For this week, we’re starting to read Sylvia Plath’s novel, The Bell Jar. I’ve assigned Chapters 1-10. Please try to get through as much of that reading as you can. We’ll begin our discussion of the novel by examining the first few paragraphs very closely, so you should read with pencil in hand and mark up your text with as much information you can get from reading. Include definitions to words you needed to look up, observations you make, connections to other readings, or other aspects of the text you think are important. We’ll then continue our conversation beyond the first chapter as time permits.
I mentioned in my announcement post that you’ll write comments instead of posts this week. Write a comment–roughly 150-200 words–in which you consider one of the following issues related to The Bell Jar:
* Think about the style of narration. What kind of narrator does the novel have, and how does that shape what you know about the protagonist?
* What do you know about the setting? Remember, setting is time and place. How does the setting shape your understanding of the protagonist?
* We spoke about round and flat characters at the start of the semester. Identify a round or a flat character and consider what role he or she plays in the story.
* In what ways is the protagonist of The Bell Jar like Helga Crane in Quicksand? What does that comparison do for your understanding of the protagonist?
* In what ways is the protagonist of The Bell Jar like another character we encountered this semester. What does that comparison do for your understanding of the protagonist?
Then comment on one other comment, roughly 100-150 words.
Two flat characters that are connected to Esther are Doreen and Betsy. They both represent parts of Esther and have some kind of effect of decisions she makes. Betsy is the innocent friend who does the right thing and goes to places that she supposed to be. She represents the side of Esther that wants to do what is expected of her. Doreen, however, represents the side of Esther that wants to be free and wild, and do things on her own. Doreen is a wild child that is quick to do her own plans, because she feels she’ll have a better time. These characters are complete opposites, yet are a reflection of the main character. They reveal an issue that Esther faces, which is the choosing to do what’s expected or doing her own thing.
I agree completed with your response. I think because Betsy and Doreen are complete opposite, they both represent the traits that make up Esther. I believe Esther envies Doreen more so because Doreen represents a rebellion against societies fixed ideas. Because Doreen is outspoken and Betsy is not, Esther relates more to Doreen because she can show her new and fun advantages.
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The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is told in the first person point of view by the protagonist of the story “Esther Greenwood.” I felt as if I was reading her head, hearing all her thoughts, seeing everything that she sees and feeling every single thrill of fear, disgust, delight and shock. The novel has a smooth flow even though we don’t get the story in chronological order, making it sometimes hard to situate the order of events. The novel is written using a series of flashbacks that show up parts of Esther’s past. When she returns to talk about the present, it isn’t always clearly defined in the story which creates foggy sense of what is real and what is not real. Because of Esther’s uncertainty and lack of confidence, we may sense that depending on her mental condition variety of points of view are given. Also, the events are narrated from the perspective of an older Esther, at some point after the events described in the novel. So the events can be taken as the memories of a biased and possibly unreliable narrator.
The flat characters help us understand the protagonist by both reflecting aspects of her personality and providing a basis for her judgment. What do we think of Esther when she comments on her friends or magazine group?
The way the story unfolds is certainly complicated. When are we at the present time for the narrator, and what is the sequence of all of the events told in flashback? That is, what would a timeline for the narrative be? We should be sure we agree on the sequence of major events. How does the use of time in The Bell Jar compare to the use of time in Quicksand?
Esther who is the protagonist of the story is similar to Helga Crane in “Quicksand.” Helga in “Quicksand ” had a hard time deciding what race suits her the best . She couldn’t decide if she wanted to be looked upon as a white women or a black women. Like Helga Esther also battles with acceptance from society. She battles with what society expects her to behave has and what she actually wants to do. This is shown as she states ” I wondered why I couldn’t go the whole way doing what I should any more.This made me sad and tired. Then I wondered why I couldn’t go the whole way doing what I shouldn’t, the way Doreen did.” She feels she can’t be the same student that receive a scholarship or a care free rebel like her friend Doreen.
