In Search of Self: Esther Greenwood in Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar

• Main Author: 陳郁婷
• Other Authors: 朱雯娟
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/17380283813083930913

碩士 === 高雄師範大學 === 英語學系 === 98 === Abstract The thesis aims to explore Sylvia Plath’s only autobiographical novel The Bell Jar by applying the theory of life writing. Particularly, in Lauren Rusk’s perspective, she points out three basic views of narrating life experience: unique, collective, and inclusive. I use the aspects to analyze the function of life writing in The Bell Jar. Chapter One mainly focuses on introducing Sylvia Plath’s whole life and the content of The Bell Jar. The discussion in Chapter Two is chiefly about Esther, the protagonist in The Bell Jar who is forced to confront the predicament as being a female in fifties. In Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique, she mentions the housewives in fifties are nameless and they should completely devote themselves to domestic chores. Namely, they are selfless creatures. The double standard between men and women also builds a great influence in the discussion of psychoanalytic feminism. Women feel more pathetic and miserable under the pressure of unequal treatment. However, Esther rejects to be a traditional woman so she may encounter some difficulties and struggles as a result. It is true that she has mental disorder. In The Madwoman in the Attic, Sandra M. Gilbert and Susan Gubar explicitly illustrate the derivation of madwomen. In other words, women usually present insane images as a way to rebel against the patriarchal institution. In Chapter Three, my analysis goes to explore Esther’s psychic affection with her parents. Both Esther and Plath have the problem of Electra complex. I examine her ambivalent complex by applying Sigmund Freud, Jacques Lacan, and Karen Horney’s point of view. More specifically, Esther worships and admires the image of father figures. On the contrary, she abhors the mother figures. In The Bell Jar, the decision of admitting her hatred toward mother becomes Esther’s final rebirth. In Chapter Four, I mention the value and necessity of life writing in Sylvia Plath. Plath uses Esther as her surrogate to talk about her own story and, at the same time, the image of her multiple personality shows up. Plath struggles with two selves; one is hidden in the deepest mind and the other presents with a public mask. Plath also has the inclination of schizophrenia which will be discussed in terms of R.D. Laing’s theory one can realize the schizophrenia’s psychic condition and activity. Her strategy is to divide herself into several alternatives to fulfill her own imagination. In the meantime, by the function of splitting herself, she can also erase her dread of insecurity and instability. Wearing various masks is her ultimate defense toward the outward world. Life writing becomes her one and only solution to liberate her repressed self. Chapter Five is my conclusion. It is clear to see that Plath needs to liberate herself and release her burden by writing life experiences. Plath shares her life experiences for other miserable women and they can get resonance from her own similar tragedy. Esther plays as Plath’s weapon to express her anger and anguish toward the patriarchal society. Esther also voices Plath’s personal struggle in familial relationship. Being a female writer, having an ambivalent complex with parents, and suffering from mental sickness are Plath’s valuable landscapes during her life journey. She needs to record all of these events in her life writing. Only through life writing, Plath can search for her true identity and have a way to approach her real self.