The Bell Jar- By Sylvia Plath

Even though the book didn’t fully engage me, I still finished it. It shows how hard life can become for someone whose dreams are ignored or not taken seriously by others, leading to mental trauma that sometimes can’t be healed. Sylvia presents this with such depth and honesty that it’s truly striking!

Let’s start with one relatable quote from the book- “I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant loosing all the rest”

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is about Esther Greenwood, a young woman who begins to struggle with her mental health. The story is set in the 1950s, a time when women faced many social expectations, which add to Esther’s feelings of being trapped and misunderstood. Although she’s given good opportunities, like a writing internship in New York, she feels empty and disconnected.

Sylvia Plath uses the image of a “bell jar” to describe Esther’s depression—like being stuck in a glass jar, where she can see the world but can’t truly connect with it. This shows the heavy, suffocating feeling of her illness.

The book explores deep topics, such as mental health, societal pressure, and the search for identity, all written in a very open and honest way. While The Bell Jar can be intense and sad, it is also a brave look at mental illness and the importance of self-acceptance.

When we look at it in professional terms, The Bell Jar relates to the professional world through themes of pressure, unfulfilled potential, and the struggle for authenticity. Just as Esther faces intense societal expectations, professionals often feel pressured to meet high standards and fit into workplace norms, which can lead to stress and burnout.

And as the ritual says, ending with a thought pondering quote- “I thought the only way to be happy was to be perfect, but now I see that perfection is a lie”

AS: Happy reading! 😀

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