Books The Bell Jar (Modern Classics)  by Sylvia Plath (Author)

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is a semi-autobiographical novel following Esther Greenwood, a talented and ambitious young woman who wins an internship at a New York magazine. Despite the glamour and promise, Esther feels alienated and trapped by societal expectations and her own inner struggles. She becomes increasingly depressed, leading to several suicide attempts and a mental breakdown.

Esther is admitted to psychiatric hospitals where she undergoes treatments including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Supported by her therapist Dr. Nolan, she fights to regain control of her life and identity. The novel uses the metaphor of a "bell jar" to illustrate Esther’s suffocating depression and isolation.