Esther Greenwood, the protagonist in The Bell Jar by Silvia Plath is very similar to the protagonist, Helga Crane, in Quicksand by Nella Larsen. Although their circumstances are very different, their similarities are seen mostly in their attitudes and self-perceptions. Both Esther and Helga are working in very decent fields and positions. It is also known that they have jobs that they had been working hard to get. After a while, they both start to feel discontent in their current careers and surroundings. They feel that they somehow do not “fit” in with where they are or with anyone around them. Their immediate similarities help me to know how the rest of the novel will play out. It seems that Esther is in for a lot of dissappointment that will partly be her fault. This is because she cannot be content in just any situation; It has to be perfect or nothing. She will be chasing a dream that will be incredibly difficult to achieve for whatever reason. It is especially noticeable that she will also be following her own rules instead of willingly giving in to others.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, is being told by the protagonist of the novel, Esther Greenwood. The novel is being narrated in forms of flashbacks by which the narrator is recollecting. Esther is similar to Helga from Quicksand, because they both feel like they do not belong. Esther feels like she is not happy socially and the position she is in, and Helga is contemplating on her identity regarding her race. Esther is feeling depressed, but she understand why because the other women, would kill to be in the position she is in her career. As the protagonist, she is indecisive about marriage because, it will stop her from being in her career as an editor, even though she wants both marriage and her career.
The Bell Jar has a different type of story telling. The story is told in flashbacks, which helps us understand how Esther came to where she is today. Doreen and Betsy are Esther’s two friends and they are two very opposite people. Esther gets some of her decision making from them. Doreen is more of a free spirit, whereas Betsy is more of a grounded person. When you combine both of these characters you have Esther. The story takes place in the early 50s in New York City. We can tell that the city is taking a toll on Esther. Jay Cee even notices it and says “Don’t let the grind of the city get you down.” Helga Crane and Esther are both similar because they are both depressed.
Yes, I agree that Helga Crane from Quicksand, and Esther from The Bell Jar are similar in that they are both depressed. Nothing seems to be good enough for either of them. Esther seems to be confused about who or what she wants to be at times, and other times is so very sure. This I feel can also be in comparison with Helga from Quicksand . Race is an issue, “New York” in the early 1900’s, Esther Greenwood can definitely be compared in character to Helga Crane.
The Bell Jar is starting out interestingly. The protagonist of the Story , Esther is telling the story in first person narration. It is a little easier to understand how the protagonist is at the place she is now, because of her constant recollection. Esther in The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, seems to be a round character. She is complex and steadily developing. Esther as the main character of the story seems to be constantly analyzing the others around her. Though she is very critical of everyone else, including Doreen and Betsy, who seem to be more flat characters, there is something that Esther is taking in from those in which she is so critical of. The fact that it is she who is telling the story, could be an addition to Esther being a Round Character. Esther is able to express her complexities, feelings, and character development better as the protagonist.
The book, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is narrated in a first person point of view of Esther Greenwood who is also the protagonist of the story. She recollects her thoughts from the past and it seems as though she is telling her story of what happened in a series of events (not in a specific order) that leads up to her present situation. She explains her thoughts actions very specifically, also describes the many people she encounters. She is the kind of character that thinks too much but acts too little. She is filled with thoughts of what she could do, and it is very clear that she is not content with her situation. She doesn’t want to settle for a mediocre life however she does because that is what is expected of her and she slowly goes crazy.
Esther Greenwood is the protagonist in the story “The Bell Jar”. I think Esther is a round character because it’s being narrated from her, also because we get to read and understand her descriptive thoughts, feelings and issues. Although Helga crane from the story “Quicksand” may have different issues in her life, she reminds me of Esther for many reasons. One, mainly because Esther seemed to be confused of what she wanted at times, also because she was really sad and depressed. She also reminded me of Helga because of her lack of ability to make up her mind and always trying to fit into society. Esther also had the same issue as Helga, dealing with the battle of their career positions.
Esther Greenwood and Helga Crane are actually very similar in the way that they are having a difficult time in identify themselves as an individual. It seems like they both go through a depressing stage where they realize that they are actually unhappy with their life. They do believe that even though they have it all something is missing which causes unhappiness. They are similar because they both talk about babies. Although Helga Crane actually gives birth five children, Esther realize that by having kids it will interrupt her career in which she is not ready to let go off. They both have issues into fitting into society, Helga because of her race and Esther because of her lack in confidence. Esther feels as she wants to be more like her friends where they actually are risk takers and rebellious . At the end they both go through a stage of darkness.