1as *ea*. .he police an*
the *octor 1ere calle*. .e* also came soon after. %n Be&ruary 1$9 *eath of Sylvia lath
1as *eclare* as a suici*e.
)#
5.3 C0.2%,('0# 03 P&%$* %#8 H", A&$", E10
>The Bell Jar?9 lath/s only novel semi auto&iographical in nature is often consi*ere*
roman V clef9 1ith 4sther 6reen1oo*/s *escent into mental illness paralleling lath/s o1n
e8periences. .he life of 4sther in the novel closely parallels lath/s t1entieth year9 an*
the novel contains characters 1hom lath fictionali;e* &y changing the names an*
arrangement of plot.
Baig in her research article 8yl'ia 5laths Bell Jar as A 5sycholo$ical 8pace <n.*.=
is of the vie1 that li2e most of Sylvia lath/s 1or2s9 >The Bell Jar?9 &eing a cathartic
out&urst of her emotions9 1as therapeutic for her trou&le* soul. She 0uotes Lo1ell 1ho
reveale* lath/s 1or*sH >The Bell Jar is an auto&iographical apprentice 1or2 1hich I ha*
to 1rite in or*er to free myself from the past?. <"o&ert Lo1ell9 1,##9 p.+= She e8plore*
the harsh realities of the outsi*e 1orl* &y *iscovering the an8iety of her o1n soul <p. 1!=.
.his can also &e relate* to her alter ego 4sther.
lath consi*ere* 4sther as her >alter ego? the 1ay she use* her in The Bell Jar as
her mouthpiece &ecause she 1ante* to attain an i*entity that ha* the 1ill po1er to fight
1ith her psychological *emons9 live accor*ing to her o1n *esires an* shape the 1orl* at
her o1n stan*ar*s9 1hich someho1 Sylvia coul* not achieve. In other 1or*s9 she 1ante*
to attain the utmost free*om &y &rea2ing the suffocating &ell 'ar of societal stan*ar*s
aroun* her9 the 1ay 4sther *oes.
Sylvia lathCs life an* the struggles she face* are mirrore* in The Bell Jar. 4sther
6reen1oo* is the main character in The Bell Jar9 playing out the events that happene* to
lath herself. 4sther faces many conflicts throughout the novel almost the same as the
))
conflicts lath encountere* *uring her lifetime. lathCs chronic *epression an* suici*al
ten*encies are similar to those of the character 4sther 6reen1oo*.
Although Sylvia lath committe* suici*e9 her alter ego 4sther 6reen1oo* ha* an
am&iguous en*ing for her life. 4sther 6reen1oo* is a metaphor for Sylvia lath/s o1n
life9 a reflection of her e8periences an* a pro'ection of ho1 she 1ante* to see herself.
Since the novel is &ase* aroun* lath/s o1n life9 many of the significant passages in The
Bell Jar can &e interprete* using lath/s life as a gui*e. 4sther personifies lath/s o1n
*esires an* pro&lems &ut 1hile lath commits suici*e at age thirty9 4sther fin*s herself as
a survivor.
.he conflict of &oth lath an* her alter ego is their &attle &et1een their inner
an* outer self. .he pressures of society upon them to fulfill so many roles are so immense
that they are over1helme* &y the options an* fin* it *ifficult to choose the right one.
Since in the 1,$0s America9 female roles 1ere not clearly *efine*. 5omen 1ere
confronte* &y very fe1 possi&ilities that choice itself &ecame impossi&le for them.
4sther/s ina&ility to choose an i*entity presente* to her &y society causes her
eventual mental &rea2*o1n. lath uses 4sther to e8pose her *eep inner turmoil. 4sther is
use* to e8press lath/s frustrations an* resentments to1ar*s her o1n society. .he
*efine* &oun*aries of right an* 1rong as *ictate* &y society are *ifficult to accept
&ecause there is no place for people li2e lath an* her alter ego 1ho *o not 2no1 1here
they fit in. As 4sther vie1s the 1orl*9 everyone has a role to fulfill. 4sther9 ho1ever9 *oes
not 2no1 1hich role she 1ants. .his *eeply perple8es 4sther an* the nee* to ma2e the
)+
right *ecision *rives 4sther to insanity. .he mental &rea2*o1n of 4sther is cause* &y her
*esire to live her life accor*ing to her o1n stan*ar*s.
