3 Review(s)

The Bell Jar New ed Edition is the story of the protagonist, Esther Greenwood, who slowly falls into the folds of insanity and depression. This semi-autobiography takes readers on a journey into the life of this young, beautiful, and gifted American girl who has to fight her internal battles. As Esther gets bell jarred from all things positive, the readers experience a tale of honesty, black comedy, and shock. Summary Of The Book The Bell Jar New Edition is a story revolving around the life of Esther Greenwood, a young and talented college girl from Boston. She moves to New York for an internship with a national magazine. All her expenses are covered by the sponsors, and Esther knows that she should be enjoying herself in this new city. Yet, she feels disoriented and unhappy. She also gets the opportunity to meet Philomena Guinea, a famous novelist.  Upon her return to Boston, she finds out that she did not get accepted into a writing class she had planned to take. This means that she would have to spend her entire summer holiday at her mother’s house. Esther learns that her college boyfriend has cheated on her, and she decides not to marry him. The Bell Jar New Edition shows how the protagonist is unsure about what she wants in life, and suddenly plans on writing a novel. However, the young girl gradually starts to slide into depression. Her mother takes her to Dr. Gordon, a psychiatrist who prescribes electroconvulsion therapy for Esther. This frightens her, and she tries different ways to kill herself. Will Esther be able to come out of her depression, or will her illness take her life? As she battles with her morality, identity, independence, and sexuality, The Bell Jar New Edition shows how Esther becomes bell jarred from the rest of the world. This semi-autobiographical story was first published in 1963 under the under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas. The author committed suicide a month later. In 1967, the novel was published for the first time in Plath's own name. The Bell Jar is a sharp, stunning witty, and harrowingly honest novel. It has been translated to more than ten languages, and has been adapted into a film starring Marilyn Hassett as the protagonist. About Sylvia Plath Sylvia Plath, born in 1932, was an American poet, editor, novelist, academician, and short story writer. She majored in English from Smith College, where she later worked as an instructor. The author wrote novels, as well as poetry. Some of her poetry collections are The Colossus and Other Poems, Ariel, and Winter Trees. Her prose and novels include Letters Home: Correspondence 1950–1963, Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams: Short Stories, Prose, and Diary Excerpts, and The Magic Mirror (Plath's Smith College senior thesis). Most of her works have been published after her death. Plath was awarded a prestigious internship at Mademoiselle magazine in New York City. After graduation, she won the the Glascock Prize for Two Lovers and a Beachcomber by the Real Sea. Plath is also the first person to have been awarded the Pulitzer Prize posthumously. The author suffered from severe depression and underwent a period of psychiatric hospitalization. She committed suicide in 1963.