The novel revolves around Esther Greenwood, a talented young woman from the suburbs of Boston. While interning in New York, rather than being stimulated, she feels suppressed by the world around her. Esther believes that there is something wrong with her as she shows absolutely no interest in a glamorous lifestyle and does not wish to lead her life in a manner that is conventionally expected from a girl. This marks the beginning of her slow descent into depression. Encountered with incidents such as a rape attempt, news about a capital punishment and reminiscences of her hypocritical, de facto fiancé Buddy Willard, she becomes increasingly worried and slides further towards her breakdown. Esther returns to her hometown in low spirits. When …show more content…
Depression is depicted as a kind of madness where one is trapped within them-self and no amount of exciting stimuli can help her escape from the torment of her own mind. Due to the semi-autobiographical nature of the book, the author has painted a thorough picture of the perils of someone who is battling depression. In the story, Esther feels worthless, fatigued, and suicidal. She loses interest in everyday tasks as well as in activities that she previously used to be enthusiastic about. Her sudden disregard for personal hygiene is noticeable. A decrease in cognitive and psychomotor functioning is also observed as she is longer able to concentrate, read or write, causing intense distress to her and to those around …show more content…
Male doctors such as Buddy Willard, his colleagues and Dr. Gordon are presented as arrogant and unsympathetic as they look at a patient as 'just another case to finish', rather than as a fellow human being who is need of their assistance. Esther's first session of Electro Convulsive Therapy was not administered properly and she began to develop a fear for it. Her treatment was doing more harm than good as it increased her desire to escape her madness by committing suicide. When Esther moves to Caplan, a more advanced mental health institution, she is transferred into the hands of Dr. Nolan, a caring motherly figure. Under her recommendation, Esther is subjected to various different forms of therapy - psychoanalysis, ECT and insulin shots. Of these, I believe that the most effective was psychotherapy as it brought out the small, seemingly insignificant incidents that had a large impact on her. It is during her psychotherapy sessions that she realizes that she actually hates her mother and that she is disgusted with men and society's expectations of a woman. Dr. Nolan offers her solutions such as having a diaphragm implanted and staying away from her mother, and these solutions set her on the road to