To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, we’ve recruited five reading groups to share their thoughts about the book. Here, some readers share their views on the book.
Marilyn Bedford: I found this is a powerful and uncomfortable novel to read as it felt as if I was intruding in Plath’s psyche at a very painful time for her. Although written as a novel it is apparent that most if not all was based on her experience. Following a breakdown myself some 30 years ago it stirred feelings that I thought were long gone and her use of the bell jar imagery took my breath away and made me unable to go on reading at that time as I described the way I felt by saying that I felt as if I was living in a glass dome, separated from normal life by an invisible barrier. I loved her supporting characters and wonder whether they were drawn from actual people especially her long suffering mother who did her utmost to help her child although unable to understand the nature of her depression. It was interesting to compare the treatment and understanding of depression of 50 years ago to the more compassionate treatments and acceptance today.
Wendy Hollis The Bell Jar is a classic novel of the decline into mental illness of Esther Greenwood, reflecting events in the life of its author Sylvia Plath.
Set in the early 1950’s when Esther is 19 and has been offered a month in New York working as a guest editor on a magazine. Esther feels unable to conform to others expectations of her. She at times appears determined and strong and at other times, weak and vulnerable. There are vivid descriptions of her electro-therapy treatment and her attempted suicide with her mothers dressing gown cord. Gradually Plath takes the reader through the depression, breakdown and treatment of Esther.
With its subtle humour throughout, it is an emotive and thought provoking read.
Joanna Vavasour On first reading it my initial reaction was to think that it had absolutely no relevance to me whatsoever; my will to live is so strong that I would do anything to stay alive and watch my children grow up. I then spoke to my two daughters and read some online comments from young women and it started to dawn on me that I was kidding myself. Thinking hard I could remember when I hadn’t been surrounded by people needing me as I am now and how lonely I used to get.
When you are young as she was in the book its so easy to feel disconnected; everyone else seems to have their part nailed except you.
