Seminar: The Bell Jar: Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health in Modern Literature

On December 2, 2024, Ms. Mirna Shikwana, lecturer at CUE’s English Language department, delivered a seminar titled “The Bell Jar: Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health in Modern Literature”. This seminar aimed to highlight the role of modern literature in raising awareness about mental health issues. Ms. Mirna started the seminar with a brief historical overview of societal attitudes towards mental health and their reflection in literary works. The discussion then focused on Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar as a groundbreaking novel that reshaped public perception of mental health, particularly in the context of the Modernist movement. The seminar concluded by sharing a website that offers insights into mental disorders, their diagnoses, and potential solutions.