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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 5 page analysis of Sigmund Freud's Civilization and its Discontents and Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar. The writer argues that a possible explanation for the depression of Plath's protagonist, Esther, may be found in Freud's work. No additional sources cited.
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5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_90beljar.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
and graphic description of what it is like to be clinically depressed. A possible explanation for the depression of Plaths protagonist, Esther, may be found in Sigmund Freuds masterpiece Civilization
and its Discontents. In this work, Freud analyzes the effect that living within a civilized society has on the structures of the mind?the superego and the ego. Freud shows
that the forces of civilization are basically at war with humanitys more basic instincts and that this can lead to depression. An examination of Freuds work can definitely add
to the readers insight of what is actually going on in the Plaths The Bell Jar. Plaths heroine is Esther, aged 19. At the beginning of the novel, Esther
and twelve other girls have just won the chance to work for a prestigious magazine in New York City for one month. Esther is intelligence, gifted and the recipient of
a scholarship from a distinguished "Eastern womens college." Nevertheless, beneath this outward show of success, Esther views the world in a dark light?inside she feels empty. As the story
continues, Esther struggles harder and harder to cope with the pressures of her life. Through flashbacks, Plath begins to reveal some of the forces that have molded Esthers negativism. Her
home life has instilled in her a constant need to pushed herself. Due to her low self-esteem, she wants desperately conform, but never feels that she completely succeeds. She returns
home feeling defeated only to find out that she hasnt succeeded in obtaining a place in a summer writing course. Her depression worsens and she seeks clinical help. Esther
is too depressed to groom herself properly, she cant sleep, she cant even write. Her doctor prescribes electric shock therapy, which is described by Plath, who underwent this procedure, as
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