Esther Greenwood Sparknotes
Esther Greenwood is a smart, young girl who is working as an editorial intern in New York after earning a scholarship from Philomena Guinea and winning a fashion magazine contest. Although she is a intellectual lady with much potential, Esther feels isolated and unsure about her future. She is pressured by what society expects in a woman; a virgin, a wife, and a mother. After being scolded by her boss for not having a set career path, Esther goes on a few dates with different men. Her last date resulted in her date attempting to attack her. After this fiasco, she leaves New York and returns to her mother’s home outside of Boston. In between the previous events, Esther occasionally flashes back to her on and off relation with Buddy Willard,
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Her feelings became difficult to manage and she felt as if she was trapped. This was mainly after she was told that she had not been accepted for another scholarship writing program. After this gaining this knowledge she plunges into a deep depression and develops haunting suicidal thoughts. She went to her family doctor to receive more sleeping pills due to insomniac tendencies and eating problems. Her family doctor recommended visiting psychiatrist Doctor Gordon, a believer in shock therapy. Following this treatment Esther’s behavior grows unstable. She decides to commit suicide after her following attempts have failed. She goes into a crawlspace with a bottle of sleeping pills and swallows them after leaving her mother a note stating she will be going on a long walk. She is later found alive and taken into the hospital. She visited a few hospitals before settling into a private institution paid for by Philomena. She encounters Dr. Nolan who is sympathetic towards her patients. She undergoes a series of electroshock therapy and insulin injections that are successful. She meets Joan, Buddy’s ex-girlfriend. Esther’s life is at stake once more after hemorrhaging due to losing her virginity. Joan takes her to the ER since she is living in Cambridge and returns to the institute with Esther shortly after. Joan commits suicide near the hospital after going out to a movie once moving back in. Esther improves and the book ends with her entering a room of people who determine whether or not she leaves the
Her feelings became difficult to manage and she felt as if she was trapped. This was mainly after she was told that she had not been accepted for another scholarship writing program. After this gaining this knowledge she plunges into a deep depression and develops haunting suicidal thoughts. She went to her family doctor to receive more sleeping pills due to insomniac tendencies and eating problems. Her family doctor recommended visiting psychiatrist Doctor Gordon, a believer in shock therapy. Following this treatment Esther’s behavior grows unstable. She decides to commit suicide after her following attempts have failed. She goes into a crawlspace with a bottle of sleeping pills and swallows them after leaving her mother a note stating she will be going on a long walk. She is later found alive and taken into the hospital. She visited a few hospitals before settling into a private institution paid for by Philomena. She encounters Dr. Nolan who is sympathetic towards her patients. She undergoes a series of electroshock therapy and insulin injections that are successful. She meets Joan, Buddy’s ex-girlfriend. Esther’s life is at stake once more after hemorrhaging due to losing her virginity. Joan takes her to the ER since she is living in Cambridge and returns to the institute with Esther shortly after. Joan commits suicide near the hospital after going out to a movie once moving back in. Esther improves and the book ends with her entering a room of people who determine whether or not she leaves the