Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

    Sylvia Plath illustrates a woman, Esther Greenwood, who is trying to decide her future in New York City with a group of other women who had won the fashion magazine contest. Esther's days are planned out for her but she tries to go away from the norm and plan her own time such as going off with Doreen by the hand of a strange man, Lenny. However, throughout her time Esther begins to spiral into a depression illustrated by comparing herself to other women present, crying for no reason, and focusing on her mistakes. One of the mistakes she focuses on is narrating the time she had with the man she was told to marry, Buddy Willard. She discusses the man she thought him to be, pure, and the man he really was, a hypocrite. While reflecting back, Esther realizes she has never truly been happy since she was nine years old, though she seems to have a moment of happiness with Constantin. From then on she begins to spiral, from avoiding set events to almost letting a man, Marco, take advantage of her and abuse her.

   Though Esther seems to be becoming a bit strange and depressed, I believe there is hope due to the flickers of happiness. Esther seems to have a moment of happiness when spending time with Constantin and if he were to return then her happiness would return with him. However she seems to be broken halfway through the book when she has her encounter with the women hating man, Marco. I am routing for Esther to pull through and find happiness but with what she wants compared to what society wants for her, it seems as if that is a far reach.

   Esther illustrates the views of a feminist. Esther does not believe in marriage the way it is meant to be because she finds it unfair that a man is expected to stay pure but a man did not have to or could even trick their wives as Buddy almost tricked her. Esther also relates to feminism because she wants to be empowered and make her own path. She also does not want to feel forced to serve men which she discusses, "...I hated the idea of serving men in any way. I wanted to dictate my own thrilling letters" (76). In her time women's dreams were to find a husband and be the perfect wife. However, Esther wants to choose her own dream as she states in the quote presented. I see society as a factor in her spiraling depression due to her opposing view of what a woman should want. Everyone is pulling her in one direction but she wishes to go in another. With the restraints of society, she cannot go her own way. I believe Sylvia Plath illustrates the beginning of a feminist. Esther breaks away from the standard because she denies the act of marriage and recognizes the unequal aspects of both marriage and society. Feminist recognize and fight against the inequality of the sexes. However, Esther cannot seem to find the strength to fight and instead spirals into depression.