minor characters the bell jar

betsy:

quotes:

“polyanna cowgirl”

“sweetheart”

“it was betsy i resembled at heart”

themes:

  • reflects the mid-western country girl

  • innocent aspect of her (foil to doreen)

doreen:

quotes:

“dressing gowns the colour of sin”

“dumb as a post”

“doreen grew even heavier”

themes:

  • foil to betsy = angel / whore

  • another side to the male gaze

lenny:

quotes:

“cowboy boots”

themes:

  • animalistic with doreen (link to marco)

  • represents the epitome of men and expectations

jay cee:

quotes:

“ugly as sin”

“jay cee wanted to teach me something”

“jay cee had brains”

themes:

  • reduced to her sexuality

  • had to be smart to be valued

  • mother figure to esther (career and marriage)

philomeana guinea:

quotes:

“is there a boy in the case”

“philomeana guinea was buying my freedom”

themes:

  • successful older version of esther

  • enables esther to have better care

marco:

quotes:

“women haters were like gods”

“reminded me of a snake”

themes: