new asylum
Philomena Guinea paid for Esther to move to the private institution where she would now stay. This institution is completely different from the city institution. It was nice, there were maids and she even had a women doctor. Esther acts completely different at this new institution, I think, because she is treated as if she wasn’t crazy. Doctor Nolan asked Esther about Doctor Gordon. Esther tells her that she didn’t like him because of what he did to her. Doctor Nolan assures Esther that if they ever do something like the shock treatments, that she will feel no pain and will no regret getting them done. Esther new doctor tells her that shock treatments are not meant to be bad like Esther experienced. I think that if she would have stayed in the city institution, she would have really gone crazy. Esther is getting better and even moves from Wymark to Caplan. This is proof that she is getting better being in the new institution. I do not think she would have improved her health if she didn’t switch into the private institution.
13-14
What is wrong with Esther? Why does she try to kill herself?
Esther has had problems ever since she has come home from New York. I believe that there are many reasons why Esther tried to kill herself. Everything is pilling up and she just can't take it anymore. She knows that she has problems but doesn't want to go back to shock therapy. This I think is Dr. Gordon's fault because he doesn't really try to talk it out with Esther. She tries to commit suicide multiple times, but doesn't succeed or doesn't follow through completely. The last time that she attempted to commit suicide was when she overdosed on an abundance of sleeping pills. Esther tries to kill herself because she doesn't have a place, no real friends, or even a mother who is there for her.
Esther has had problems ever since she has come home from New York. I believe that there are many reasons why Esther tried to kill herself. Everything is pilling up and she just can't take it anymore. She knows that she has problems but doesn't want to go back to shock therapy. This I think is Dr. Gordon's fault because he doesn't really try to talk it out with Esther. She tries to commit suicide multiple times, but doesn't succeed or doesn't follow through completely. The last time that she attempted to commit suicide was when she overdosed on an abundance of sleeping pills. Esther tries to kill herself because she doesn't have a place, no real friends, or even a mother who is there for her.
Dr. Gordon
Why doesn’t Esther like Dr. Gordon? Is he hurting or helping her?
Esther has gone crazy and decides (knows) that she needs to get help from a psychiatrist. Before she met him she thinks that he is conceited. She sees a picture of the perfect family in his office and this bothers her even more I think because it is something that she doesn't have. Dr. Gordon asks her on page 129, "Suppose you try and tell me what you think is wrong". This bothers Esther because she knows she has a problem and she wants to get help. I feel like Dr. Gordon gave up too easily. He told Esther to come back next week for her next session but decides to do shock therapy. I don't agree with his decision because I think he should of talked to her a little longer. I think that the shock therapy hurt her because she goes even more crazy than she already is.
Esther has gone crazy and decides (knows) that she needs to get help from a psychiatrist. Before she met him she thinks that he is conceited. She sees a picture of the perfect family in his office and this bothers her even more I think because it is something that she doesn't have. Dr. Gordon asks her on page 129, "Suppose you try and tell me what you think is wrong". This bothers Esther because she knows she has a problem and she wants to get help. I feel like Dr. Gordon gave up too easily. He told Esther to come back next week for her next session but decides to do shock therapy. I don't agree with his decision because I think he should of talked to her a little longer. I think that the shock therapy hurt her because she goes even more crazy than she already is.
Chapter 9 and 10
How does Esther act when she returns to Boston? How might her night with Marco have influenced her actions?
To me Marco is a jerk, he expected to get sex out of Esther. Marco gives Esther his diamond pin and now he also expects to have Esther dance with him. He tells her to act like she is drowning so that he can take control of the dancing. He then attempts to rape her, but Esther almost lets him do it so she can experience sex. When Marco calls her a slut she realizes that isn't what she wanted. Esther then punches Marco and his nose starts to bleed. Marco smears the blood on her face. Esther doesn't want to take off the blood from her face because it shows that she did something to someone, made damage. When Esther gets home to Boston she gets even more depressed. Her mother tells her that she didn't get accepted into the writing class that she applies for. It seems that she is more upset about this than almost getting raped by Marco. All of these things that have hurt her in New York had pilled up and she finally realized how broken apart she is.
