The Bell Jar
Partially inspired by Plath’s experiences with depression, The Bell Jar follows the emotional breakdown of Esther Greenwood, a promising college student who cannot reconcile her desires with American conventions during the 1950s-1960s.
Below are some reading passages that we have hand picked to supplement this book. Be sure to read the passage summaries and our suggestions for instructional use.
9th Grade
Poem
An Obstacle
Passage Summary:
In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s poem “An Obstacle,” she urges us to remain strong when facing everyday obstacles. Gilman was writing as a feminist during a time when it was not socially acceptable to identify as such.
When and How to Pair: Introduce this text after students have read chapter 7, in order for them to draw thematic connections across genre. Pair “An Obstacle” with The Bell Jar: Chapter 7, and ask students to discuss the various obstacles or prejudices that limit people’s success. How does gender expectation and mental illness impede Esther from achieving happiness? How would you interpret her quote “I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree”?