This is a list of quotes that describe Esther Greenwood’s psychological condition. The green text is the quotes from the book, and the blue text is my own thoughts/questions about the quote.
- “… I couldn’t help wondering what it would be like, being burned alive all along your nerves.” (1) Could this maybe hint at a fascination with death or suicide?
- “I knew there was something wrong with me that summer, because all I could think about was the Rosenbergs and how stupid I’d been to buy all those uncomfortable, expensive clothes…” (2) Was there a connection between thinking about the Rosenbergs’ death and regretting the clothes?
- ” I guess I should have been excited the most of the girls were, but I couldn’t get myself to react.” (3) Could this numbness of emotions be an early sign of depression?
- “I felt very still and very empty, the way the eye of a tornado must feel, moving dully along in the middle of the surrounding hullabaloo.” (3)
- “It was my first big chance, but here I was, sitting back and letting it run through my fingers like so much water.” (4) She seems to feel like her life is passing her by.
- “I was appalled to see how wrinkled and used up I looked.” (18) She is expressing dissatisfaction with her outward appearance.
- “I never feel so much myself as when I’m in a hot bath.” (20) Why does she only feel like herself when she is in a bath, relaxed and calm and separated from everyone?
- “It was Betsy I resembled at heart.” (22)
- “I felt very low.” (29)