To me Marco is a jerk, he expected to get sex out of Esther. Marco gives Esther his diamond pin and now he also expects to have Esther dance with him. He tells her to act like she is drowning so that he can take control of the dancing. He then attempts to rape her, but Esther almost lets him do it so she can experience sex. When Marco calls her a slut she realizes that isn't what she wanted. Esther then punches Marco and his nose starts to bleed. Marco smears the blood on her face. Esther doesn't want to take off the blood from her face because it shows that she did something to someone, made damage. When Esther gets home to Boston she gets even more depressed. Her mother tells her that she didn't get accepted into the writing class that she applies for. It seems that she is more upset about this than almost getting raped by Marco. All of these things that have hurt her in New York had pilled up and she finally realized how broken apart she is.
Chapter 7 and 8
What does Esther want from Constantin? How does he react? What do you think of his reaction?
Esther goes to the UN with Constantin. She is impressed with the foreign language that Constantin works with. This makes her think about all the stuff she can't do, which leads to the fig tree. The fig tree is something that represents marriage and children. Esther wants to have sex with Constantin to get back at Buddy, but they don't, they just lay in bed together after the UN. This makes Esther feel a lot better about herself. The fact that they do not have sex means that Constantin cares about Esther and just doesn't want to have sex with her. This to me means that Constantin is interested in forming a relationship. There were hints that Constantin likes Esther but it is not for certain.
Esther goes to the UN with Constantin. She is impressed with the foreign language that Constantin works with. This makes her think about all the stuff she can't do, which leads to the fig tree. The fig tree is something that represents marriage and children. Esther wants to have sex with Constantin to get back at Buddy, but they don't, they just lay in bed together after the UN. This makes Esther feel a lot better about herself. The fact that they do not have sex means that Constantin cares about Esther and just doesn't want to have sex with her. This to me means that Constantin is interested in forming a relationship. There were hints that Constantin likes Esther but it is not for certain.
Chapters 5 and 6
What does Esther think of Buddy? What does she want from him? What does she want him to think of her?
Esther liked Buddy a lot until she found out that he was having an affair with a waitress. Buddy is a science kind of guy, which is the opposite of Esther. Esther is enjoys literature. At first Buddy didn't let her talk about literature but then he asked her if she would read to him so that he could understand where she was coming from. Buddy got Esther to think that he was inexperienced, when really he was having an affair. Esther was upset when she found this out because she wanted to know the truth in the first place. Buddy tells Esther that he still has strong feelings for and even takes his clothes off but Esther didn't feel comfortable enough to take hers off. This shows that Esther doesn't have the same feelings for Buddy as he does for her.
Esther liked Buddy a lot until she found out that he was having an affair with a waitress. Buddy is a science kind of guy, which is the opposite of Esther. Esther is enjoys literature. At first Buddy didn't let her talk about literature but then he asked her if she would read to him so that he could understand where she was coming from. Buddy got Esther to think that he was inexperienced, when really he was having an affair. Esther was upset when she found this out because she wanted to know the truth in the first place. Buddy tells Esther that he still has strong feelings for and even takes his clothes off but Esther didn't feel comfortable enough to take hers off. This shows that Esther doesn't have the same feelings for Buddy as he does for her.
chapter 3 and 4 - Bell Jar
How does Esther avoid Chemistry in college? Why might she find science so overwhelming?
Esther thought of a plan to tell the dean of her college why she should have to take chemistry. She told them that she was probably going to receive an A because she received an A in her previous science class. Instead of taking this Chemistry class she proposes to the Dean that she take a Shakespeare class. By now in the book, we see two completely different sides of Esther. Before, in chapters one and two, she doesn't know what to do or is very indecisive, but she is completely sure that she doesn't want to take Chemistry. I think that Esther doesn't like Chemistry because she is a person who is constantly thinking and changing her mind about her decisions. Chemistry is a class where there is one specific answer, and only one. This is why I believe that Esther might find Chemistry so overwhelming.
