Blog Topic #2: Diction

• In The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath tends to remain consistent with the caliber of her language. Since the novel is narrated by the main character, Esther, the majority of the novel is written in first person and is an interior monologue. The overwhelmingly personal portions of the story occur in Esther's mind, which are surprisingly formally portrayed. The formal language produced by Esther's thoughts are ultimately a reflection of the author's level of education, which is at a very impressive merit. Plath includes words such as "decipher," "sinister," "morbid," and "insinuating" to develop a confused and surly tone. She employs such fearful words to ultimately reveal her inner emotions of apprehension.
• In addition to the vastly formal word choice in The Bell Jar, there are numerous instances where Plath includes some colloquial diction as well. The primary situations in which Plath adds lower diction are those which are intended to develop or describe a character. For instance, when Esther is relaying an experience that she had with her ex-boyfriend, Buddy Willard, and his friend, Will, watching a woman giving birth, Will cringes and says "They oughtn't let women watch. It'll be the end of the human race." (65)  Minor characters such as Will frequently use contractions and improper grammar, which contributes to the illustration of the story, and also to the tone of mixed emotions. The low diction in The Bell Jar ultimately distinguishes between each character, making each character an individual and important part of the story.