The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath

The character we are taken with from the outset is a 19 year old woman, we later find out her name to be Esther Greenwood, who has won a scholarship. At the beginning of the novel, we discover that she is disturbed by electrocutions; this is enforced as she reads in the paper about someone being electrocuted. The reason for this being in the novel becomes apparent later. Her discomfort caused by electric punishments seems to quickly pass as we meet Doreen, and Betsy – more young women who have won scholarships to the college. Esther chose to go with Doreen who seemed to lead her astray, although she didn’t need much persuasion. The two are on their way to a college party with the rest of the girls following in a different cab, but Doreen and Esther decide on the way that going to a bar with some random men would be more fun. They ended up back at one of the men’s apartments, named Lenny Shepherd, and he takes to Doreen. Esther soon feels like a s...