"Neurotic, ha!" I let out a scornful laugh. "If neurotic is wanting two mutually exclusive things at one and the same time, then I'm neurotic as hell. I'll be flying back and forth between one mutually exclusive thing and another for the rest of my days."
Buddy put his hand on mine.
"Let me fly with you." (94, Plath.)
The Bell Jar is a novel that seems normal the first 100 pages as Esther (the protagonist) dips her feet into her dreams. But suddenly, the reader finds themselves inside of Esther's suicidal, crazed brain. Plath writes the novel though in simple, calm words. As Esther describes her various ways to kill herself, Plath writes them in a tone the same as when describing a dinner. This technique of writing really allows yourself to get inside the head of the writer as well.
This excerpt interested me the most because it shows Esther's personality slowly beginning to change from appearing to be "normal" to showing her true, neurotic side. "If neurotic is wanting two mutually exclusive things at one and the same time, then I'm neurotic as hell." (94) The reader is offered insight into her mind that doesn't come from Esther's first person point of view narration, but rather from her dialogue.
This excerpt also interests me because it really shows Buddy's emotions for Esther. Esther describes Buddy as this horrible person who has hurt her deeply, who has led her on only to hurt her. However, this excerpt made me feel for Buddy, someone who truly seemed to adore Esther and perhaps was pushed out not by his own personality, but by Esther's mental defects. "Let me fly with you." (94) The previous quote shows how accepting and willing Buddy is to stay with Esther.
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