Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar (entry 3)

            Esther represents a woman oppressed by society in her time. Esther expects more from her life and dreams of the future she wants. However her dream drives her mad because she cannot reach it. In the second half of the book Esther spirals even more until she finally ends up in a facility. Within the facility she recognizes what she must do to be free. Esther then sleeps with Irwin to go against the double standard of purity that society holds. In a personal reaction to this event, I thought Esther had lost it even more but for her it was a release of the hold society has on her. Another example of how the hold is released is the comparison of the symbolism of the Bell Jar (symbolizing her madness) from the beginning of the second half to the end. At first Esther feels as if she “would be sitting under the same glass bell jar, stewing in her own sour air” (185). In the end the jar is lifted and the hold is released. However, it still hangs over her waiting to drop at any moment.            

                Esther is a prime example of a woman oppressed by society in her time because of this bell jar that hangs over her. Esther cannot choose her future because of society ad that drives her mad because if she takes her path then she would be a lonely harlot for choosing a career and losing her virginity. Though this view of women needing to have a certain role is not near as strong as it was in the 1950s I believe women still have a double standard with purity and marriage. In the purity sense, men are still seen as those who can do what they want when they please. However, if women were to do so they would be seen in society as harlots. In the aspect of marriage, I feel as if women are still expected to be pure when they are married but the men are not expected to be or that women are more appealing to men if they are pure for marriage. Again, this view is not as strong as it was in the time setting of The Bell Jar but I still believe it exists.  Feminism believes that the sexes should receive equality. However with the views of purity and marriage, both in the Bell Jar and in society today, I believe that it would be hard to fight such beliefs that have been present for so long. Esther tries to fight the beliefs but ends up almost dead, in a facility, and trapped in a bell jar.