The Bell Jar: #2, #10

The Bell Jar was pretty good. I liked it a lot better than Catcher in the Rye, even though both focused on the mental changes a person goes through as they become depressed and suicidal. I like how the ending is hopeful, and she has come out a more knowledgeable and confident person in the end. Even though I still don't feel like she knows what she wants to do with her life, that question doesn't confuse her and depress her like it used to. Catcher, on the other hand, does not leave the reader feeling like Holden will be okay again. The idea of a Bell Jar containing her and looming over her, was a good extended metaphor too, and the image makes a lot of sense, from a figurative sense though. I admit, that I actually did not know what a bell jar was at first.

I really like Doctor Nolan. Sometimes, her methods seem a little strange for me, but she seems to be a good confidante for Esther, which was crucial to her improvement. For example, I was surprised when Doctor Nolan seemed sort of happy with Esther saying that she hated her mother. At that time, I questioned whether Nolan was a better doctor than Doctor Gordon, who did not help Esther, and actually made Esther more untrusting of others. When he gave her shock treatment, it only made her feel more hostile towards Doctor Gordon, and more determined to fake well-being in order to avoid shock treatment. I think Esther really needed someone to talk to, and explain some of her personal thoughts to. Like how Esther told no one else about her hatred of male power.

Esther/Elizabeth

Esther sort of reminds me of Elizabeth, from Pride and Prejudice, although Elizabeth does not become depressed in the story. Both Esther and Elizabeth are described to be attractive, and hardworking girls, who are self-motivated to learn, despite their lack of wealth. Esther is an English major, while Elizabeth enjoys books and poetry. Elizabeth starts out, not understanding Mr. Darcy's real nature. She assumes he is contemptuous, arrogant, and unkind. However, as the story proceeds, she learns what he really is like, rather than just misinterpreting his image. Her perception of Mr. Darcy changes completely by then end of the novel. Although Elizabeth, at first, felt that he was the last man on earth she would marry, she falls for him in the end, and they live happily ever after. Similarly, Esther's perception Buddy Willard changes. However, Esther's relationship with Buddy is completely different from Lizzy's relationship with Mr. Darcey. Esther's image of him changes for the worst: she began, thinking that he was perfect, but came to dislike him.

Doreen and Betsy. I like both of them. Although Doreen and Esther don't see eye-to-eye sometimes, especially after the incident at the bar, Doreen is still a good friend to Esther. Doreen is a more outgoing, witty, facetious friend. Betsy is the more sweet, innocent friend. Both Doreen and Betsy are supportive of Esther, although they bring out different sides of her. Doreen convinced Esther to jump out of a cab, and meet at a bar with some random men. Betsy is a more wholesome influence on Esther.

So far, I like the book. I prefer it over Catcher in the Rye, because it is less ranting, and I feel like there is more of a plot. I see that Esther is confused what she wants from life, and like Holden, she hates "phony" people and hypocrites. However, I don't see her becoming depressed yet. She still seems pretty self-motivated and interested in pursuing a successful future. I wonder what will happen to her, to make her become suicidal.

Honestly, I Can't Think of Any Other Name So I'll Go Generic: Catcher in the Rye

When I began this novel, I really disliked Holden. I found him to be whiny, nasty, and overcritical on others. However, over the course of the story, you can't help but be a little sympathetic towards him. He feels so lonely and depressed all the time, and he doesn't really open up to anyone. Towards the end of the book, he reflects over whether he wanted to tell the reader the entire story. However, I think he actually wanted to finally explain what happened to him. He writes as though he is talking to the reader about his experience, which is what he could never do with anyone before. As a reader, I try to get myself to understand the perspective of Holden, but it is kind of uncomfortable for me, because his perspective is a little crazy and I sort of don't want to think the way he is thinking. You could tell that he was getting more and more depressed, as he mentioned increasingly often things that depressed him.

