We'll be focusing on the theme of doubles on Tuesday, both in terms of the Esther's internal doubling and the external doubles available to her as a cold war woman. Apropos of our most recent discussion, consider how the gendered double standards of American middle-class society at this time of bipolar world politics might be as responsible for Esther's psychic split as her own psychological make-up.
We learn that Philomena Guinea helps move Esther to a more expensive institution, in addition to learning that Philomena Guinea had also been in an asylum at the "height" of her career. Does it seem like there are expectations being put on Esther? Is this partly what is affecting her psyche? Her mother seems to have expectations for her to get better as well, how does Esther deal with this?
ReplyDeleteIn the past couple chapters, when Esther contemplates suicide, she admits that even when the perfect opportunity presents itself, she “would have made no move to jump.” In her exchange with Cal, he tells her he would prefer killing himself with a gun. Esther refers to this as the way a “man [would] do it.” Is her obsession with masculinity the reason why Esther turns to more passive and romantic methods of suicide such as drowning or overdosing? Alternatively, do her methods suggest that she really does not want to die, or rather, show the same indecision she describes in her allegory of the fig tree?
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 12 after Esther's first shock therapy treatment she sits in a park and compares herself to a picture of a dead starlet whose eyes she believes would have the same “dead, black, vacant expression” as her own if open. What is the significance of this association? Why does she choose this person to compare herself to? What does this association have to do with Esther planning her suicide, a suicide that appears to be intended to kill her soul and not her body?
ReplyDeleteEther contemplates many methods of suicide but can't bring herself to do it or is physically unable to do it. In what ways does this show the splitting of her personality?
ReplyDeleteWhen Esther’s mom states, "I knew you'd decide to be all right again," what does she mean by that? Does she think that Esther’s condition is healed from one shock treatment? Furthermore, does it hint that Esther’s mother sees Esther’s condition more as a rebellion rather than an actual disorder?
ReplyDeleteAlso, in Chapter 13, Esther mentions Catholicism and how she was considering joining the Catholic Church. What, if any importance does religion have in this novel and what correlation does it have with her father? Furthermore, why does Esther’s mother smile as opposed to cry during her husband’s funeral?
Esther seems to think that if she were to leave her hometown and Boston then she would be free from the bell jar. When she is talking to the prison guard, she fantasizes about how if she had grown up in this little town she might have been married to him and had children already, and would have a nice simple life. What does Esther's fantasies about different cities reveal about her psychological state? How does this emphasize the duality of her personality at this point in the novel?
ReplyDeleteEsther first mentions the bell jar in chapter 15, which is also the title of the book. What is the significance of the bell jar? Why does Esther seem not able to go out into the "blue sky," and instead is "sitting under the same glass bell jar," not able to do anything? Why did the author choose the Bell Jar as the title of the book?
ReplyDelete5 different times Ester thinks about committing suicide. Twice by cutting her wrists another time by drowning with the rising of the tide. She tries to drown herself by swimming until she tires and tries to over does on sleeping pills. However, each time she doesn't succeed. What is the relationship between her suicidal thoughts and her past relationships with men? Does Esther actually want to commit suicide or is it all an act to mentally cope with the emptiness in her life?
ReplyDeleteAfter surviving her most recent suicide attempt, Esther shows contempt toward nurses and hospital workers. She breaks the mirror, knocks over the thermometers on purpose, and is just plain rude. This is quite different to how she acted before the suicide attempt. Previously, she kind of floated through life, not showing any real emotion of any kind toward others. The fact that she is now showing some emotion, albeit negative emotion, is a noteworthy change in her personality. How will this new personality affect how Esther interacts with others throughout the rest of the story?
ReplyDeleteWhy does Esther not attempt suicide by jumping off a building? Is she afraid of actually succeeding?
ReplyDeleteWhile this is example is not an example of a double with a person, in chapter 15, Ester says, "I had my own room again. It reminded me of the room in Doctor Gordon's hospital -- a bed, a bureau, a closet, a table and chair." It seems that wherever Ester goes, she is unable to shed unpleasant memories, just like she had the problem with seeing floating cadavers and other instances in the beginning of the novel. Why is this such an important characteristic to the development of the novel and to Ester herself?
ReplyDeleteWhen Joan shows up at the asylum, Esther seems to have suspicions about why she is there and if she if just there to mess with her. What does this idea show about her relationship with others in the asylum and with people with her past? Why does this self centered view show of Esther?
ReplyDeleteWhat does*
DeleteIn chapter 13, Esther attempts to suicide as she swim towards the rock. She constantly thinks of only how to suicide but not the reason behind why she wants to suicide. Therefore, what is exactly driving Esther to attempt to suicide?
ReplyDeleteof the 5 various ways Esther considered suicide, what criteria exactly did she use to choose among them ? and what does that criteria say about esther's ideal ending?
ReplyDeleteAll of Esther's actions in these chapters are doubled with another event from the book. Esther's refusal to jump, for example, later in the story after mentioning a headline about someone saved from jumping. Is this doubling of actions significant? Does it reveal a double standard in society at that time?
ReplyDelete*comes later
DeleteEsther mentions that she is trapped in a bell jar, separated from the rest of the world. In what ways does this image relate to her inability to realize the pain she causes her mother or the impact she had on pushing Joan to suicide?
ReplyDeleteEsther admits to loving her female doctor, Dr. Nolan, while she loathes Dr. Gordon, her first therapist. How does the emotions of security and fear tie into her other relationships with men and women that she has encountered? How does her relationship with both of these doctors relate to the gender bias society that she is living in?
ReplyDeleteHow can Esther's inability to kill herself reflect the limitations of women during this time period? How does her lack of trust in medical institutions highlight women's lack of trust towards society and their government during this time as things that could help them?
ReplyDeleteHow does Esther's harsh behavior towards her mother actually help her to recover? Why does she react so unpleasantly to her mother's desperate attempts to care for her?
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 12, we see Esther decide to take her own life, but the decision is not made in haste. She is calm and collected when she resorts to what she feels is the only option left. What does this say about her mental state, and what, if any, clues do the readers have that Esther might eventually turn out alright?
ReplyDeleteThroughout the chapters, Esther attempts multiple methods of suicide but always fails due to small annoyances such as unable to sink herself in the water. At the same time, her motives behind her suicidal thoughts are never revealed. What is the reason she wants to kill herself and why are sleeping pills her ideal method of death?
ReplyDeleteEsther's trust for Dr. Nolan is significantly different from her hate towards Dr. Gordon. Is her trust towards females instead of males a result of her past experiences with the men of her life?
What specific event is directly associated with Esther's first thought of suicide? Why does she think of suicide? Does this have anything to do with the Rosenburgs?
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