The Bell Jar is the only novel by the renowned poet Sylvia Plath. The novel, which has been described as a witty but harrowing coming-of-age story, contains autobiographical elements relating to Plath's struggles with bipolar disorder. It explores themes of identity, feminism, and transformation throguh the story of 19-year-old Esther Greenwood. In the novel, she experiences a mental breakdown and eventual recovery.