1
An Exploration of Criticism of Gender
Inequality in The Bell Jar
Research Question: How does Plath use Esther's rejection of
patriarchal beliefs, in the novel The Bell Jar, as a motive to
criticize gender inequality in the American culture of the 1950s?
Subject: Language and literature
Personal Code:
Category: 1
Word Count: 3946
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Table of Contents
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………….3
Literary Analysis…………………………………………………………………………....4
- Part 1: Rejection of Marriage and its responsibility…………………………...4
● 1.1: Ambitions for Poetry…………………………………………………..5
● 1.2: Hatred Towards Child Bearing in Marriage……………………….7
● 1.3: Pre-Matrimony Virginity………………………………………………9
- Part 2: Rejection of Female Identity…………………………………………….10
● 2.1: Mrs. Greenwood………………………………………………………11
● 2.2: Mrs. Willard…………………………………………………………...12
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………….14
Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………….16
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Introduction
The plight of women's rights has often been an essential discussion in past or current
literature. Feminist literature often serves as an outlet for many to provide criticism towards
gender inequality as a political act to enact change. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is a fictional
autobiography that confronts gender inequality regarding unbalanced power, sexual double
standard, the pursuit of individualism, the search for self-hood, and the demands of nurturing.
The Bell Jar, set in 1953, follows nineteen-year-old Esther Greenwood, a college student from
Massachusetts, selected for a month-long course in New York City at the Ladies’ Day magazine.
Esther describes that her time in New York city leaves her “very still and very empty” (p. 3) due
to identity struggles. Continuing onwards, Esther leaves NYC to spend summer with her mother
after being denied from a writing class and attempted rape. During her summer with her
mother, Esther is diagnosed with Psychotic Depression and chooses to end her life by
overdosing on sleeping pills. Esther survives her suicide attempt and seeks electric-shock
therapy to find her identity as a woman.
In The Bell Jar, Plath commonly uses rejection of patriarchal beliefs, integrated as a trait
in Esther’s character, as a means to criticize gender inequality. This essay explores, analyzes, and
evaluates how Plath uses the theme of rejection as a means to criticize gender inequality. This
raises the question: How does Plath use Esther's rejection of patriarchal beliefs, in the novel
The Bell Jar, as a motive to criticize gender inequality in the American culture of the 1950s?
Additionally, the overarching theme of rejection is explored through Esther’s rejection of
marriage, and rejection of female identity in The Bell Jar.
An Exploration of Criticism of Gender
Inequality in The Bell Jar
Research Question: How does Plath use Esther's rejection of
patriarchal beliefs, in the novel The Bell Jar, as a motive to
criticize gender inequality in the American culture of the 1950s?
Subject: Language and literature
Personal Code:
Category: 1
Word Count: 3946
, 2
Table of Contents
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………….3
Literary Analysis…………………………………………………………………………....4
- Part 1: Rejection of Marriage and its responsibility…………………………...4
● 1.1: Ambitions for Poetry…………………………………………………..5
● 1.2: Hatred Towards Child Bearing in Marriage……………………….7
● 1.3: Pre-Matrimony Virginity………………………………………………9
- Part 2: Rejection of Female Identity…………………………………………….10
● 2.1: Mrs. Greenwood………………………………………………………11
● 2.2: Mrs. Willard…………………………………………………………...12
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………….14
Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………….16
, 3
Introduction
The plight of women's rights has often been an essential discussion in past or current
literature. Feminist literature often serves as an outlet for many to provide criticism towards
gender inequality as a political act to enact change. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is a fictional
autobiography that confronts gender inequality regarding unbalanced power, sexual double
standard, the pursuit of individualism, the search for self-hood, and the demands of nurturing.
The Bell Jar, set in 1953, follows nineteen-year-old Esther Greenwood, a college student from
Massachusetts, selected for a month-long course in New York City at the Ladies’ Day magazine.
Esther describes that her time in New York city leaves her “very still and very empty” (p. 3) due
to identity struggles. Continuing onwards, Esther leaves NYC to spend summer with her mother
after being denied from a writing class and attempted rape. During her summer with her
mother, Esther is diagnosed with Psychotic Depression and chooses to end her life by
overdosing on sleeping pills. Esther survives her suicide attempt and seeks electric-shock
therapy to find her identity as a woman.
In The Bell Jar, Plath commonly uses rejection of patriarchal beliefs, integrated as a trait
in Esther’s character, as a means to criticize gender inequality. This essay explores, analyzes, and
evaluates how Plath uses the theme of rejection as a means to criticize gender inequality. This
raises the question: How does Plath use Esther's rejection of patriarchal beliefs, in the novel
The Bell Jar, as a motive to criticize gender inequality in the American culture of the 1950s?
Additionally, the overarching theme of rejection is explored through Esther’s rejection of
marriage, and rejection of female identity in The Bell Jar.
