The Bell Jar

i understand certain aspects of this book aren’t for everyone, Esther, as a main character is incredibly whiny and judgmental, but I think there’s some historical context is important to think about in retrospect to what she wanted out of life and how it felt inaccessible to her (not talking about her racism in the story). Esther experienced a lot of similar things I did when I started to come to the end of college that made me feel purposeless, and the story in that aspect made me feel seen. she doesn’t wanna get married. She doesn’t wanna have children and in that era that’s basically all women were for. I think she continuously battles with that. I genuinely believe that things only got as bad as they did because of the fact she experienced that electro shock therapy. it changed her fundamentally as a person it muted her, subdued her and that was her greatest battle. she went to only two appointments with psychotherapist, and he immediately recommended shock treatment. because it’s so odd and uncomfortable that a woman might feel an emotion other than nothing.

I think the best part of this book is probably the final chapter. It felt so impactful for me. I also feel so sad for Sylvia Plath just knowing that this book feels like a diary. It feels like a genuine reflection of herself, her life events, and the things she experienced.