Comparing Catcher In The Rye And The Bell Jar

In America, we grow up in a society that grooms us to become a successful and happy adult. A society in which people are able to say and do what they want. This freedom that comes with growing up can be too much to handle. As we grow up we start to realize the flaws in our society and the flaws within ourselves. This pressure to remain happy can have various effects. In The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath, Esther struggles with the pressures of society while witnessing her own downfall and seeks medical help for the sake of her physical and mental health. Similarly, in The Catcher in the Rye, Holden deals with depression after flunking out of school. Although their situations are quite different, both characters change as a result of their experiences and find ways to cope with life.

On the other hand, Holden struggles with the idea and pressures of growing up. He’s flunked out of multiple boarding schools and is constantly depressed. He feels lonely and the more

She is a college student living in New York and has a job as a fashion magazine editor. The story begins to take a turn when Esther’s mental health problems begin to surface. She feels as though she lacks the happiness that society expects from her and also that she expects from herself. She begins to compare herself to others. Her friend, Doreen, has a great social life and is constantly with her boyfriend. She also distances herself from Betsy, who appears to friendly and cheerful. All the other girls in the hotel seem to be having the time of their life but Esther can't seem to enjoy herself. She returns home to find that she did not get accepted into a summer creative writing program and her depression heightens. She becomes frustrated with her sex life when she finds out her boyfriend cheated on her with a waitress. She feels suffocated by her depression and does not know how to deal with