Both 4sther an* lath *ou&t their o1n intellectual a&ility. .his is the result of
their failure to &e accepte* into a summer 1riting course. .his lea*s them to &elieve that
they are not goo* enough to live an* they &oth feel themselves as failure. The Bell Jar
acts as a *iary &ecause it reflects lath/s o1n perceptions of the important events of her
life. 48amining the struggles Sylvia lath encountere* *uring her life9 her novel clearly
e8plains in *etail her feelings an* perceptions of each mentally an* emotionally
influencing event she face* in her life. Images of her pain an* suffering are reflecte* in
her novel &y imagery surroun*ing her visions of a&an*onment9 confusion an* reGliving
her *epression through her fictional alter ego9 4sther 6reen1oo*. .hese struggles9 from
chronic *epression9 to her fatherCs *eath9 to the frustrations relate* to societal stan*ar*s
are all reflecte* in her auto&iographical novel9 The Bell Jar.
4sther an* Sylvia ha* a passion for 1riting an* a *esire to ma2e it a career9 1hich
1as not right accor*ing to society/s constructe* roles. Society vie1e* having a career an*
not ma2ing up a family as &eing IunGfeminine.I .his 1as 1hat lath re'ecte*. She urge*
1omen of her era to stan* against societal pre set gen*er roles9 an* to &ecome
in*epen*ent on their o1n. erhaps this 1as her reason or thought &ehin* 1riting The Bell
Jar. lath 1ante* to ma2e it clear that if society continue* to control 1omen/s lives 1ith
the set structure of patriarchy9 many 1oul* eventually en* up &eing mentally ill an*
reaching mental institutions from repressing their *esires of rising up.
),
.he character 4sther 6reen1oo* covertly reveals the frustrations of Sylvia lath
she 1as facing in her o1n life in terms of relationships. 4sther/s reaction to Bu**y/s
affair 1ith the 1aitress reflects lath/s frustrations 1ith 3ughes/s infi*elity. Both share*
'ealousies in terms of personal relationships an* career. .his 'ealousy mi8e* 1ith
*epression *rove them to irrational acts. As lath &urns .e*/s 1or2s an* cuts of the
phone 1ires *ue to her 'ealousy9 4sther 1hen fin*s a&out Bu**y/s hypocrisy9 she 1aits
for the opportunity to lose her virginity. She thin2s that Bu**y has tu&erculosis as a
punishment of his *ou&le stan*ar*s. lath reflects on her frustrations a&out life as a 1riter
an* as a mother &y creating a character that is uncertain a&out her *ecisions of future
career an* family. .he *ou&ts9 fears an* illness of 4sther *epict the internal turmoil lath
herself 1as facing. In the en*9 4sther is cure*. Qet she feels that The Bell Jar of mental
illness 1oul* *escent again some time in her life9 1hich foresha*o1s the en*ing of
lath/s life.
lath often reveals in her 'ournals that she longe* for the love of her mother 1hile
she hate* her too. It 1as a complicate* relationship9 1hich is also *epicte* in The Bell
Jar. 4sther portrays her mother negatively proclaiming that she hate* her &ut 2ne1 in her
heart that she ha* *one 1rong to her mother an* her mother love* her. Both lath an*
Sylvia *i* not appreciate their mothers.
In &oth Sylvia lathCs life an* her alter ego 4sther 6reen1oo*Cs9 there is a sense
of a&an*onment an* &etrayal *ue to the *eath of their father. 5hen lathCs father *ie*
&ecause of a severe case of *ia&etes9 lath &oth love* him an* hate* him. 3e 1as a
1on*erful father9 until he isolate* himself *ue to his illness9 &ut 1hen he passe* a1ay9
lath9 &eing at the young9 ten*er age of eight years ol*9 hate* him for leaving her. 4sther
+0
also ha* lost her father an* she too reali;e* that she 1as only happy &efore she 1as nine
years ol*. Both9 1hen visit the graves of their fathers9 they re live the sorro1 of their loss.
