Past Reads 📚☕
An archive of completed books & full reviews. Click any cover to open its review!
The Bell Jar
★★★★☆
An archive of completed books & full reviews. Click any cover to open its review!
Author: Sylvia Plath
I just finished The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, and despite going in with some heavy reservations, I’m really glad I read it.
I was cautious at first because I’d heard about the casual racism in the book. The outdated slurs and offensive comparisons are definitely there—woven into Esther’s internal self-hatred—and while I don’t excuse Plath’s prejudices, it wasn't the focal point of the story. Esther isn't a protagonist I’d be friends with, but a main character doesn't have to be likable for a book to be great.
Contrary to reviews saying she spirals out of nowhere, I felt Esther was depressed from page one; failing to get into the summer program was just the moment she couldn't ignore her illness anymore. Plath’s graphic portrayal of suicide ideation and the eye-opening look at 1950s mental health care were heavy, along with the intense societal pressures on women back then around sex, marriage, and religion.
Knowing Plath’s real-life fate makes the hopeful, "to be continued" ending hit even harder—it leaves you wishing we could have seen a part two. With the upcoming movie adaptation starring Billie Eilish, I’m curious to see how they handle such dark, complex material and the era's slurs.
A heavy but brilliant read. 4/5 stars.