A bell is an environment in which something is protected or cut off from the outside world. In The Bell Jar, a novel by Sylvia Plath, Esther feels trapped by societal expectations and finds herself cut off from the world. She is caught between what she wants and what people expect of her. This conflict proves even more difficult when important people surround Esther with their own expectations. Only when she has completely freed herself from external pressures is she able to return to a healthy mental state and continue her life. Esther's madness is the natural result of living in a culture that has ridiculous expectations—of schooling, marriage, and careers—for women. Esther has the privilege of fifteen years of scholarships; however, the pressures of maintaining the image of a scholar as well as collegial expectations begin to consume her. Coming from a poor family, Esther had to rely on her grades to determine her future. His grades earned him a scholarship to Smith College and an internship at Mademoiselle Magazine in New York. Esther thinks she ...