Written in 1961 and published in the United States a decade later, The Bell Jar written by Sylvia Plath has become a classic of American literature. in high school and college classrooms and in popular culture. Sold more than two million copies since its publication (Dunkle), this novel tells "the timeless story of a young woman's struggle to pursue her own ambitions while negotiating the expectations of the conformist culture in which she has been raised. » (Satterfield) Its success can be attributed to the ease with which young women relate to the themes present in this novel. Although life today is very different from that of the 1950s, at the time this novel takes place, the issues discussed remain unresolved in the hearts of many young women. By analyzing the text, one will discover that women in modern times have struggled to find a sense of identity, live up to society's expectations, and achieve their dreams. Before diving into the novel itself, one must have a strong mental image of the brains behind this creation. Sylvia Plath was the first child of Aurelia and Otto Plath. His father was 21 years his mother's senior and was an internationally renowned professor. He sadly died when Plath was just eight years old, from undiagnosed diabetes which undoubtedly had an effect on young Plath's childhood. After finishing high school, Plath won a scholarship to study English at Smith College and it was here that her work was recognized by major magazines such as Seventeen and Mademoiselle. After graduating from Smith College summa cum laude, she began working for Mademoiselle in Manhattan, New York. It is at this point that the novel begins to reflect his life. Sylvia Place...... middle of paper ......nce Center. Internet. April 28, 2014.Friedan, Betty. The feminine mystique. New York: WW Norton, 1963. Print.Perloff, Marjorie G. "'The Bell Jar' chronicles a girl's search for identity." Depression in The Bell Jar by SylviaPlath. Ed. Dedria Bryfonski. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2012. 92-99. Print.Plath, Sylvia. and Lois Ames. The bell. Cutchogue, New York: Buccaneer Books, 1971.Print.Satterfield, Jane. “Biography of Sylvia Plath.” Critical Insights: The Bell Jar (2011): 22-30. Literary Reference Center. Internet. March 28, 2014. Séllei, Nóra. "The Fig Tree and the Black Patent Leather Shoes: The Body and Its Representation in Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar." Critical Insights: The Bell Jar (2011): 346-382. Literary reference center. Internet. March 29, 2014. Young, Nancy K. “Everyday Youth, Youth World.” The 1950s. By William H. Young. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2004. 3-36. Print.