In The Bell Jar9 4sther/s &oyfrien* Bu**y 5illar* is thought to &e lath/s former
&oyfrien* -ic2 7orton. lath 1rites in her 'ournals a&out 7orton/s affair 1ith a 1aitress
1hile *ating lath that is something 1hat Bu**y *i* to 4sther. 4sther also e8presses
feeling of a faile* romantic life an* se8uality throughout the novel. She constantly
reminisces a lost love9 Bu**y 5illar*9 1hom she &ro2e the relationship off 1ith after
reali;ing he 1asn/t as pure as he ha* lea* her to &elieve. In a similar fashion9 lath 1rote
the novel *uring an* after her &rea2Gup 1ith poet hus&an*9 .e* 3ughes9 1ho ha* cheate*
on her. Sylvia very much a*mire* an* o&sesse* over 3ughes9 ma2ing this a point of her
*epression.
lath/s life 1as mar2e* &y scholarships9 inclu*ing a 1riting internship at
Ma*emoiselle Maga;ine9 stay at Bar&i;on 3otel as 1ell as &outs of *epression9 1hich le*
to her eventual suici*e. 4sther also has the same e8periences at the La*ies -ay maga;ine
an* stay at Ama;on hotel lea*ing to *epression. hilomena 6uinea is &ase* on lath/s
patron9 %live 3iggins routy9 author of Stella -allas an* 7o19 Joyager9 1ho fun*e*
lath/s scholarship to stu*y at Smith College9 Also similar to the novel/s
protagonist. -octor 7olan is thought to &e e0ual to lath/s o1n therapist9 "uth Beuscher9
1hom she continue* seeing into a*ulthoo*. All other characters in the story in fact *i*
have their realGlife parallels as 1ell9 although some of the events are tol* out of or*er an*
there are fictitious events a**e* for a more interesting plot.
+1
Several events in lathCs life that *eal 1ith her personal struggles coinci*e 1ith
events in the novel e8perience* &y her alter ego. Both 4sther 6reen1oo* an* Sylvia
lathCs suici*al ten*encies are a result of an8iety. lathCs attempt at suici*e &y over*osing
on sleeping pills is mirrore* in the novel 1hen 4sther ma2es the same attempt. lath an*
her alter ego fictional character9 4sther9 are &oth institutionali;e* an* treate* for their
*epression 1ith electric shoc2 therapy. After suici*e attempts in The Bell Jar &y 4sther
an* in real life for lath9 &oth try to pic2 up the pieces of their former selves to fin* their
i*entity as ne1 1oman.
Anger an* pain e8presse* in the shoc2 treatment scenes throughout The Bell Jar
also have &een compare* to emphasi;ing the lin2 &et1een 4sther an* Sylvia/s emotions.
lath *escri&es her e8perience at the mental institution9 McLean9 through that of 4sther/s
in the novel. lath is a&le to e8press her feelings a&out the place an* the effects it ha* on
her an* her mental con*ition through her character9 as she is in similar situations to that
of lath.
.he central themes of Sylvia lath/s early life are the &asis for The Bell Jar. .he
entire novel is9 in a sense9 a memoir. lath is living her life over again through her alter
ego9 4sther 6reen1oo*. Sylvia lath attempts to *escri&e to the rea*er the trauma an*
har*ships her character faces *ue to her mental illness &y choosing her fictional alter ego
4sther as her mouth piece.
+2
CHAPTER
CONCLUSION
Mental illness is a vast phenomenon that has gaine* momentum over the ages not only in
the society &ut has also reflecte* in the 1or2s of literature. eople9 especially 1omen
1ho reacte* against the society 1ere consi*ere* mentally ill. .hey 1ere sent to asylums
1here they un*er1ent psychiatric treatments. In the novel The Bell Jar9 the phenomenon
is *eeply roote* as it 1as set in the stan*ar*s of 1,$0s American society. It 1as the time
1hen society ha* set specific gen*er roles for men an* 1omen. 5omen 1ere struggling
1ith those pre set roles for themselves. 4very 1oman 1as affecte* &y the societal *ou&le
stan*ar*s. lath 1as a hea*strong 1oman an* she 1as a re&ellion against the societal
pressures place* upon her as a 1oman that lea* her to *epression along 1ith the struggles
she 1as facing 1ith her relationships an* her nee* of perfection in 1riting. .he same
issues9 she portraye* in her only semiauto&iographical novel The Bell Jar 1ith her alter
ego 4sther pro'ecte* as a mouthpiece.
