The novel The Bell Jar written by Sylvia Plath is set in the 1950s America when the idea of adolescence was reasonably recent and society seemed a little uncomfortable with the idea of unrestricted individuality. Sylvia Plath explores these issues about individuality against society's expectations through the protagonist of The Bell Jar, Esther Greenwood who has an identity crisis, which leads to a mental breakdown. ... Sylvia Plath uses the motif "the bell jar" to illustrate the effect of society on Esther. ... Sylvia Plath asks us; to what extent is Esther responsible for her actions an...

• Word Count: 743
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate