HIST 3640 Chapter Notes - Chapter The Bell Jar: Oedipus Complex, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Electrotherapy
1 Jun 2016
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Esther"s narration sounds detached and mature when discussing her depression. Her fear of the rosenberg"s" execution prefaces her own electro-therapy treatment. Her use of language suggests that she feels removed from reality. Society at the time embraced a cheery disposition that she cannot match; however, she manages a fa ade that only increases her levels of depression. Although inexperienced, she is determined to fit in with the expectations of society, which she demonstrates as she tries to find a drink she enjoys and walks home drunk in order to escape doreen and lenny. Esther"s fa ade begins to fade and her deception leads to feelings of inadequacy. This inadequacy is what begins to blur her future plans (i. e. her image of a model student fading as she realizes she has no idea what she wants to do after post-secondary education). I believe esther"s feelings of being a failure mimic those of victims of post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd).
