IDENTITY AND THE PARALYSIS OF CHOICE IN SYLVIA PLATH'S THE BELL JAR: THE METAPHOR OF THE FIG TREE

This research paper examines the “Fig Tree” metaphor in Sylvia Plath’s semi-autobiographical novel, The Bell Jar. It explores the psychological struggle of the protagonist, Esther Greenwood, as she tries to choose an identity in the 1950s. The paper analyzes how the “Feminine Mystique” and social pressure created a “double bind” for women, where they were forced to choose between a career and a family. By looking at the results of Esther’s indecision, this study shows that “madness” was often a result of having no acceptable way to be a successful woman and a creative artist at the same time.