By the end of the story, I actually start questioning whether Holden is completely crazy, or whether he is actually seeing something more than most people, that causes him to act crazy. His thoughts on the theater are pretty interesting. He believes that actors don't act like real people, because they are too perfect- they respond too immediately, the lines are all memorized. Even the good actors are then too good.

I felt really bad for Holden when Maurice and Sunny barged into his hotel room, beat him up, and robbed him. He must have felt horrible when Maurice trapped him undressed, and the two robbed him. I bet that sort of experience would make him feel really lonely and depressed, considering how even small other things depress him. He is still sixteen, which makes him pretty close to my age, and that makes the situation more horrific to me.

I'm glad that Holden gives a sort of reflection in the short last chapter of the book. I think it creates the full circle, especially when he mentions Stradlater and Ackley. However, I still think that his ending may not suggest a hopeful future. I think he will probably be steadier than before, though. At the end, he still shows his inability to connect with people, because he tells the reader not to tell anybody anything, because it will only cause pain and nostalgia. To me, Mr. Antolini was right when he said that Holden doesn't adjust and interact with his surroundings well.

The book, all in all, improved a lot after my first post, but still did not appeal to me as much as some of the others. It was somewhere on the middle of the spectrum, I suppose.

Holden Onto His Saneness

So far, I've determined that I do not like this book. This may be my least favorite in the book rotation so far.

Holden:: Very early in the novel, the reader finds out that he is in a mental institution. As the story progresses, it becomes more and more obvious that he is already experiencing some extreme thoughts and temperaments. My first negative impression of him, was about how he is such a whiner! His whole story so far is like a complaint after complaint, and rant after rant. As a reader, I can not fully believe that his perspective on the events was the actual truth of what happened, because he is so erratic and opinionated. He is very judgmental of people, and calls many people "phonies." He is sarcastic, and contemptuous, and mocking of people. When he walks into Ackley's room at 11:30 at night, he is totally unappreciative and condescending to Ackley. Ackley doesn't want to let someone sleep in his roommate's bed, when his roommate is away. That seems reasonable. But then Holden taunts him and mocks him about it. Furthermore, he wakes up Ackley in the middle of the night, and then leaves the room while insulting him. I don't particularly like Ackley either, but the novel focuses on Holden's thoughts and development.

......

I guess his attitude is excusable, though, because he is apparently nearing need to be put in the institution.

Holden is also a bit hypocritical. For example, he hates when people repeat things. When he was speaking to Mr. Spencer, he found it annoying that Mr. Spencer would repeat his confessions. However, Holden repeats himself often. He commonly says things like "It really did" or "It really was." While talking to Mr. Spencer, he says "I know it is. I know it." Holden's hypocrisy will probably contribute to eventual downfall.

The hat:: That hat seems to have some sort of importance. It is described to be odd and garish, and Holden likes to wear it a certain way. Ackley first comments on it, then Stradlater. Holden even wears the hat after changing into pajamas. Then, he does not have the hat when he gets into the fight with Stradlater. Holden then brings the hat with him as he leaves Pencey. I think that hat hides his extreme nature, and allows him to control his emotions.

The hygiene at Pencey:: This may be an odd thing to talk about, but the sanitation standards in Pencey are terrible! After being punched by Stradlater, Holden's face is described to be totally gory and bloody, to the extent where the sight is almost scary. Yet, he does not wash his face, and he lies down in Ackley's room on Ackley's roommate's bed. Poor roommate! Secondly, according to Holden, Ackley doesn't shower (ever), which is extremely unhygienic.

Peanut Shells:: When Holden is leaving Pencey, he almost breaks his neck slipping on peanut shells that were mysteriously left on the stairs. Peanuts are often used in a hyperbole to describe exaggerated brain sizes. Holden almost fell and became disabled, because of those people he considers morons. I think there should be some significance to the fact that he slipped on peanut shells, even though my current interpretation may not be correct.