Female body in Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar and Ariel

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Žensko tijelo u The Bell Jar i Ariel Sylvije Plath
• Author: Helena Lepur
• Mentor: Martina Domines (mentor)
• Committee member: Jelena Šesnić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Tihana Klepač (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2024-09-19, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics

Abstract

In her works The Bell Jar and the poetry collection Ariel, Sylvia Plath delves into the themes of femininity, sexuality, and identity, offering a poignant critique of societal expectations and personal turmoil in the context of the 1950s. Plath explores the tension between individual aspirations and collective expectations, particularly in The Bell Jar, highlighting the limitations imposed on women. Her exploration of struggles with beauty standards, sexual relationships, and gender roles continues in Ariel, where she examines themes of transformation and rebirth. In this thesis, all of the notions mentioned above are detected and analyzed, providing insight into how the enduring relevance of Plath's work underscores the ongoing need to challenge and reshape the narratives that define women's lives.

Abstract (croatian)

U svojim djelima The Bell Jar i zbirci poezije Ariel, Sylvia Plath zadire u teme ženstvenosti, seksualnosti i identiteta, nudeći oštru kritiku društvenih očekivanja i osobnih previranja u kontekstu 1950-ih. Plath istražuje napetost između individualnih težnji i kolektivnih očekivanja, posebice u The Bell Jar, ističući ograničenja nametnuta ženama. Njeno istraživanje borbi sa standardima ljepote, seksualnim odnosima i rodnim ulogama nastavlja se u Ariel, gdje ispituje teme transformacije i ponovnog rođenja. U ovom diplomskom radu otkrivaju se i analiziraju svi gore spomenuti pojmovi, pružajući uvid u to kako trajna relevantnost Plathina rada naglašava stalnu potrebu za izazivanjem i preoblikovanjem narativa koji definiraju živote žena.

• Keywords: Identity; femininity; sexuality; society; motherhood; body.
• Keywords (croatian): identitet; ženstvenost; seksualnost; društvo; majčinstvo; tijelo
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:300370
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (double major); specializations in: Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation, TEFL; Course: Literature and Culture; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-10-03 13:01:48