The control over individuals in a specific society is maintained

mainly by societal institutions by whom the discourse is generated.

Several concepts have been given a meaning and a set of rules
through discourse, and sexuality is one of many other concepts. Also,
the knowledge about sexuality nothing but a construct of society. The
discourse on sexuality produces knowledge and thus power, and
discourse as well maintains that power. One of Esthers main concerns
throughout the novel is the issue of sexuality in her society during the
1950s. Esthers journey with the theme of sexuality holds a form of
criticism for her society that makes of sexuality an essence for the
individuals. In this essay, I will argue that sexuality, in a patriarchal
society, is instrumentalised in order to essentialise the individuals by
defining them only by their sexuality.

From the beginning to the end of the novel, Esther contemplates the
idea of whether she should lose her virginity or not. In fact, Esther,
speaking for society, categorizes people into those who have had sex
and who havent. This statement puts the emphasis on how the society
is programmed with the idea of defining people based on their sexual
life. Also, individuals dont have enough options to explore in their
sexual life. Furthermore, the conventions that are set by society
transcribe that women should keep their virginity for their potential
husbands. By having sex before marriages as society dictates, a
woman jeopardizes her own name, her relationship with the potential
husband, or even get pregnant. In addition, when Esther is exposed to

the affair that Buddy had with a waitress, her immediate reaction was
thinking of losing her virginity as well.

The double standards of society leads Esther to question the

moralities of a society in which men can have sex before marriage and
women cannot. Esthers first reaction to Buddys affair is to look for a
man she doesnt love and lose her virginity with him. This also shows
how society constructed the individuals in a way that their main
concern and preoccupation is thinking only of their sexuality. However,
even when Esther loses her virginity at the end, she doesnt feel nor
experience any spectacular change. The fact that Esther looks for a
man just to have sex and lose her virginity is in itself and
objectification to the male gender. Not only she objectifies the man
with whom she loses her virginity with, but mostly all men she
encountered in her quest to find one with whom to lose her virginity.

Social injunctions heavily contribute into sexualizing the individuals.

The discourse on sexuality is produced through societal institutions to
maintain the power over the sexualized individuals. As a case in point,
Esthers mother is an example of the system that produces individuals
that are judged by their sexuality. The fact that the mothers name
isnt mentioned in the novel points out to the nature of her role as a
tool that has a role and a title with no function. The mother in The Bell
Jar is the hand of the system through which the social injunctions are
transmitted and consequently sexualize the production which is the
individual. Hence, the mothers role is merely the reproduction of the
ideal, conformist woman.

Although sexuality can be used to sexualize the female, it can also

be instrumentalised to sexualize the male. However, its not only
females who have to be reproduced by the system, but also males.
Mrs. Willard also plays the role of the systems hand in which she also
reproduces the ideal man. The ideal man in this context is the playboy
model, a male who objectifies women and looks at them in a sexual
image. The playboy, then, considers women as sexual objects, objects
to use in order to satisfy his sexual needs. However, the playboy, as a
product of the system, is also a victim just as women are victims of the
same system.

In a nutshell, sexuality is employed by the system and society with

the aim of sexualizing the individuals. The individuals become objects
of each other and thus be essentialized. The discourse on sexuality is
used by the system for the fulfillment of creating power and
maintaining it.