Esther thought of a plan to tell the dean of her college why she should have to take chemistry. She told them that she was probably going to receive an A because she received an A in her previous science class. Instead of taking this Chemistry class she proposes to the Dean that she take a Shakespeare class. By now in the book, we see two completely different sides of Esther. Before, in chapters one and two, she doesn't know what to do or is very indecisive, but she is completely sure that she doesn't want to take Chemistry. I think that Esther doesn't like Chemistry because she is a person who is constantly thinking and changing her mind about her decisions. Chemistry is a class where there is one specific answer, and only one. This is why I believe that Esther might find Chemistry so overwhelming.
The Bell Jar
Explain the first line of the novel. What does it show about Esther and her experience in New York.
"It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Roesnbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York." After reading chapters one and two this quote becomes more clear to me. I think the second part of this quote is the most important. Esther is in New York working and writing for magazines. I get the sense right of the bat that Esther isn't a New York type of girl. Esther also keeps saying that she wants to experience the real New York, this makes me think even more that Esther doesn't like her job or more the less, her coe-workers. Esther is going to a party with Doreen and they decide to go to a bar with some men they meet. Doreen ends up getting drunk. I believe that Esther isn't the party type, she doesn't know what kind of drink she should order and doesn't want to sound stupid ordering a drink. All of these ideas hint at Esther not liking New York very much.
"It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Roesnbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York." After reading chapters one and two this quote becomes more clear to me. I think the second part of this quote is the most important. Esther is in New York working and writing for magazines. I get the sense right of the bat that Esther isn't a New York type of girl. Esther also keeps saying that she wants to experience the real New York, this makes me think even more that Esther doesn't like her job or more the less, her coe-workers. Esther is going to a party with Doreen and they decide to go to a bar with some men they meet. Doreen ends up getting drunk. I believe that Esther isn't the party type, she doesn't know what kind of drink she should order and doesn't want to sound stupid ordering a drink. All of these ideas hint at Esther not liking New York very much.
Mona Lisa Smile
Comment on a decision made by a character that reflects or revokes a value from the 1950s.
In the movie, Mona Lisa Smiles, Betty is engaged and was married during the movie. She is married while she is in college. This reflects what society tells people during that time period. During the 1950's women are expected to get married and serve to their husbands. Katherine doesn't like this type of society. She teaches her class to not follow what society always tell you and think of ideas for yourself. Betty is always wanting to follow society and marry and do as she is told. Betty Warren takes an approach to life like society revokes in the 1950's. She takes a very traditional approach to life where as Katherine doesn't teach this and doesn't understand why you can't come up with your own ideas and not follow the "rules" that society pushes on you.
In the movie, Mona Lisa Smiles, Betty is engaged and was married during the movie. She is married while she is in college. This reflects what society tells people during that time period. During the 1950's women are expected to get married and serve to their husbands. Katherine doesn't like this type of society. She teaches her class to not follow what society always tell you and think of ideas for yourself. Betty is always wanting to follow society and marry and do as she is told. Betty Warren takes an approach to life like society revokes in the 1950's. She takes a very traditional approach to life where as Katherine doesn't teach this and doesn't understand why you can't come up with your own ideas and not follow the "rules" that society pushes on you.
1950's
Comment on how the film is portraying the time period of the 1950's.
In the movie, Mona Lisa Smiles, the women are given expected standards that they are expected to follow. The life that people life is a very conservative life. Although some of the girls, we see, in the movie don't exactly like these specific rules. One of the characters in the movie had birth control and all of the girls looked at her like she was crazy because that sort of thing wasn't allowed in that time period. Katherine teaches a class of very text book educated students. She has a hard time with this because the students learn what they are told rather than thinking with themselves and coming up with new ideas. These girls are also expected to get married and have have high expectations of their future but from other people, not from themselves. I would not like this because I like to do my own thing and think of new ideas and live by what I believe in.
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