I told Doreen I would not go to the show or the luncheon or the film premiere, but that I would not go to Coney Island either, I would stay in bed. Then I wondered why I couldn't go the whole way doing what I should any more. This made me sad and tired. Then I wondered why I couldn't go the whole way doing what I shouldn't, the way Doreen did, and this made me even sadder and more tired.
In Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar," the protagonist expresses a sense of disconnection and reluctance to engage in activities that were once appealing, such as social events and outings. Despite being invited to various gatherings, she chooses to isolate herself instead, retreating to bed. This choice reflects her struggle with mental health and a feeling of exhaustion from societal expectations and personal desires.
As she contemplates her inability to fully embrace either the obligations of her life or the rebelliousness of not adhering to them, she is struck by sadness. The comparison to her friend Doreen, who seems carefree and untroubled by such dilemmas, deepens her feelings of inadequacy. This inner conflict highlights the theme of struggle between conformity and the desire for freedom, contributing to her overall sense of fatigue and despair.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
