Astrid Winterstein’s Reviews > The Bell Jar > Status Update
Astrid Winterstein
is finished
Bad dreams seemed to be the main theme of the last section of The Bell Jar. Esther, in her eternal, tortured inner monologue, as well as her mother seemed to view the entire book as a bad dream, and it appeared in a similar way to the reader. The whole book seemed dreamlike, with Joan's suicide being cut off, like a dream you can't go back to. It does reflect Sylvia Plath's own life, and a dream is how her life felt.
— Sep 29, 2025 12:44PM
Like flag
Astrid’s Previous Updates
Astrid Winterstein
is on page 210 of 288
After attempting suicide, Esther is moved to a hospital, then an asylum. While there, she is determined to prove that she is not as crazy as the other people, and, it seems, succeeds in it. I think that Esther may be an unreliable narrator because everyone else grows more wary of her, though she says she's getting better. This section was also when we were introduced to "the bell jar."
— Sep 24, 2025 07:18AM
Astrid Winterstein
is on page 185 of 288
The past 50 pages have been the first introduction the reader had to Esther's descent into insanity. She attempted suicide multiple times, but each time, she was unsuccessful. In her account, she wants to die more than anything else, but I wonder if she truly doesn't. She is written as an unreliable narrator, so I think that deep down, her subconscious wants her to stay alive.
— Sep 15, 2025 12:44PM
Astrid Winterstein
is on page 131 of 288
The majority of the book that I read today seemed to be a discussion on the difference between how society views men's and women's sexual lives. Esther was nearly coerced into into having sex with her boyfriend, and was later sexually assaulted by a different man. While her experience with her boyfriend was vastly better, Esther came to the conclusion that she should never marry to avoid commentary on her "pureness."
— Sep 08, 2025 12:44PM
Astrid Winterstein
is on page 80 of 288
So far, Esther Greenwood is at her peak; going to events in the city, detailing her academic accomplishments, etc., but I get the feeling that I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop because the high can’t last forever. The narrative is also very interesting as I feel like I’m looking into her actual thoughts, not just a story of her experiences in the city.
— Aug 25, 2025 12:32PM
