The bell Jar

The Bell Jar is Sylvia Plath's only novel, originally published in 1963 under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas. It follows Esther Greenwood, a bright and ambitious young woman who wins an internship at a prestigious fashion magazine in New York City. Although she begins with excitement and high hopes, her mental health begins to deteriorate as she feels increasingly alienated and disillusioned with the roles society expects her to play. The novel intimately explores Esther’s descent into depression and her time in psychiatric care. Drawing heavily from Plath’s own life, The Bell Jar is a poignant, semi-autobiographical exploration of identity, mental illness, and the pressures placed on women in the 1950s.