While I was reading The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath, I oscillated constantly between feeling as if the main character was actually describing what goes on in my head, and feeling completely alienated from this unfortunate individual named Esther. Her struggle with depression and suicide is something that everyone can relate to on some level - the ennui, the fatigue, the self-destructive urges - and yet is too profoundly disturbed for a happy, mentally healthy person to fully comprehend.
Esther is a fascinating girl, who sees flaws in society as clearly as she sees flaws in herself. Throughout her struggle, she studies books on psychology and identifies with hopeless cases she reads about. Her courage carries over into her evaluations of feminism, old-fashioned views on male and female roles, and mysogynism. Her thoughts reflect Plath's political views to some degree, but the book isn't exactly feminist propaganda.
As well as issues of feminism, this book reflects psychiatric technology and techniques of the day. Published in 1971, and based on a slightly earlier time period, the Esther's experiences with electric-shock therapy, multiple psychiatrists, and various mental institutions are all fascinating depictions of how mental illness was dealt with in the twentieth century.
The Bell Jar is not a cheery read, but as someone who is fascinated by both history and mental illness, I loved it. Esther and her story are not easily forgotten, and Sylvia Plath's writing makes The Bell Jar a valuable piece of modern literature.
sylvia plath? what a perfect time of life to encounter her. i used to like her but these days not so much - i prefer anne sexton by far tho that's purely at a personal level. there's a false opposition i find commonly set up by plathophiles which is shame as it doesn't reflect the reality of their interactions.
ReplyDeletein the meantime sylvia the movie is worth a watch. some people don't like it, i did!
alternatively have a browse here
http://www.iun.edu/~plath/vol3/index.shtml
or check this out
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5753
or this
http://poetsattheasylum.blogspot.com/2009/11/mclean-hospital-poetry-on-psychiatric.html
there's a book about mclean, maybe by alex beam, which i haven't read but always meant to
i havent read anything by anne sexton, i'll definitely do that! and ill look up the book by alex beam - maybe i'll read & review it! thanks for the recommendations!
ReplyDelete