.his research sho1e* that lath 1as a victim of mental illness an* it 1as &ecause
of various reasons that she *escen*e* into *epression an* trie* to commit suici*e. She
hate* serving men an* it 1as 1hat society pressuri;e* her to *o. She ha* lost her father9
sa1 financial pro&lems an* her struggling mother. She ha* high i*eals for her to achieve
an* anything less than perfect 1as a failure for her an* *epresse* her. 5ith her *istur&ing
e8periences at the Ma*emoiselle maga;ine in 7e1 Qor29 she ha* a great impact on her
min*. "eturning from 7e1 Qor29 she 1as re'ecte* for the summer course that highly
*isappointe* her lea*ing her into sli*e of *epression. .he *epresse* lath un*er1ent
+3
horri&le psychiatric electroshoc2 treatment that left mar2s on her psyche. Burther9 1ith
&etrayal of her &la;ing love an* caring for t1o chil*ren alone left her completely
*isoriente*. 3er mental illness eventually change* into her intention of en*ing her life.
.hroughout her life9 lath often face* episo*es of mental illness9 1hich eventually 2ille*
her.
.he research also highlighte* the mental illness in life of lath/s alter ego 4sther
in the novel The Bell Jar. 4sther face* struggles similar to lath. She also hate* the
hypocrisy of men an* the *ou&le stan*ar*s of society. She 1ante* to &e in*epen*ent an*
ha* passion for 1riting. She ha* frustrating e8periences 1ith 1omen at La*ies -ay in
7e1 Qor2. Last night at her stay in 7e1 Qor29 she encounters a horri&le *ate e8perience
1ith a 1omenGhater 1ho tries to rape her. "eturning from 7e1 Qor29 she is re'ecte* from
the summer course9 1hich a**s up to her feelings of ina*e0uacy. She feels una&le to
1or29 eat or sleep thus sli*ing into *epression. 3er relationship 1ith Bu**y 5illar* an*
his hypocrisy also highly *isappoints her an* she feels enrage* after 2no1ing a&out his
a*ultery. She feels her virginity as her &ur*en9 1hich she tries to lessen 1ith a professor.
.hat se8ual e8perience proves horri&le for her as she hemorrhages. She also un*ergoes
traumatic psychiatric treatments involving electroshoc2 therapies9 1hich 1orsen her
mental illness. She has pro&lems 1ith her mother too. In the en* 1ith proper treatment9
she en*s up as a mere survivor an* recovers her sanity.
.he main purpose of the research 1as to compare the mental illness of lath an*
her alter ego i*entifying the similar reasons of mental illness in life profiles of &oth. .he
research prove* 4sther to &e the alter ego of Sylvia lath as they &oth suffere* from the
struggle against the societal stan*ar*s9 1hich *eman*e* them to serve men an*
+!
*omesticate themselves for family an* chil*ren. Both lath an* 4sther ha* pro&lems 1ith
their mothers an* they &oth share* the loss of their father at a young age. Both face*
po1er struggle against men in their lives an* 1ante* someone 1ho 1oul* un*erstan*
their literary aspirations as a partner. Both face* &etrayal in love either it &e .e* 3ughes
for lath an* Bu**y 5illar* for 4sther. Both .e* an* Bu**y ha* affairs 1hen they 1ere
in relationship 1ith lath an* 4sther respectively. Both Sylvia an* 4sther un*er1ent
electroshoc2 therapies 1hile their stay at the asylums. .he only *ifference &et1een the
t1o 1as that 4sther comes out as a recovere* in*ivi*ual in the en* &ut lath/s mental
illness eventually en*e* up in her suici*e.
