Question

What was Esther Greenwood was going through ? ​

Answer 1

The novel follows Esther's descent into depression and is loosely based on Plath herself. Sylvia Plath was an American author and poet who attended Smith College. Plath fell into depression in her twenties, and after failing to be accepted into a writing seminar, she attempted to take her own life for the first time.

Answer 2

Esther Greenwood was going through a lot of things in The Bell Jar. Some of the things she was dealing with are:

• Depression:
  Esther was clearly depressed throughout the novel. She felt hopeless, worthless, and like she didn't belong. She had trouble sleeping, eating, and concentrating. She also had suici dal thoughts.
• Anxiety:
  Esther also experienced a lot of anxiety. She was constantly worrying about everything, from her job to her relationships to her future. She felt like she was on the verge of a panic attack at all times.
• Loneliness:
  Esther felt very lonely throughout the novel. She felt like she couldn't connect with anyone, not even her friends or family. She felt like she was all alone in the world.
• Body image issues:
  Esther was also struggling with body image issues. She felt like she was fat and ugly, and she was constantly comparing herself to other women. This made her feel even more depressed and anxious.
• Gen der roles:
  Esther was also struggling with gen der roles. She didn't want to conform to the traditional role of a woman, but she didn't know what else to do. She felt like she was trapped between two worlds, and she didn't know how to find her place.

All of these things contributed to Esther's mental break down. She was overwhelmed and didn't know how to cope. She needed help, and she finally got it when she went to the hospital.