The Bell Jar

Esther’s father features in The Bell Jar only in his absence—he died when she was a child. What role does his death, and Mrs. Greenwood’s reaction to it, play in Esther’s search for her own identity?

At what point does Esther go from spiraling to recovery? What factors play a role in her recovery?

Compare the characters of Doctor Gordon and Doctor Nolan. How do they approach Esther’s illness differently, and how do their different strategies affect her recovery?