.he research is significant &ecause it opens 1ays for interpretation of a me*ical
pro&lem in a piece of literature. .he research offers a 1i*e *etail of the me*ical pro&lem
li2e mental illness in life of a reno1ne* poet an* 1riter Sylvia lath. .he research
provi*es the *etail an* reasons of the phenomenon &y closely loo2ing the life profile of
lath an* her alter ego. .he psychoanalysis helps to un*erstan* the motivations an*
unconscious impulses that lea* to1ar*s the sli*e into mental illness of an in*ivi*ual. .he
research is also significant in the 1ay that it gives an overvie1 of mental illness as a
phenomenon over the ages9 it also ta2es us &ac2 into the 1,$0s American society in
1hich lath9 an* her alter ego suffere* the pro&lem of mental illness. .he research a**s
positively to the chain of 2no1le*ge &oth 1ith respect to literature an* psychology as the
research can help not only literature stu*ents &ut also psychology stu*ents for further
e8periment 1ith the vast topic li2e mental illness. .he research successfully an*
e8tensively gives the *etail a&out the phenomena of mental illness through close rea*ing
of the novel The Bell Jar an* the life profiles of lath an* 4sther. It compares the mental
+$
illness of lath 1ith her alter ego. Both suffere* mental illness in their lives &ecause of
similar reasons.
-ue to constraints of time an* 1or* limit9 the research is limite* to the
comparison of mental illness in lath an* her alter ego. A *etaile* analysis is *one 1ith
close rea*ing of the novel The Bell Jar an* the 'ournals an* &iography of lath. 3o1ever9
this research offers variety of path1ays to e8ten* the analysis to a &roa*er level. .he
psychology stu*ents can han*le this topic 1ith a *ifferent research metho*ology i.e.9 the
mental illness of 4sther can &e stu*ie* as a case stu*y. Burthermore9 the a*vancement of
e8pan*ing culture of films an* television calls for a thorough stu*y of the cinematic
a*aptations of the life of Sylvia lath an* of her novel The Bell Jar. .here is ample room
for further research on the novel The Bell Jar. .he focus can &e shifte* from the
phenomenon of mental illness to the 1,$0s American society9 its stan*ar*s for men an*
1omen an* the practice of psychiatric treatments of that time. Moreover9 the topic can &e
relate* to the a2istani conte8t in terms of the societal pressures 1omen face that lea*s to
their mental illness. In the a2istani society too9 1omen are e8pecte* &y the society to
a*opt tra*itional roles of mothers9 *aughters an* 1ives an* to *omesticate themselves
ultimately. 6etting marrie* an* "aising a family is compulsory for them no matter ho1
much e*ucate* an* career oriente* they may &e. .hey have to prefer their family life
upon their careers an* aspirations of an in*epen*ent am&itious life. 7o1 the feminist
young 1omen of 21
st
century get many opportunities to get ahea* in life an* pursue their
aca*emic an* professional careers yet the *ecision of *omesticating themselves is a
necessary an* crucial one. Mostly9 they are e8pecte* to leave &ehin* their in*epen*ent
life after getting marrie*. .hey are &oun* to compromise 1ith the e8pectations of society.
+#
.his lea*s them to1ar*s an8iety an* *epression an* they feel themselves un*er a
suffocating &ell 'ar of societal conventions. Someho19 every 1oman faces these
challenges an* feels the &ell 'ar of society *escen*ing upon her in some point of her life.
.hus 1ith these further implications9 the research 1ill &e a helpful a**ition to the chain
of 2no1le*ge an* stu*ies.
By esta&lishing that mental illness is a highly influencing phenomenon that ha* a
great impact on the life of Sylvia lath9 the research conclu*es that this personal
e8perience of mental illness an* *epression of lath 1as not *etache* from her 1ritings.
She e8presse* her tormente* self an* her feelings through her poems an* especially
through her only semi auto&iographical novel The Bell Jar that *eals 1ith the theme of
mental illness 1ith its protagonist 4sther as a mouthpiece for lath/s o1n mental illness.
%n this final note9 the research proves that 4sther is un*ou&te*ly the fictional
counterpart9 the alter ego of Sylvia lath as &oth suffere* from mental illness an* for the
same reasons.
+)
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