... and mother. In The Bell Jar, first published under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas, in London in 1963, Sylvia Plath wrote a lightly disguised autobiographical novel that records her personal experiences through her heroine, Esther Greenwood. The predicament of women, especially talented, aspiring and vulnerable young women pitted against the oppressive expectations of others, is explored by Plath in her portrayal of Esther Greenwood in The Bell Jar. The "bell jar" is a metaphor for the alienation, isolation and confinement ... that Esther experiences during her mental breakdown. From the b...

• Word Count: 1473
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate