What does the title "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath signify?

The title "The Bell Jar" serves as a powerful metaphor for the protagonist's experiences throughout the novel, particularly highlighting feelings of suffocation and isolation. The bell jar itself is a glass container that can trap and confine, symbolizing the way society, mental illness, and personal expectations can create a stifling environment that limits the individual. This imagery reflects the main character, Esther Greenwood's, struggle with her identity and mental health, as she often feels detached from the world around her, as if she is trapped under a jar, cut off from genuine experiences and human connection.

This feeling is central to the themes of the novel, which explore depression and the pressures that women face in society, further emphasizing the sense of entrapment. By choosing this title, Plath encapsulates the internal battles Esther faces, effectively communicating the emotional weight of her isolation and her longing to break free from the constraints imposed upon her.