The Bell Jar Lesson Plan

In what ways is The Bell Jar about ambitious young people? How do the characters show ambition? How do their families encourage ambition? How do adults around them encourage their efforts?

Esther sees her New York internship as an opportunity to advance herself. She feels a sense of competition between herself and the other girls in the magazine internship program and pressure to continue winning scholarship opportunities, publications, and awards. Other characters, like the interns and Buddy Willard and the other pre-med students, also push to forge careers for themselves, make high marks, and achieve recognition. They wish to make their families proud of them, and...