Previous
Style
Definition of Tone
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Chapter 1
Explanation and Analysis:
The tone of The Bell Jar is aloof and emotionally detached, as its protagonist reflects upon the events that unfold before her with a sense of distance produced by her highly depressive state. This aloof and distant tone is exemplified in a scene in which Esther accompanies her friend Doreen to the home of Lenny, a well-known radio disk-jockey. After having an awkward conversation with a young man who shows no interested in her, Esther agrees to accompany Dorren and Lenny to their apartment:
I wanted to see as much as I could. I liked looking on at other people in crucial situations. If there was a road accident or a street fight or a baby pickled in a laboratory jar for me to look at, I’d stop and look so hard I never forgot it. I certainly learned a lot of things I never would have learned otherwise this way [...]
Here, Esther accepts Doreen’s invitation out of mere curiosity, a desire to “see as much” as she can, rather than because of any genuine interest in Lenny or concern for Doreen. As she states, she likes to observe other people “in crucial situations,” such as serious accidents or incidents. Esther, then, imagines herself as a passive observer of the things happening around her, looking on without much desire to help or emotional investment. This aloof tone is a result of her worsening depression, as Esther struggles to connect to others or feel any passion about her own goals and actions.
