The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

First things first: where has this book been all my life? Actually, I know exactly where—it’s been sitting on my bookshelf, unread for over a year because I was too intimidated to start it. I’ll admit it, I am scared of classics. Every time I try to pick one up, I feel like I either have to push through painfully or DNF it (if classics don’t scare you, please send recommendations my way!).

But The Bell Jar was a completely different experience. I’d read reviews warning that the writing was pretentious or packed with complex vocabulary, but I didn’t find that to be true at all. Sylvia Plath's writing felt clear, beautiful, and incredibly moving, delivering her message effortlessly.

After finishing this book, I immediately hopped onto Goodreads to give it a 5/5. I can’t believe I gave Bright Young Woman by Jessica Knoll a 4.5 ,because after experiencing the masterpiece that is The Bell Jar, my standards for books have definitely risen!

I’ll do my best to give you a quick, spoiler-free summary of The Bell Jar. The novel follows Esther Greenwood, an aspiring writer who earns an internship in New York City. During her time there, a series of events lead her to question her identity and role as a woman. She wonders if it’s possible to pursue a career and still lead a traditional life as a wife and mother. Esther also begins to feel the weight of societal expectations on women—around sexuality, career, lifestyle, and more. These existential doubts begin to spiral, and eventually, Esther finds herself battling severe depression.

This book explores some very dark and sensitive themes, so it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. But with the right mindset, I think it’s a beautiful read and a powerful way to explore these topics.

Now here come the Spoilers so if you still haven’t read this book I recommend clicking away:

Right from the start, I related to Esther’s doubts about what it means to be a woman. Why do we put these expectations on ourselves? Why do we feel like we have to choose one path over another? Women are still so often pushed to pick between a successful career or a traditional life as a wife and mother—it’s rare that both are encouraged in the same way they are for men.

What really got me, though, was that even though The Bell Jar was written back in the 1950s-60s, so many of these ideas still feel relevant. It’s frustrating that some of the same expectations Esther struggled with still exist today.

But as the story progressed, I saw Esther’s doubts and insecurities start to consume her, spiraling into severe depression. Another major turning point came when Buddy Willard revealed he wasn’t a virgin. This upset her—not because he’d been with someone else, but because it highlighted the double standard. Women were expected to remain 'pure' for their future spouses, while men were free to do as they pleased. Esther was struck by how unfairly these standards were applied, and it only deepened her feelings of isolation.

Everything took a turn for the worse when Esther returned home to Massachusetts. Her depression deepened, eventually leading to what seemed like a psychotic break. She spent 21 days without sleeping, reading, or eating. Not being able to read was especially painful for her, as she had always been passionate about reading and writing, dreaming of becoming a writer herself. She began seeing a psychiatrist and underwent shock treatment, but the treatment was poorly administered and only intensified her despair. Instead of helping, it left her feeling more hopeless, ultimately leading her to attempt suicide.

After her suicide attempt, a woman named Philomena Guinea, who had read about Esther’s story in the newspaper, decided to pay for her to go to a prestigious asylum for treatment. In this part of the book, we see Esther receiving insulin injections, and later in her stay, she undergoes more shock treatments, even though she is strongly opposed to them. At this stage of the story, readers begin to question whether it’s truly beneficial for Esther to have the money and privilege that allow her access to this asylum. Since we can clearly see that she is being treated for her symptoms, but not her illness. We can see that she is not given the tools by her doctors to be self-sufficient, her treatments are making her dependent of her doctors. Instead of empowering her, the treatments make her more reliant on her doctors, which raises questions about the overall effectiveness of her care and the nature of mental health treatment during that time.

As the book progresses, it really becomes apparent that Esther’s strugglers aren’t just about her mental health- they’re also a sharp look at the pressures women face in society. Plath does an amazing job of showing how complicated female identity can be, especially with all those expectations weighing us down.

In the end, The Bell Jar isn’t just a heavy read about despair; it’s also about resilience, finding yourself, and the path to healing. It’s a tough journey, but it’s definitely one worth taking. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend you dive in. Just be ready for some tough moments, but trust me, it’s a journey that will stick with you.

Please don’t be like me and read The Bell Jar, don’t let it scare you! You will thank me after!