The themes of The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath, are represented through Esther's unique characteristics. Sylvia's life experiences and personality contribute to these themes: growth through the pain, the void of conventional expectations, and the limited role of women during the 1950s. Esther must overcome several obstacles to move forward with her life time contributes to Esther's qualities. To understand the themes of the novel, one must know who Sylvia Plath is. Sylvia Plath was born on October 27, 1932 in Boston. Some say that The Bell Jar is a semi-autobiographical novel because Esther and Sylvia share many things. of the same qualities. Both women attempted to succeed in America in the 1950s. Petri Liukkonen states that, “Plath has…provided a unique perspective psychological disorder” (Liukkonen). reader a new perspective on psychological disorders. Furthermore, both women struggled to understand the meaning of life. Sylvia and Esther believed that human existence had no purpose. This causes both of them to resist human interaction and want to commit suicide. Understanding Sylvia Plath will increase your ability to connect the novel's themes to Esther's characteristics. Esther is the protagonist of The Bell Jar. The story is about how Esther slowly descends into a stage of madness and her attempts to escape. Esther does not realize her place in civilization. She feels like the odds are always against her, which takes her away from her goals. Esther wants to be a successful writer, but is often overlooked in her role in society. Esth...... middle of sheet ......th. It is easy to see that Sylvia can relate to Esther in many different ways. Sylvia also suffers from depression and is seen in her story. Sylvia eventually committed suicide in real life, and many people believe that The Bell Jar predicted this would happen. The character of Esther is so unique because Sylvia put all her feelings into creating her.10. Littell, McDougal. (2003). The Americans. United States: Rand McNally Co.This history book contains a lot of information about the way women were treated in the 1950s. This book contains real facts and laws that happened in real life. The Bell Jar takes place during this time period, which is why it's crucial to understand what that period was like. To understand the way royal women were treated in the 1950s, it will be easier to understand what Esther was going through and how it led to her severe depression..