Painful Growth And Struggling Heart:a Psychoanalytic Approach To Esther’s Initiation In "the Bell Jar" By Plath

This thesis analyzes the mental development of the protagonist based on the framework of initiation story with the psychoanalytic perspective.Initiation story is the narration around the growth and maturity of people. It focuses on narrating the theme of the growing process of the protagonists which reflects the development, changes, and enrichment of the characters’psychological progress.According to Freud, human personality is made up of the id, the ego, and the superego. Driven by the pleasure principle, id seeks for instant satisfaction of instinct and desire. Guided by the morality principle, superego sublimates and consummates human nature and social relations. Influenced by the reality principle, ego struggles among id, superego and reality.Based on previous studies, this thesis is organized as follows:Chapter one gives a brief introduction to Sylvia Plath and The Bell Jar and elaborates upon a literature review and theoretical basis for the discussion in later chapters. In this chapter, the definition of initiation story and Freud structural model are introduced. At the end of this chapter, the author exemplifies the framework of this thesis.Chapter two presents Esther’s Id in her initiation stage at the beginning of adventure. The author presents a discussion on Esther’s expectation for new life and her pursuit for career and love.Chapter three focuses Esther’s ego in her initiation stage of getting lost. The author will analyze the reasons for getting lost.Chapter four surveys Esther’s superego in her initiation stage of death and rebirth. Esther commits suicide after she had despaired of reality, but finally she gets a rebirth.Chapter five is the conclusion of this thesis. People can learn how to care for the female education and development from this thesis. As to limitation, the explanation is still not enough and thorough in this thesis.