Female Adversity: An Exploration of the Oppressive Gender Norms in Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar

Abstract

This thesis investigates the multitude of ways in which the contemporary gender norms facilitate female suffering in Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar. Through the lens of feminist literary theory, I aim to examine how detrimental the impact of the conservative and oppressive societal norms are toward the female protagonist Esther Greenwood. The patriarchal society depicted in the novel creates both physical and psychological trauma, experiences that give her resilience but also inflict her suffering. I also study how she begins a journey of self-determination toward fulfilment and autonomy over her body and choices while undergoing significant adversity. I discuss that her quest represents resistance against the restrictive confines of societal expectations, as she asserts her agency to reach empowerment and freedom. Through an analysis of the adversity she faces, this thesis aims to shed light on the interplay between gender norms, female suffering and self-actualization in The Bell Jar.