• “I reached for the receiver” (118).
• “Then I opened Buddy Willard’s letter” (119).
Many times throughout Esther Greenwood’s narrative, the author employs short, declarative statements. This sentence structure allows Plath to bluntly state what the characters are doing without creating confusion or allowing the reader to question what is happening. The terse sentences convey the scene well and help the reader to better understand the purpose, while only revealing the most important facts. The sentences give significant amounts of information; however, in a direct manner, careful not to give too much away to the reader.
• “Doesn’t your work interest you, Esther?” (146).
Occasionally throughout the novel, Esther allows the reader to see the inner-thoughts of her mind. At the beginning of each chapter, the author begins with an italicized line, generally of dialogue, which is significant to the chapter. However, sometimes, Esther will break down her thoughts for the reader; questioning, scolding, or applauding herself. The author’s employment of a rhetorical question in Esther’s thoughts, exemplifies her distraught behavior and her uncertainty about what to do and what decisions to make next. Esther knows that any other girl would love to be in her position, and would take advantage of the situation, but Esther, on the other hand, is questioning her desire to continue living this superficial lifestyle and suffers from internal conflict.
The way in which Sylvia Plath chooses to reveal Esther's thoughts to the reader is intriguing in that we, as readers, are able to see the self-loathing and despondency which Esther is experiencing about her supposed extravagant lifestyle. Your insight in the fact that Plath uses rhetorical questions to symbolize Esther's uncertainty concerning her will to continue her life is fascinating and displays a true understanding of the author's manipulation of language to convey her purpose. Your identification of the purpose of the many telegraphic sentences that pervade the novel is also accurate in that they draw attention to the importance of the events taking place without confusing the reader by presenting the subject through circumlocution.
ReplyDelete