A morte da diferença não assimilada: uma análise das personagens antitéticas Esther Greenwood e Joan Gilling, de The Bell Jar, de Sylvia Plath (1971[1963]), à luz dos estudos queer.

Abstract

Considering that we are social beings and, consequently, sensitive to the influence of others, we are vulnerable to social and political regimes that organize and shape our ways of thinking, feeling and acting. In this sense, non-heterosexual individuals who do not conform to the standard norm are especially affected by the heteronormativity that governs and shapes their lives. With this in mind, based on the theoretical assumptions of Literary Criticism and Queer Studies, this research aims to analyze the literary work The Bell Jar (1963), by Sylvia Plath, focusing on the characters Esther Greenwood and Joan Gilling from the figure of speech of antithesis. Esther Greenwood is a young adult and “golden girl” who gets the opportunity for her dream job at Mademoiselle magazine in New York, but instead of feeling like she belongs to the sensory notes of this traditionally feminine experience, she begins to regress after a depressive crisis that culminates in a suicide attempt. After returning home and having to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital, we gain a deeper insight into how Greenwood is governed by social norms and how they affect her. In addition, we get an intimate look at her relationship with her mirror character: Joan Gilling, the lesbian figure in the play, as well as her interpersonal dilemmas with this antithesis. Based on this context of the work, this research aims to answer the following guiding question: How are gender and sexuality conflicts experienced in the antithetical characters Esther Greenwood and Joan Gilling, in The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath (1971[1963])? In order to answer this question, the following general objective was established: To investigate how gender and sexuality conflicts are experienced in the antithetical characters Esther Greenwood and Joan Gilling, in The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath (1971[1963])? In order to achieve the general objective, the following specific objectives were outlined: (i) To discuss the theoretical assumptions of Queer Studies, with emphasis on the concepts of compulsory heteronormativity and the closet, (ii) To analyze the heteronormativity and compulsory heterosexuality experienced by Esther Greenwood in her relationship with men and (iii) To analyze the concept of the closet based on the antithetical nuances of the relationship by Esther Greenwood and Joan Gilling. In order to achieve these objectives, a bibliographical research was carried out, with a qualitative and exploratory approach based on Judith Butler (1990), Gayle Rubin (2007), Eve Sedgwick (1990), among others. The results obtained indicate that the heteronorm regulates Esther Greenwood's actions so that she benefits from social privileges and connects being with men to positive emotions, although she demonstrates that she disagrees and does not conform to the norm and does not, in fact, benefit from living with them. These feelings are repressed and she seeks to hide her personality crossovers with the character Joan Gilling, her antithesis and reflection.