Esther's Fight Against Societal Norms
A lot of societal norms in the 1950s burden Esther Greenwood. Part of the Bell Jar is her pointing out her distaste for these norms and her fight against it. These norms were enabled by the social layout of the time period where women had a defined role in society and lacked the power or respect to push back. The first norm we see Esther take offense to and push back against is the double standard of male and female purity. When Buddy Willard reveals that he has already had sex, Esther is shocked. Purity was such an important concept as church-goers and in society, but it felt like the rules didn't apply to Buddy because he is a man. She is also angered by the open acceptance of the norm. When Esther asks some college seniors about Buddy sleeping with the waitress, they reply by saying "most boys were like that and you couldn't honestly accuse them of anything." She also expresses displeasure with Buddy's mom, who urges women to stay pure until marriage but is se...