One Good Paragraph: The Bell Jar

The Bell Jar seems to be centered around Esther's character but relates the journey of several characters, simultaneously. The characters of Joan, Irwin and Buddy play brief yet vital roles in shaping Esther's character/life, while they are on their own respective hero's journeys. Joan is implied to have been Esther's roommate/closest friend at the asylum and encounters a tragic suicidal end to her hero's journey. However, her death (end of journey) brings about a new beginning for Esther in a way, where Esther wonders what she was 'burying' and this could well be her past. Irwin and Buddy interject in Esther's journey as romantic interests but leave her soon and continue with their own journey's. Irwin's journey ends with the dis-identification of his voice where it meant 'nothing more' to Esther. On the other hand, Buddy's journey can be argued to have literally come to an end, in Esther's perspective, right outside her front door. Both these encounters encourage Esther to re-think her choices/priorities in life and she decides that she is not 'getting married. The encounter with Joan, Irwin and Buddy's characters clearly influence Esther's own journey, encourage her to let go of her past and look towards a possible future. Plath clearly emphasizes on the underlying importance of these 'other' hero's journeys by displaying the aftereffects of these encounters, on Esther's own journey.