The seamy sides of life and violence and death fascinate her, partly because all her family ever read was the Christian Science Monitor, a newspaper that Esther claims treated such things as 'if they didn't happen.' Even when Esther goes to Boston's Public Garden, she analyzes things in the most negative light. Meanwhile, Esther is reading lurid scandal sheets and is intrigued by the story of a man who almost commits suicide by jumping from the seventh floor of a building he is finally helped to safety by a policeman.Įsther analyzes in detail the matter of killing oneself by leaping. Greenwood that she'll 'have her daughter back' soon. Gordon, he suggests electro-shock treatments on an out-patient basis. Willard walks by, she becomes anxious and paranoid. She goes out with a sailor but tells him that her name is 'ElIy' and says that she is an orphan from Chicago. She writes to Doreen, then tears the letter into little pieces. Gordon to be fatherly, and when he is not, she cannot relate to him. She has not washed her hair nor her clothes since returning from New York City, and she is still wearing Betsy's borrowed clothes. Esther is suffering from extreme depression and has symptoms of a variety of other mentally ill states. But Esther cannot even figure out the question, much less answer it. 'Suppose you try and tell me what you think is wrong,' Dr.

But who will give the verdict, the diagnosis? Certainly not the suave, handsome doctor, nor can Esther's dutiful but befuddled mother. Esther is waiting, waiting for the verdict, the diagnosis of her life. Gordon's waiting room, and Chapter 12 begins with a description of the waiting room of his private hospital. Chapter 11 begins with a description of Dr. Struck with inertia, unable to choose anything constructive to do with her summer in the Boston suburbs, Esther is in limbo.

The bell jar sparknotes