The Bell Jar (1963) by Sylvia Plath | Analysis & Commentary

S3E58 Today, Ash is joined by Dr. Gail Crowther to discuss Sylvia Plath’s iconic novel, The Bell Jar. Tune in for a conversation about the book’s strange publication history, the perils of reading it as pure autobiography, and an exploration of some of Plath’s often unsettling and grotesque imagery.
Check back tomorrow for an extended interview with Gail, and in the mean time, find out more about her work here:
gailcrowther.com/
Access bonus content here:
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Title Music: 'Not Drunk' by The Joy Drops. All other music by Epidemic Sound.
Intro: The Bell Jar (1979)
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[@jamiehovis7722]

how sad, a blog about a video game sequel or joe rogan blubbering about conspiracy theories will attract millions, intellectual topics like this rarely exceed tens of thousands

[@AvecPoesie]

My sentiments, precisely. It seems the general desire to cultivate some semblance of intellect has long been dwindling amongst the masses.

[@lastburning]

Hey, don't talk s**t about video games! They can be intellectual too. And books can be lowbrow as well. Just play Pathologic 2 or The Witness for example.

[@dozing_purple]

Listening to the section about Esther looking at herself in the mirror shot my mind to Plath’s poem “Purdah”. The narrator of “Purdah” is introduced with, “I smile”. She “Gleam(s) like a mirror,” and her “Eye veil is a concatenation of rainbows”. I always read the rainbows as the prismatic surroundings taken into and multiplied by the narrator’s thoughts. Now I feel like this can also be read as a bruised eye, which lends to the violent patriarchal theme of the poem. Similarly, the narrator shatters “the chandelier of air” just as Esther shatters the mirror.

[@f4frodojerry]

Interesting and informative.

[@earreadthis5373]

Thank you!

[@stellareeber2753]

Wow, this is excellent! I subscribed right away.

[@earreadthis5373]

Thank you very much!

[@echoselman6764]

Brilliant!

[@earreadthis5373]

Thank you!