In the Bell Jar
In the Bell Jar draws together three different concepts. In the garden, a bell jar enhances the light and heat for a plant and protects it from direct contact with harsh weather. On a pedestal, it is a method of displaying while protecting precious possessions. The title also references Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, a novel that explores mental illness and the pressure of expectations on women and the oppressiveness and isolation brought about by depression.
The smoketree blossoms, upheld by elemental trees of strength and endurance, are nature’s evidence that the most fragile can and does survive the harsh conditions set before it. And sometimes this process is put on display, made public for all to see.
