Ok, so now I'm feeling like the book has a point. It is definitely fascinating to be in the mind of someone who is sinking into depression. Of course, with this book, I can't read about Esther Greenwood and not think about Sylvia Plath, knowing that this book is essentially a watered down autobiography.
Maybe I was reading wrongly, but somehow, the transition from the mundaneness of the beginning of the book to her the start of her downfall seemed sudden and nonexistent. She basically seemed depressed as soon as she moved home and I wasn't sure what the first part of the book was supposed to do for me. Thoughts?
I agree with you, Jhani. Her decline in functionality when she got home was very severe and very dramatic. However, I'm not sure I really considered her very functional or capable when she was in NYC (supposedly her mentally healthy juxtaposition?)
Her home life seems unbearably tragic. However, I don't find myself having a lot of empathy for Ester in her depression. I find myself annoyed with her. When she didn't get into the summer writing course, she had a complete break down, then punished herself further by giving up the opportunity to still live with her friends in the rented house. The professional in me understands the relationship between being in emotional pain and inflicting suffering---but with Ester I find her stupid, and self absorbed in a way that makes me less aware of her depression, and more in tune to her likely character/personality pathology. She seems so baize, even in her depression, like she can't be bothered to commit to anything, whether its the destructive thinking and habits, or the day to day tasks of life. For example, She "so badly wants help" but behaves like a complete dick with the psychiatrist. She won't shower, isn't sleeping, but doesn't communicate these things. Instead she does very provocative and peculiar things (ie: that conversation she had with her date at the beach where they are discussing some case where the mother shot her son, and the Ester goes in to discussing ways to kill herself--all before she swims out, trying to drown). I think what is happening for me is that the qualities I am put off by in Sylvia Plath (at least, the qualities I perceive, as elitist, and self important) are blaring in Ester...making her very difficult to like. Thanks not to say I don't like the book though! I am actually really enjoying it, which is interesting, especially since Ester is difficult to like.
Her visit to Buddy was awkward and painful, but I thought it was funny because the things she hates so much in him are a lot of the same flaws I see in her.
and finally: I need someone to explain WHY she ate a mug full of ground hamburger meat with a raw egg mixed in. I literally do. not. get it! haha
I TOTALLY forgot she ate that grossness and also had no idea what the point was! It was so casual too...like that was a delicacy of some kind back then? Doubtful. Ugh.
Totally agree that it was really hard to like Esther. I expected to be more sympathetic since I already knew the book was about a woman who sinks into depression but I don't know if it's just because I don't understand or because of the way Plath set up the book. Of course, this book is very autobiographical in some ways so I now have mixed feelings about Plath herself. Her poetry is much more aggressive and fascinating so this book surprised me in how annoying it became for me.
3 comments:
Ok, so now I'm feeling like the book has a point. It is definitely fascinating to be in the mind of someone who is sinking into depression. Of course, with this book, I can't read about Esther Greenwood and not think about Sylvia Plath, knowing that this book is essentially a watered down autobiography.
Maybe I was reading wrongly, but somehow, the transition from the mundaneness of the beginning of the book to her the start of her downfall seemed sudden and nonexistent. She basically seemed depressed as soon as she moved home and I wasn't sure what the first part of the book was supposed to do for me. Thoughts?
I agree with you, Jhani. Her decline in functionality when she got home was very severe and very dramatic. However, I'm not sure I really considered her very functional or capable when she was in NYC (supposedly her mentally healthy juxtaposition?)
Her home life seems unbearably tragic. However, I don't find myself having a lot of empathy for Ester in her depression. I find myself annoyed with her. When she didn't get into the summer writing course, she had a complete break down, then punished herself further by giving up the opportunity to still live with her friends in the rented house. The professional in me understands the relationship between being in emotional pain and inflicting suffering---but with Ester I find her stupid, and self absorbed in a way that makes me less aware of her depression, and more in tune to her likely character/personality pathology. She seems so baize, even in her depression, like she can't be bothered to commit to anything, whether its the destructive thinking and habits, or the day to day tasks of life. For example, She "so badly wants help" but behaves like a complete dick with the psychiatrist. She won't shower, isn't sleeping, but doesn't communicate these things. Instead she does very provocative and peculiar things (ie: that conversation she had with her date at the beach where they are discussing some case where the mother shot her son, and the Ester goes in to discussing ways to kill herself--all before she swims out, trying to drown). I think what is happening for me is that the qualities I am put off by in Sylvia Plath (at least, the qualities I perceive, as elitist, and self important) are blaring in Ester...making her very difficult to like. Thanks not to say I don't like the book though! I am actually really enjoying it, which is interesting, especially since Ester is difficult to like.
Her visit to Buddy was awkward and painful, but I thought it was funny because the things she hates so much in him are a lot of the same flaws I see in her.
and finally: I need someone to explain WHY she ate a mug full of ground hamburger meat with a raw egg mixed in. I literally do. not. get it! haha
I TOTALLY forgot she ate that grossness and also had no idea what the point was! It was so casual too...like that was a delicacy of some kind back then? Doubtful. Ugh.
Totally agree that it was really hard to like Esther. I expected to be more sympathetic since I already knew the book was about a woman who sinks into depression but I don't know if it's just because I don't understand or because of the way Plath set up the book. Of course, this book is very autobiographical in some ways so I now have mixed feelings about Plath herself. Her poetry is much more aggressive and fascinating so this book surprised me in how annoying it became for me.
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