商品簡介
The commissioned and previously published essays collected here show how Sylvia Plath's novel The Bell Jar has been viewed over time, from its first publication in 1963 to the present. Essays have been selected based on their readability for college students and general readers, and represent a range of critical perspectives; all of the commissioned essays are written by female poet/scholars. The first part of the book offers a biography of Plath, an overview of The Bell Jar, and an analysis of the role of the 1950s in bringing about main character Esther's breakdown. There is also a brief essay representing the perspective of The Paris Review literary magazine. The rest of the essays explore critical contexts and offer critical readings. Some specific topics include cultural and historical context of the novel, a comparison of The Bell Jar and Susanna Kaysen's Girl, Interrupted, sexual ambivalence in The Bell Jar, and Plath and Mademoiselle magazine. The book includes a chronology of Plath's life and a list of works. McCann is affiliated with Texas A&M University. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
