The Bell Jar: first thoughts

[Kathy]

I haven't read this book since the first time I was in college, which was about 30 years ago. I have started reading it & haven't slit my wrists yet.

I am wondering if Esther Greenwood is going to be someone I can relate to or will I get the same sick feeling I get when I watch Madmen.

I wonder what themes will be universal. I wonder what things that meant a lot to me when I was 20 will mean little to me now, and what new things will I take away.

I am going on a parish family retreat this weekend. I will be reading, but I won't post until Sunday. Have a great weekend!

[Barbara]

Hi Kathy and Satia,

I think I'm the only person in the universe who has NOT watched Mad Men!!! So many of my friends love it, but I'm not much of a "television person" so I just have not had the chance to check it out.

I'm still dealing with these horrible constant headaches, so it's been taking me forever to read. But The Bell Jar would probably fall into the "top ten" list of books that effected (or affected???) me the most when I read it in high school. I haven't read it since, so I think it will be VERY interesting to see what I think of it now.

My plan is to get over to Barnes & Noble this weekend, and if I do NOT make it there by Sunday night I will order a copy through Amazon.

I'm looking forward to discussing The Bell Jar with the two of you, and hopefully Anda and Serena and the rest of the group!!!

[Barbara]

I haven't been on Goodreads in a while. Just a lot of work over the past week or so, and I'm also dealing with some health issues.

Kathy and Satia, have you been reading The Bell Jar???

[Kathy]

I've finished it, but I don't really know how to discuss things. I'd like to take initiative, but I'm not sure what to do. Oh well, I'll take a stab at it.

[SheriC]

I hope it's not too late for discussion, since we've moved on to June, but I'm only a little more than half way through The Bell Jar and would like to share my thoughts. Unlike most (all?) of you, this is my first experience with this book, so my thoughts are more centered on the Esther's story and character.

I'm finding it hard to separate my feelings about the Esther from my knowledge that most of what I dislike about her is caused by her mental illness. It's apparent by the time she leaves New York that the detachment, self-absorption, and lack of empathy we see at the beginning of the novel are symptoms of profound depression, but I do wish we had a chance to know the real Esther. Assuming that there was at some point a healthy Esther who hadn't had all her joy stolen by disease.

[Kathy]

Sheri wrote: "I hope it's not too late for discussion, since we've moved on to June, but I'm only a little more than half way through The Bell Jar and would like to share my thoughts. Unlike most (all?) of you, ..."

Sheri, it is interesting that you say her detachment, etc are symptoms of profound depression. I think you are right that it might have helped to "see" her before her depression set in to see if she was an empathetic, caring person. I am afraid I didn't see the detachment, self-absorbtion, and lack of empathy as unusual in a young person. Although I know many many empathetic and caring young people, self-absorbed seems normal. Is that a media thing?
And I think it reflects my culture that most people I know who have gone to NY to make it big in whatever they do are pretty shallow and self-centered. I know that's not fair, I'm trying to be open, even if it isn't pretty. Again, I think that may be something I got in my head at some point and now think is true. Hmmm.
(view spoiler)[But I did notice she originally cared about her friend who ran off with the man (I don't remember her name), and was mildly surprised that she just sort of dropped her. And she doesn't seem to care about any of the other girls at all. (hide spoiler)]

[Tamara]

When I first read this in my teens, I remember being able to identify with the strength of the character's imagination. The difference between us was that I knew the difference between imagination & reality; I just preferred my imagination. As a card-carrying introvert my entire life, I identified with her inability to connect with others appropriately. For me, it was a very powerful, and oddly uplifting, book.

[Kathy]

Okie wrote: "When I first read this in my teens, I remember being able to identify with the strength of the character's imagination. The difference between us was that I knew the difference between imagination ..."

I can see what you mean. If you take the book on its own, without thinking about Sylvia Plath's suicide, it is uplifting. At least to me.
I seem to be finding a lot about redemption in my life these days. I'm sure it means something.

[SheriC]

***spoiler alert*** Sorry I don't know how to hide the text!
Kathy wrote: "I am afraid I didn't see the detachment, self-absorbtion, and lack of empathy as unusual in a young person... most people I know who have gone to NY to make it big in whatever they do are pretty shallow and self-centered."

I understand what you mean. I think of it as an "artistic temperament". But Esther's complete lack of empathy, her inability to connect on a basic human level with others seems more than a mundane sort of selfishness. It's not until the very last chapter that we see her exhibit some sense of responsibility for how her behavior may affect others - when she's able to identify with Buddy's concern that he may have somehow caused Joan's death and is able to offer him comfort. Until that moment, she might as well have been a sociopath.

I've spent some time under the bell jar, myself, so perhaps I looked for myself in Esther's experiences. The metaphor is remarkably apt, because I remember the sense of isolation, the detachment, and the sense of life swirling about, but not touching, me. So I interpreted Esther's detachment and self-absorption as symptoms of her illness rather than as character flaws, but I couldn't understand her having no sense of responsibility toward others. Even if she was unable to respond to people and situations normally, she should have been aware of what was missing. With Doreen, with her mother, with her patron, etc.