51 pages 1 hour read

Sylvia Plath

The Bell Jar

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1963

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath tells the story of 19-year-old Esther Greenwood, a college student who works as an intern at a prestigious magazine in New York City but struggles with depression, identity, and societal expectations. Her journey includes a mental breakdown, several suicide attempts, hospitalization, and gradual recovery with the help of a compassionate psychiatrist. The book addresses sensitive topics such as mental illness, suicide, and sexual assault.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is a profound exploration of mental illness, offering a deep, albeit dark, insight into the protagonist's psyche. Critics praise Plath's lyrical prose and authentic portrayal of depression. Some find the narrative intense and unsettling. The novel remains a poignant, if heavy, literary classic.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Bell Jar?

Readers who appreciate The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath typically enjoy introspective narratives exploring mental health, identity, and societal pressures. Fans of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper would likely be drawn to Plath's poignant, semi-autobiographical prose.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Lexile Level

1050L

Book Details

Topics

Gender / Feminism

Depression / Suicide

Psychology

Genre

Psychology

Classic Fiction

Coming of Age / Bildungsroman

Themes

Life/Time: Coming of Age

Identity: Mental Health

Identity: Gender