A Laingian Study Of Esther Greenwood In The Bell Jar

Sylvia Plath(1932-1963),one of the most famous representatives of American confessional poets,only published a poetry collection The Colossus and Other Poems and a novel The Bell Jar during her lifetime.She committed suicide in February,1963,three weeks after the publication of The Bell Jar.The publication of Ariel in 1965 won her great honor and established her status in the literary circle.In 1982,she won Pulitzer Prize for The Collected Poems edited by her husband Ted Hughes,making her the first poet winning Pulitzer Prize posthumously.Many critics assume The Bell Jar a semi-autobiographical novel.Based on Plath's early life experiences,the novel tells the story of a sophomore student Esther Greenwood,who lost her mind under the pressure from family and society and got recovered after treatment.Since its publication,scholars at home and abroad have analyzed the novel from perspectives of psychoanalysis,feminism,psychology,cultural approaches,etc.Only a limited number of researches are made according to Laing's theory of schizophrenia.This thesis aims at discussing the process and causes of Esther's schizophrenia and the factors that contribute to her recovery,and revealing the importance of autonomous identity and a favorable living environment to people's existence.This thesis consists of three parts: the Introduction,the body part and the Conclusion.The Introduction introduces Sylvia Plath and her novel The Bell Jar.It also overviews the previous researches done by scholars at home and abroad,and points out the research significance of this thesis.The body part can be divided into four chapters.Chapter One is the theoretical basis of this thesis.It consists of the exposition of the origins of R.D.Laing's theory and the introduction to his theory of schizophrenia which includes three key concepts: ontological insecurity,the split self and the family generative perspective of schizophrenia.Chapter Two analyzes how Esther's mental condition deteriorates.With the guidance of Laing's theory of schizophrenia,the deterioration of Esther's mental condition is elaborated through the analysis of Esther's existential status,the explanation of Esther's ontological insecurity and the discussion of her self-division respectively.Chapter Three discusses the causes of Esther's mental breakdown based on Laing's family generative perspective of schizophrenia.From Esther's unhappy family environment and the restrictive social norms,this chapter examines the factors that influence Esther's psychological development.Chapter Four states the effects of the treatments that Esther receives and the process of her recovery.With the help of Laing's ideas about psychotherapy,it explores how Esther reconstructs her autonomous identity and gets recovered under Dr.Nolan's help.The Conclusion summarizes the foregoing discussion and points out that the Laingian study of The Bell Jar is to provide a humane way to understand people whose being is at risk.Through the depiction of the restrictions of the patriarchal society on women in their process of self-fulfillment,this novel indicates that the contradictions between women's longing for self-fulfillment and the society's requiring women to obey the social rules have a deleterious effect on women's psychological development.Meanwhile,Esther's mental breakdown suggests that a firm sense of autonomous identity and a good living environment can exert significant influences on people's existential status and psychological development.The Bell Jar embodies Plath's concern about the confusion and dilemma that the intellectual females are faced with,and reflects Plath's critique of the system of the mental hospitals.It appeals to people to lay more emphasis on mental stress and to construct a firm sense of identity,and also calls for people to show more care and understanding for those who have mental problems.