The Bell Jar Free Essays

Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest The bell jar and one flew over the cuckoo’s nest can be linked considerably. Both novels are set in 1950†² America post the ‘cold war’ an era where conformity and obedience is a norm and anything that impairs it isn’t seen as a benefit to society. Both novels explore themes such as paranoia, suspicion and mental health. We will write a custom essay sample on The Bell Jar or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Bell Jar has a significant opening with the first sentence that mentions the execution of the Rosenbergs â€Å"It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs† The opening immediately foreshadows the expectations that arrive in the novel in addition how society at the time behaved and based assumptions on. The fact that the sentence first opens with the description of electrocution has a major impact as the electrocution is a chilling topic that Esther has to encounter throughout the novel, as the subject of electrocution has been deliberately made important in the first chapter it reflects Esther’s severe perception of the subject its self. Furthermore in chapter 1 It is assumed that paranoia and suspicion also have an mportant role in the chapter â€Å"Goggle-eyed headlines staring up at me on every street corner† the suggestion that society segregated members for having a view point and opinion on controversial topics, and the fact members had to conform if not there will be raised issues and suspicion. In comparison the opening chapter of One flew over the cuckoos nest also starts with paranoia and suspicion â€Å"They are out there† this condemns the audience to question who and what Is out there, a ideology that 1950’s America was secluding Individuals on opinions and mental health. Both of the novels are written in first person narratives which directly parks us Into the state of mind of the characters allowing us to ponder and take upon their Imagination to perceive the world as they do such as the striking Imagery we receive. â€Å"l felt as though I were carrying that cadavers head around with me on a string, Ilke some black, noseless balloon stinking of vinegar† this Imagery puts the reader In the position that we start to realise that death Is forever following Esther and It Is a reoccurring threat to her and the Idea of her not conforming. Through her first person narrative we are able to place our self’s In her position and see the world from her eyes. In comparison to one flew over the cuckoos nest It Is also written In the first person narrative through the eyes of a mental health patient, similarly to the Bell Jar we are placed Into a mind of a patient that Isn’t condemned as ‘sane’ so therefore has a significant Impact on the questioning In what Is normal or not. The Bell Jar By rzerroukil self. Furthermore in chapter 1 it is assumed that paranoia and suspicion also have an One flew over the cuckoo’s nest also starts with paranoia and suspicion â€Å"They are out there† this condemns the audience to question who and what is out there, a ideology that 1950’s America was secluding individuals on opinions and mental health. Both of the novels are written in first person narratives which directly parks us into the state of mind of the characters allowing us to ponder and take upon their imagination to perceive the world as they do such as the striking imagery we receive. â€Å"l felt as though I were carrying that cadavers head around with me on a string, like some lack, noseless balloon stinking of vinegar† this imagery puts the reader in the position that we start to realise that death is forever following Esther and it is a reoccurring threat to her and the idea of her not conforming. Through her first person narrative we are able to place our self’s in her position and see the world from her eyes. In comparison to one flew over the cuckoo’s nest it is also written in Bell Jar we are placed into a mind of a patient that isn’t condemned as ‘sane’ so therefore has a significant impact on the questioning in what is normal or not. How to cite The Bell Jar, Papers The Bell Jar Free Essays In Sylvia Plath’s autobiographical novel The Bell Jar, the reader learns of the adventures of a young woman in a male-dominated society that will not let her achieve her true potential. Plath’s alter ego, Esther, is thus driven to a nervous breakdown and attempts suicide numerous times. In many ways, this novel is a feminist text, centered around the struggles of a young woman who cannot reach her goals in our male-dominated society. We will write a custom essay sample on The Bell Jar or any similar topic only for you Order Now People close to Esther, do not accept her talents as a poet and writer, but rather try to push her into traditionally more feminine roles. For example, Esther’s mother repeatedly tries to convince her to learn shorthand, but Esther rebels, saying â€Å"†¦ when I tried to picture myself in some job, briskly jotting down line after line of shorthand, my mind went blank. † (100) Esther, unlike many women of her time, refuses to be controlled by society’s gender-based constraints: â€Å"The last thing I wanted was infinite security and to be the place an arrow shoots off from. I wanted change and excitement and to shoot off in all directions myself, like the colored arrows from a Fourth of July rocket. † (68) The phrases â€Å"infinite security† and â€Å"the place an arrow shoots off from† come from Mrs. Willard’s description of the woman’s role in society (58). This passage directly addresses Plath’s central purpose in the novel, which is to look at the mental problems that can befall a woman with ambitions that the surrounding culture will not allow her to fulfill. This book was published in 1963, towards the beginning of the â€Å"feminist movement†; the events chronicled in this book, however, take place in 1953 (208), in a period during which women’s rights were not yet widely recognized in our society. The passage quoted above, and the emotions which it conveys, are typical of a feminist like Esther, but Esther is ahead of her time and is thus unable to express herself to society in the way she wants. In this novel, Plath shows us the ways in which women were discriminated against, through the eyes of a sensitive young artist. Through this, she conveys the important message that actions such as this are morally incorrect and can lead the victims to experience unfortunate fates such as Esther’s mental breakdown. It is important to keep such things as this in mind when reading the novel, and this feminist point of view is the central purpose of The Bell Jar. How to cite The Bell Jar, Papers