'The Bell Jar' by Sylvia Plath - A Review

It's okay to not be okay.

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre - fictional autobiography, psychological fiction

Themes - mental health, women, class, freedom

Similar Books - 'The Catcher in the Rye' - J.D Salinger, 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' - Ned Vizzini

'The Bell Jar' by Sylvia Plath follows the talented and intelligent Esther Greenwood in her struggles with depression, resulting in a mental breakdown. A powerful feminist novel, Plath explores the double standards between men and women and the difficult journey of recovery from mental illness.

Sylvia Plath's writing in this novel is brilliantly done. Esther's descent into madness is mirrored in the writing as the transitions from scene to scene become more disjointed and rapid, the comparisons become slightly more obscure and her fascination with death increases. I also enjoyed Plath's characterisation of Esther Greenwood. Despite her ailing mental health condition, Esther is still a powerful female protagonist. She's determined to live life on her own terms, points out double standards between men and woman, and resists conforming to the patriarchal society or the hum-drum reality of existence for women. Plath explores through Esther the suffocating social expectations of women in the 1950s and the destructive nature of these strict rules that limit women to being a wife and mother. Esther's ambition and desire to explore the world is the greatest part of her character.

I see this comparison a lot, by 'The Bell Jar' holds a lot of resemblance to 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D Salinger. I think its the confessional type of writing which is shared between both novels which makes them so similar, both protagonists spilling their guts upon the pages. I was also reminded of Ned Vizzini's 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' when reading, and both novels can be used to study how far we've come in the understanding and treatment of mental health issues.

Overall, for its brilliant writing and moving narrative 'The Bell Jar' by Sylvia Plath gets five stars.