Esther Greenwood is at college and is fighting two battles, one against her own desire for perfection in all things - grades, boyfriend, looks, career - and the other against remorseless mental illness. As her depression deepens she finds herself encased in it, bell-jarred away from the rest of the world. This is the story of her journey back into reality. Highly readable, witty and disturbing, The Bell Jar is Sylvia Plath's only novel and was originally published under a pseudonym in 1963. What it has to say about what women expect of themselves, and what society expects of women, is as sharply relevant today as it has always been.
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Plath was an excellent poet but is known to many for this largely autobiographical novel. The Bell Jar tells the story of a gifted young woman's mental breakdown beginning during a summer internship as a junior editor at a magazine in New York City in the early 1950s. The real Plath committed suicide in 1963 and left behind this scathingly sad, honest and perfectly- written book, which remains one of the best-told tales of a woman's descent into insanity.
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"'In looking at the madness of the world and the world of madness [this book] forces us to consider the great question posed by all truly realistic fiction: what is reality and how can it be confronted?' New York Times Book Review"
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
112 of 116 people found the following review helpful
By Ms. S. J. Smith
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
Sylvia Plath is probably one of the most recognisable female authors and poets of modern times, she will be largely remembered for her haunting poetry of depression and mostly autobiographical novel (the first and last) the Bell Jar in which her real life persona is replaced by Esther Greenwood, a young woman who is on the verge of breaking into the writing world. In the first section of the book Esther is an intern in New York working for a prestigious fashion magazine. It is clear from the outset that she has worries as she cannot find any immediate beauty in the cosmopolitan world of NY, she merely carries on day to day but it is clear the enjoyment and excitement is gone.
As the book progresses we see her return home where she essentially suffers a nervous breakdown in which she is unable to move from her room and concludes that the everyday tasks of life are too unbearable. She then goes on the journey into a deep depression in which she clearly considers the best method for suicide, has regular visits to a psychiatrist and spends time in a mental rehabilitation unit. The one thing that this book highlights is the terrible way in which mentally ill people were treated in the 50’s and early 60’s, the method of electric shock therapy to eradicate her depressed feelings leaves her scared of any other ‘help’ she may receive, and we see how petrified she becomes when next given this ‘treatment’ albeit once more under more friendlier circumstances.
The story is a powerful evocation of Plaths own mental health issues and by writing this book she successfully suggested to a quietened nation of other mental health sufferers that it was ‘ok’ to feel this way and that it happened to the best and most promising bright young things. The way in which the Bell Jar is still seen as a core piece of literature on depression shows the values it holds even today, when rivalled against other authors memoirs such as Elizabeth Wurtzel’s ‘Prozac Nation’ and later on ‘More, now, again’ she remains the original and possibly the best writer on the issue of depression and mental health.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The drift into insanity is so fluidly retold that it is easy for the reader to become emotionally connected to it. Her actions seem almost reasonable until she allows you to step away and see just how odd the protagonist is and feels. This is not just a tale about tortured genius. It is a tale about a very real mental illness, which can so often, as with Plath, have fatal consequences. "The Bell Jar" is, therefore, an important work and a beautifully written novel.It is not depressing in itself. It is often funny with sharp observations and dark wit. I read it very quickly, it being a short novel and completely captivating. The honesty of it tears at your heart and you find yourself deeply caring about Sylvia Plath.
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By Me123
Format:Paperback
Sylvia Plath's semi-autobiographical novel is a harrowing, thought provoking insight into the mind of a woman who is almost synonymous with mental illness.
Indeed, the mental health issue runs through the novel and the main character, who is based on Plath in a number of ways, spends a significant amount of time in a mental institution, dealing with the effects this has on her and her condition. The work provides a haunting insight to the reality of a mental illness, and how this affects the sufferer and their immediate family and friends.
From studying Plath's poetry, it can be clearly seen that the central character is based on the author. The most obvious representation comes from their conditions in the novel (bi-polar disorder, abandonment issues, a hint of an Electra Complez) and if you know anything about Plath, many short quotations in the novel take on a much more significant meaning than they would on their own. In fact, it is probably best to understand the writer's basic background before approaching the novel.
So far, I've painted a picture of a heavy, depressing read. Whilst I cannot deny that it is a heavy book dealing with a massive subject, I did not find it depressing in any way, but rather fascinating.
"The Bell Jar" is a crucial work of American literature, and is an essential purchase for any fan of Plath's work, or any fan of literature in general. Be warned, however, that it is a heavy book, particularly if you do not understand the background.
Indeed, the mental health issue runs through the novel and the main character, who is based on Plath in a number of ways, spends a significant amount of time in a mental institution, dealing with the effects this has on her and her condition. The work provides a haunting insight to the reality of a mental illness, and how this affects the sufferer and their immediate family and friends.
From studying Plath's poetry, it can be clearly seen that the central character is based on the author. The most obvious representation comes from their conditions in the novel (bi-polar disorder, abandonment issues, a hint of an Electra Complez) and if you know anything about Plath, many short quotations in the novel take on a much more significant meaning than they would on their own. In fact, it is probably best to understand the writer's basic background before approaching the novel.
So far, I've painted a picture of a heavy, depressing read. Whilst I cannot deny that it is a heavy book dealing with a massive subject, I did not find it depressing in any way, but rather fascinating.
"The Bell Jar" is a crucial work of American literature, and is an essential purchase for any fan of Plath's work, or any fan of literature in general. Be warned, however, that it is a heavy book, particularly if you do not understand the background.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Book
American - never my favourites - vaguely interesting because of background in mental health/psychology - found it waffly, boring and difficult to follow, kept jumping backwards and... Read more
Published 14 days ago by squirrel 59
4.0 out of 5 stars
A BOOK
well its just a normal book not the best thing not not boring jus t a ok read thats it dont get suck buy all the hype that everything gets nowadays
Published 20 days ago by sbenzie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Depressing
Well written, easy to read but really depressing subject. Sylvia Plath was obviously a flawed character which explains the topic.
Published 22 days ago by E. P. Fawdry
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic
A modern classic that is exceptionally well written. The story has not dated, and is a shocking account of the treatment of mental illness.
Published 27 days ago by A Athanassouli
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is different
Following coverage on radio 4 this book sounded really different. It was easy to order as normal and arrived on time
Published 28 days ago by Alan Fellows
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful
I cannot imagine how I have not come across this wonderful 'novel' before. With the knowledge that Sylvia Plath killed herself at the age of 31 by putting her head in a gas oven -... Read more
Published 1 month ago by P. Bird
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read!
Beautiful, absolute classic! If you are very young, around 20 + something and you are worried you don't know what you want from life, you should definitely read it!
Published 1 month ago by kat
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Bell Jar- all young women should read it.
Brilliant, sparkling writing. As relevant today as then - pressures on clever, driven young women and the expectations they place on themselve.
Published 1 month ago by Joy L. Blake
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant book
I asked for The Bell Jar having read a short article in the Guardian triggerd by the 50th anniversary. Read more
Published 1 month ago by David James Jolley
3.0 out of 5 stars
Bizarre
I chose this book because its supposed tone one of the top 50 books ever written. Lots of scene setting then suddenly she goes mad. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Harris
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