Loneliness In Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar

To be or feel alone often has a detrimental effect on an individual. Whether he is actually alone or just feels like he has no support system, loneliness causes instability in one’s cognitive ability. This loneliness is a main part of Esther Greenwood’s life in Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, and has caused many noticeable social disturbances throughout the novel. Having similar thoughts as other individuals about topics that she feels strongly about is a rare occurrence, and when she does it briefly changes her attitude about her life for the better.
Prior to Esther’s conversation with Hilda she recently broke her leg in two places while skiing with Buddy, a man who does not make her happy, or make her feel less lonely. While Buddy is at the bottom of the mountain and Esther is at the top, he motions for her to come down. After the accident, he mentions how Esther was doing well, “until that man stepped into your path” (98). When she returns home she is called into Hilda’s office and discusses upcoming events.

The appeals process lasted over two years and became well-known throughout the United States. Hilda’s exclamation of ‘yes’ comes from her excitement that the Rosenbergs are finally going to be executed after a multi-year long process of having them convicted. This is one of the first individuals that Esther has found with similar feelings towards death. “At last” implies that Esther has not found another person with similar thoughts in a long time. Esther’s obsession with death can be seen throughout the book, it even being highlighted in context of the Rosenbergs, on the first