Stuck with Glue

I was reading through the poem Daddy and these lines really stuck out to me:

But they pulled me out of the sack

And they stuck me together with glue

There is a lot more to say about this poem, but I would like to just focus on these lines. They seem to be a direct description of the events in The Bell Jar and therefore I will use this as a representation of her sentiment in the novel. The imagery of putting someone back together with glue has a lot of power aspects to it.

The first of these is the utter passivity of these lines. THEY pulled me out and THEY stuck me together with glue, ect. However, it goes beyond being passive and a bit bitter. There is no sense of them helping her or her being grateful. She seems to be resistant of the whole process. Additionally, glue is never perfect. I get the image of a person awkwardly put back together in a messy way, and she does not expect to work perfectly ever again. This is increased by the artificial nature of the glue. Glue is something you add to a broken object, not a natural part of something. It seems to be an unsightly and unfortunate addition to Esther, especially since the breaking was intentional.

However, maybe I am being too negative. Glue shows how things can be mended strongly and easily and allows her life to go on. This is something to be greatful of. How do you interpret this? Yup, easy comment prompt for a thursday night.

The Meaning of Medicine

I am discussing medical experiences before the suicide attempt.

When thinking about The Bell Jar, it is almost impossible to not draw connections to the other two books that we have read. With all of the characters not quite fitting in with the system, their reactions and strategies to cope are very interesting. Esther is the first of these characters to actually get medical consideration and help, although she is not the first to need it, probably. The treatment has a lot of significance in the progression of her insanity, but none of which is actual help.

Stephen reaches a level of anxiety about his sinning that would be cause for medical attention. In Holden’s case, we discussed in class about his bipolar nature that was less self-destructive than the other two but also could have been diagnosed. We have now begun to see Esther develop a condition of her own. However, unlike the other protagonists, she sort of seeks out medical help and has multiple experiences with a psychiatrist.

The first thing that the medical treatment represents is the solidification of the craziness for Esther. It is not easy to identify mental illness in oneself. The turning point often comes when medical attention is called upon. Avoiding such treatment is a typical form of denial so this is a big step for her. Second, seeking the help of the doctor represents a way for Esther's mother to help her daughter. Watching one’s chile go insane is rather difficult, I would imagine. Therefore, I think this will give her mother hope, which is very important. Finally, after the horrible shock “treatment”, she thinks of the entire experience as a punishment, not a help. The idea of punishment holds a lot of weight in her increasingly irrational thoughts and fears.

The medical treatment that Esther seeks is certainly unique to the protagonists. It is very significant and shows a lot about her battle with the illness. However, the one think it definitely did not do: treat her.